Car Problem...

[jamnww]

Ok, let me give everyone the rundown here on the situation and see what advice I can get here. Time is a little bit of an issue as it will come to ahead tomorrow and Thursday...

SITUATION: yesterday while on my way back from base in my 2000 VW Jetta TDI (Diesal) I noticed a light come on, upon investigation I found it was called the Egnition Malfunction Indicator. Naturally I stopped at the only VW dealership in Pcola for service. They said not a problem that it was a general check engine light and to bring it in next monday. This morning I went out to drive it to base and it wouldn't start at all and made no noise. I attempted to start about 3 times, each time the indicator lights came on but no sounds or attempted turnovers could be heard. After getting off work this afternoon I I called AAA to have it towed to the dealership for service. When the wrecker arrived we looked under the hood (first time in a while) and noticed the oil cap was missing. We then towed it directly to the dealership.

So what now...

After talking with the service tech at the dealership he said that a TDI Jetta with synthetic oil (change oil every 7000-8000 miles) would take somewhere between 5000 and 10,000 miles to deplete the oil to start causing problems and shut down the engine. It has now been 6000 miles. The last oil change being done by the dealership in Woodbridge, VA and no one has looked under the hood since. (Primarily my wifes car)

After pointing out who did the oil change the tech guy at VW is confident that the oil had nothing to do with the problem and that it was likely a bad battery which will cost $145 to replace on top of the $80 diagnostic fee to look at the vehicle. The only problem is that the headlights and dash indicator lights still function normally and that it won't turn over at all.

Could this problem have been caused by the oil issue? Purhaps when the oil preasure fell to a certain amount the engine refused to turn on to prevent damage? Ideas? The money is not really an issue just hate to throw money at it if it was someone elses fault...

 

[JD81]

Well if your oil cap was gone, you should be looking at one hell of a mess under the hood. You've got another problem besides the oil issue with that light. My boss has that same car, and he had a fuel pump go tits on him and it did the same thing, wouldn't start. You might look there for your problem.

As for the oil, did you check the level? Engines will still turn over if there is no oil. If you run the thing COMPLETELY dry, where the piston rings even get dry, the motor will start knocking like crazy (sounds like a knock on a door). If it is not doing that and there is oil on the dipstick I would just change it and the filter, and have the filter cut open to check for any FOD (metal shavings or otherwise).

As for the battery, you can get that tested to see the volts/amps it is putting out. If the battery was dead or dying, even the dash lights/headlights and all the other sh!t should be dim or stop turning on. I'd test the battery first.

But to start, I'd look at the fuel system and the oil level/filter.
Hope that helps some ...

Josh

 

[nugget81]

I agree with what Josh said. The only other thing I've heard, and it likely does not apply to your situation, has to do the newer cars have a microchip in the key. I had a friend whose car wouldn't start (same story with the lights and all) so he had it towed to the dealership, gave them the valet key and it started right up. Turns out his key's microchip had died. Who would have thought?

 

[Circle K]

jamnww,
I also own a Jetta, altough not TDI. First off, you should know that in the dealership industry, VW's are known to be extremely sensitive. My father-in-law was a car dealer for 20+ years after retiring from the army. He says that the Engine Malfunction light pretty much comes on from any minor problem, it's just the computer's way of dealing with it. If there are further problems or it doesn't go out after 5 days (minor problems reset in 5 days in VW's) you should get service. In your case you didn't get to 5 days. From what it sounds like, I had exactly the same problem as you did with my Jetta. All the lights come on, but it won't even attempt to turn over. Just because the lights come on doesn't mean the battery isn't shot. The dash lights take very little power, the starter takes pretty much all the power, hence the lights dimming when you start. Go ahead and get a new battery, in the future, you probably don't need the dealership to do that, and since you're already there the diagnostic can't hurt, although expensive. As for the oil cap issue, I agree with the other guys, I highly doubt it was the cause of your problems, but should be corrected.

 

[supplywife]

I personally have no knowledge on this topic, but I know a forum site www.chevytalk.com and those guys can answer any question...even if it isn't about a chevy. My husband uses it all the time (or did before he went to OCS).

 

[jamnww]

jamnww,
I also own a Jetta, altough not TDI. First off, you should know that in the dealership industry, VW's are known to be extremely sensitive. My father-in-law was a car dealer for 20+ years after retiring from the army. He says that the Engine Malfunction light pretty much comes on from any minor problem, it's just the computer's way of dealing with it. If there are further problems or it doesn't go out after 5 days (minor problems reset in 5 days in VW's) you should get service. In your case you didn't get to 5 days. From what it sounds like, I had exactly the same problem as you did with my Jetta. All the lights come on, but it won't even attempt to turn over. Just because the lights come on doesn't mean the battery isn't shot. The dash lights take very little power, the starter takes pretty much all the power, hence the lights dimming when you start. Go ahead and get a new battery, in the future, you probably don't need the dealership to do that, and since you're already there the diagnostic can't hurt, although expensive. As for the oil cap issue, I agree with the other guys, I highly doubt it was the cause of your problems, but should be corrected.

Thanks, just wanted to make sure that since I don't have the background with diesals that others do. I think I was more pissed than anything about the shotty work from the last dealer for the oil change...

Thanks for the advice on the battery I will keep that in mind, normally I am very hesitant to take it into the dealer because of the cost, $90 to look at it sometimes, and this time it was the 2nd time in a month so I was concerned that it was something that they did. The dealership guys think its the battery as well so hopefully that it and they are going to get a new oil cap and clean it up for free (which I originally took for a sign of guilt). Thanks though.

 

[lowflier03]

I never take my car to the dealership. You will eventually get to the point where you realize that 99% of them either have no clue what they are doing or lie to get more money out of you. If you have issues with your car, look on the VW forums for the likely cause. I think checking the owners forums is a great way to research a car model before buying it. You would be suprised at the common problems and recalls that the dealerships never tell you about. As for the "caution light" normally in the owners manual for the car there is a way to test it yourself to see if the car is actually generating an error code and look it up yourself. No need to dump $80 for some guy to do the same thing, then have you replace things that might be fine in the first place.

 

[Brett327]

I never take my car to the dealership. You will eventually get to the point where you realize that 99% of them either have no clue what they are doing or lie to get more money out of you. If you have issues with your car, look on the VW forums for the likely cause. I think checking the owners forums is a great way to research a car model before buying it. You would be suprised at the common problems and recalls that the dealerships never tell you about. As for the "caution light" normally in the owners manual for the car there is a way to test it yourself to see if the car is actually generating an error code and look it up yourself. No need to dump $80 for some guy to do the same thing, then have you replace things that might be fine in the first place.

I know the thing is immobile and already at the dealer, but for future reference, you can take about any car to Autozone and they will read any of the malfunction codes that your car throws (check engine light on) for free. Plus, as Lowflier knows, if you go to the one in San Diego on El Cajon Blvd, you can hang out with all the hookers and asian gang members while you wait - good times.

Brett

 

[gregsivers]

I'd second (or third) what many have said about not taking your car to the dealer. Ask around and try to find a reputable independent mechanice in the area who has good references. That could save you a lot of money and grief. Brett's suggestion about the check engine light is great, you might find its something small you can easily fix.