[Evanrude]

I hate that my first post is about a problem with my beetle, but unfortunately it is...

My '02 2.0 Beetle is having issues. I drive 114 miles round trip everyday for work. About 20-30 miles into my drive, my beetle will sputter and the check engine light will start to flash. It will continue to sputter and struggle, but if I pull over and let it sit for 20-30 secs at the most, it'll restart fine and finish the trip like nothing happened. I'll have to drive it for a couple miles sometimes to get a safe spot to pull over, and it's like the car is just struggling to get power (going to around 4k rpm and barely doing 60mph). Doesn't do it in the afternoon or any other time (i.e. when I take it to my mechanic to look at it).

My mechanic is at a loss right now as to what is happening - we've tried a spray bottle with water to get it to bog down again (I've replaced the coil 3 times in it), and that does nothing. The one time I could get it to the shop with the check engine light on, all the computer would tell is random misfire, all cylinders.

I love my car and would like to keep it, but I'm not a fan of getting ran over on the interstate at 5am either. Any suggestion/advise is greatly appreciated!

Thanks to everyone in advance for any help they can be!

My poor little 2002 went to VW recently for the coil pack recall. Ran like a top when I took it in. They replaced the coil packs, and I got the car back and drove home. Next day, when I started it up, it did exactly the same thing as yours. Sputtered, missed, chugged, etc. But it would usually start doing this after you warmed it up.

It turned out that somehow , VW managed to break the Mass airflow sensor and the throttle body. Not sure HOW, but they did.

They replaced the Mass Air Flow Sensor first, and that seems to have fixed a majority of the problem, then they also cleaned the throttle body and put it back in. No more chugging or loss of power.

 

[Evanrude]

Thanks for the info, I'll mention it to my mechanic. Did your beetle do that when it first started or after it had been running for a while? That is what's frustrating about mine, is that it does it, like I said, within that first 20-30 miles on my way to work. Knock on wood, it's only doing it then, hasn't happened any other time (so far).

When the problem first showed up, it was when I turned my car on.

But then, it would ONLY happen after I'd been driving for maybe 20-30 minutes. I could start it up and it would be ok, then I'd drive around town, and suddenly, lose power. It would chug oddly, like it was only running on 2 or 3 cylinders. Then it would sometimes throw a CEL (check engine light).. and on occasion the traction control light would come on, so would the EPC light. After I shut it off, let it set, then turn it on, it would be fine for another 15-20 minutes.

 

[Evanrude]

Sorry for the troubles.
Usually, at least in my experience, I didn't get much of a sputter or "chug" when I had a bad MAF. Usually, the vehicle will just die, and then when you try to restart it, it will usually die right away.

Judging by the age and your driving distances, it may by time for a complete fuel system cleaning.

Let us know what you find out...it's sparked my interest.

Good luck.

Nate

What all does a full cleaning involve?