99 Jetta Idling Crappy

I've got an intermittent issue with my 99 Jetta. It drives fine, but
idling, it pulses from ~800RPM to ~500RPM (and sometime stalls). It
doesn't happen all the time, but seems to happen more often when the
engine is cold or there's an electrical load (headlights, loud stereo,
power windows, etc). I've done a tune-up (oil w/ filter, top off
fluids, spark plugs, wires, and distributer cap). I went to AutoZoo
and PepNuts, and they suggested a bad ground or alternator/battery
fault. I had them run a free check on the battery/alternator which
turned up fine, but I replaced the alternator and drive belts anyway
because I'm stubborn. Needless to say, it's still idling like poo and
I don't know what to try next. Any ideas? -Dan

BTW you did not mention which engine you have in this Jetta!
I will assume you have a 2.0l but I don't know.

what brand and type of spark plugs are you using?
Engine check light on or can you scan the ECM for codes?
MIght be the ign coil getting weaker.
Or a dirty throttle body that needs cleaning and an adaptation done.

"thump3r" > wrote in message ...
I've got an intermittent issue with my 99 Jetta. It drives fine, but
idling, it pulses from ~800RPM to ~500RPM (and sometime stalls). It
doesn't happen all the time, but seems to happen more often when the
engine is cold or there's an electrical load (headlights, loud stereo,
power windows, etc). I've done a tune-up (oil w/ filter, top off
fluids, spark plugs, wires, and distributer cap). I went to AutoZoo
and PepNuts, and they suggested a bad ground or alternator/battery
fault. I had them run a free check on the battery/alternator which
turned up fine, but I replaced the alternator and drive belts anyway
because I'm stubborn. Needless to say, it's still idling like poo and
I don't know what to try next. Any ideas? -Dan

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:16:23 -0800 (PST), thump3r > wrote:

>I've got an intermittent issue with my 99 Jetta. It drives fine, but
>idling, it pulses from ~800RPM to ~500RPM (and sometime stalls). It
>doesn't happen all the time, but seems to happen more often when the
>engine is cold or there's an electrical load (headlights, loud stereo,
>power windows, etc). I've done a tune-up (oil w/ filter, top off
>fluids, spark plugs, wires, and distributer cap). I went to AutoZoo
>and PepNuts, and they suggested a bad ground or alternator/battery
>fault. I had them run a free check on the battery/alternator which
>turned up fine, but I replaced the alternator and drive belts anyway
>because I'm stubborn. Needless to say, it's still idling like poo and
>I don't know what to try next. Any ideas? -Dan

I'd also check all vacuum lines and connectors for cracks and leaks.

It's a 2.0L GL and I've got Bosch 4+ plugs. I had the ECM scanned a
while ago because of an intermittent check engine light and I think it
gave a few errors about misfiring on multiple cylinders, which is why
I replaced the plugs wires and cap. I'll check on the ignition coil
and throttle body and get back to ya. Thanks!

On Jan 13, 1:00 am, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:
> BTW you did not mention which engine you have in this Jetta!
> I will assume you have a 2.0l but I don't know.
>
> what brand and type of spark plugs are you using?
> Engine check light on or can you scan the ECM for codes?
> MIght be the ign coil getting weaker.
> Or a dirty throttle body that needs cleaning and an adaptation done.

Ok cool. Thanks for the tip!

On Jan 13, 7:52 am, wrote:
> I'd also check all vacuum lines and connectors for cracks and leaks.

In article >,
thump3r > wrote:
>It's a 2.0L GL and I've got Bosch 4+ plugs. I had the ECM scanned a
>while ago because of an intermittent check engine light and I think it
>gave a few errors about misfiring on multiple cylinders, which is why
>I replaced the plugs wires and cap. I'll check on the ignition coil
>and throttle body and get back to ya. Thanks!


When you check the throttle body, check the hose that goes from the TB
to the MAF. If there is a crack in that hose, it will let in extra air
and this will result in a crappy idle or no idle if you come to a stop
after driving. IOW, the engine will die. This happened to me and was
just a TB hose replacement.


--
Jeeps and dubs and everything's nice...

I vote you take those spark plugs out and install the dealer ones. Sorry but I have seen a few engine running problems due to just the spark plugs.
If your engine has a distributor then your sparks plugs should be something like F8RS or FR8S. What plugs did you pull out?

"thump3r" > wrote in message ...
It's a 2.0L GL and I've got Bosch 4+ plugs. I had the ECM scanned a
while ago because of an intermittent check engine light and I think it
gave a few errors about misfiring on multiple cylinders, which is why
I replaced the plugs wires and cap. I'll check on the ignition coil
and throttle body and get back to ya. Thanks!

On Jan 13, 1:00 am, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:
> BTW you did not mention which engine you have in this Jetta!
> I will assume you have a 2.0l but I don't know.
>
> what brand and type of spark plugs are you using?
> Engine check light on or can you scan the ECM for codes?
> MIght be the ign coil getting weaker.
> Or a dirty throttle body that needs cleaning and an adaptation done.

"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
. net...
>I vote you take those spark plugs out and install the dealer ones. Sorry
>but I have seen a few engine running problems due to just the spark plugs.
If your engine has a distributor then your sparks plugs should be something
like F8RS or FR8S. What plugs did you pull out?

Agreed. The Bosch 4-prong plugs I've heard no good about. Don't have to go
dealer exactly but at least get the dealer-equivalent at your local FLAPS.

wtf?

On Jan 14, 9:06 pm, thump3r > wrote:
> know that it belonged to a body on which
> it depended, what regret, what shame for its past life, for having been
> useless to the body which inspired its life, which would have annihilated it
> if it had rejected it and separated it from itself, as it kept itself apart
> from the body! What prayers for its preservation in it! And with what
> submission would it allow itself to be governed by the will which rules the
> body, even to consenting, if necessary, to be cut off, or it would lose its
> character as member! For every member must be quite willing to perish for
> the body, for which alone the whole is.
>
> 477. It is false that we are worthy of the love of others; it is unfair that
> we should desire it. If we were born reasonable and impartial, knowing
> ourselves and others, we should not give this bias to our will. However, we
> are born with it; therefore born unjust, for all tends to self. This is
> contrary to all order. We must consider the general good; and the propensity
> to self is the beginning of all disorder, in war, in politics, in economy,
> and in the particular body of man. The will is therefore depraved.
>
> If the members of natural and civ

["Followup-To:" header set to news.admin.net-abuse.usenet.]
On 2008-01-15, thump3r > wrote:
> On Jan 14, 9:06 pm, thump3r > wrote:

[...]

> wtf?

See my reply (Message-ID:
>) to Duwaynea
Anderson in the thread "Anything the prophet might do, to deprive himself
of your sustaining vote?"

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~