VW Jetta for the wife. AND SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT

So, we were searching around for a car. My wife fell in love with this car that she found online. A 2004 VW Jetta 4 door 2.0 5 speed. Last sunday was when she found it so we went and test drove it. It was pouring rain outside. When we got there we found out it was a 5 speed, but she liked it so much that she wanted to learn how to drive a manual so I was to test drive it and then teach her. So far we have not had time and we have only had the car for 5 days. ANYWAYS something is wrong with the car.

I think it may be the clutch, but I cant be sure because its weird.

So say im sitting at a stop sign with the clutch in and the car in 1st. I accelarate normally by letting the clutch out and giving some gas -- all is well and I shift into 2nd then 3rd. All this time im accelarateling "normally." So then say im driving down the street in 3rd and its time for 4th because I have been in 3rd and the speed limit on the road increases... So I give it more gas but then the RMP start going up and the car is not accelarating in accordance with the RPM - if you know what I mean... something is slipping.

The same thing happens when in 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th when its fully engaged in gear and I try to step on the peddle to accelarate before I shift into the next gear.

I even tried the thing where you have it in say 2nd gear and you let off the gas a little after accelarateing and the gears sync up and you can shift into 3rd with out using the cluth EVEN WHEN it engages in the gear and then I hit the accelarator its fine at first then I hit the gas and it will rev slowly up not equevelent with the accelaration that should be at that RPM again something is slipping.

I guess its the clutch but it just seems weird to me. All the shifting is smooth and all until its IN GEAR and I try to accelarate a little harder than normal. Its kind of like how an automatic transmission is when the transmission is going out.

Give me some advice anything helps at this point. I have not even begun to try and teach her how to drive the car. I was planning on this weekend, but if the clutch is going out im screwed and will have to have it replaced.

Now I need to remind myself why I hate front wheel drive cars.... Thanks for your help and advice guys!

fuel filter?
once it's in gear, it's in. not clutch.

clutches do slip when they wear out OR the fly wheel gets worn out OR the clutch and flywheel are glazed from teaching some one to drive with a manual transmission thats where Id put my bet

oops... I stand corrected. Didn't read where the rpms increasing without the vehicle moving. really :eyes:

bassthumb said:

fuel filter?
once it's in gear, it's in. not clutch.

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Fuel filter? I can look into that and replace this weekend that is easy (I suppose) I have not actually seen where its located on this stupid little car

You think the same way I did. Once its in gear why would the clutch have anything to do with it?

Gerr said:

clutches do slip when they wear out OR the fly wheel gets worn out OR the clutch and flywheel are glazed from teaching some one to drive with a manual transmission thats where Id put my bet
[/Gerr]

The flywheel? I guess. I guess the guy that owned it before could have tried to teach someone or worn it out then sold it. I have not tried to even teach my wife yet we have not had time so I have been driving this girlie car to work every day.

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the problem: its a vw.

this sounds stupid...but after you push the clutch and shift try pulling the clutch with your foot,pull it up with your foot under the pedal. sometimes the clutch spring goes out... But it sounds like a bad clutch,or check under the car where the trans and block meet. Is there any leaks? check the clutch [SIZE=-1]Fluid. try VWVORTEX.COM best VW site for all your ???
look in the [/SIZE]Golf IV & Jetta IV [SIZE=-1] or [/SIZE]2.0 Liter Engine Forum [SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]

It sounds like the pressure plate is allow the the clutch plate to slip when it's engaged to the fly wheel. That's alot of wheels.

How many miles are on the car?

SBrad001 said:

It sounds like the pressure plate is allow the the clutch plate to slip when it's engaged to the fly wheel. That's alot of wheels.

How many miles are on the car?

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60,000 and it runs perfect everything works and it drives and handles like a dream.

Quick check for a slipping clutch: Accelerate in first gear to 15-20mph, then shift directly into 4th gear. Nail the Throotle, if the car stumbles hesitates, and acts like it wants to die but then pulls through it after your speed increases your clutch is OK. If you shift into 4th nail the throttle and nothing happens except an increase in RPM without a commensurate increase in vehicle speed(IE lots of noise and no go) then your clutch is slipping.
HTH
-Ryan

IslanderOffRoad said:

the problem: its a vw.

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BINGO!

Replace the clutch and check for any leaks that may have gotten oil on the clutch disk. The flywheel should be replaced but may be able to be turned depending on how badly it is worn. If there are melted and burned looking spots on it replace it. If it looks about like a brake disk then it's probably good to be used after being turned. Make sure you also replace the throwout bearing and pilot bearing. Good luck.

You can PM Dave Taylor, he's a euro car specialist. More audi and less VW, but they are almost the same thing these days.

I took it to a FWD trans shop here in el cajon. It was so bad today that I could almost not even drive it. They are road testing it on Monday and getting back to me at no charge. They will have to dissasemble it for sure so its going to cost at least 100 so i'll talk to the guys and make sure all effected devices are fixed.

fdsa487 said:

They will have to dissasemble it for sure so its going to cost at least 100

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missing a zero?

Sounds like the clutch to me. Damn VW's

Germany is the only kind of car I have never owned and NEVER will. Expensive parts, labor intensive, and more special tools than a swiss army knife.

atleast an adjustment at worst a complete clutch job, expect more then $100!

JohnX said:

Germany is the only kind of car I have never owned and NEVER will. Expensive parts, labor intensive, and more special tools than a swiss army knife.

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YEP, found this out with my Porsche. Fun as heck on the road but alot of maintance. I spend atleast 10 hours a week looking over things, adjusting or replacing, this thing really requires alot of Preventive maintance. I do my timing/balance shaft belts every 30-40K and that is pushing it, water pump everyother timing belt and allways replace a item every month, I.E. sensors, injectors, ECT... I like the personal time I get with my car and I prolly over do it but it gets old after a year.

Stop... Find a VW shop. Sounds like a clutch though. Good luck, 4 hour job on my 91 Civic. Looked at my coworkers Jetta, could be quite involved. Anyway I'd only take it to a place that specializes in VW's, or it will never be the same again.

in2fords said:

atleast an adjustment at worst a complete clutch job, expect more then $100!
YEP, found this out with my Porsche. Fun as heck on the road but alot of maintance. I spend atleast 10 hours a week looking over things, adjusting or replacing, this thing really requires alot of Preventive maintance. I do my timing/balance shaft belts every 30-40K and that is pushing it, water pump everyother timing belt and allways replace a item every month, I.E. sensors, injectors, ECT... I like the personal time I get with my car and I prolly over do it but it gets old after a year.

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Heh, almost sounds like a Jeep, wrench, wheel, wrench, wheel, repeat...

markw said:

Heh, almost sounds like a Jeep, wrench, wheel, wrench, wheel, repeat...

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WHAT? I've been screwd!! we are supposed to wheel the Jeep? Ive been wrenching for a year now, whens the wheeling begin?:repair:

I'd say it definitely sounds like the clutch. The reason it could be the clutch even after its in gear is because the clutch is still the connection between transmission and flywheel/rest of car. My old Tracker did that when the clutch was almost gone. Hit the gas and the revs go up but the speedo stays the same. When I took it apart, the clutch disk literally fell out in pieces. Expect around $350 for the clutch if you buy it, probably more if they buy it plus at least a few hours of labor at at least $50/hr. I'd buy the clutch myself and opt for a performance oriented one. Just bought one for my wife's Focus, $350 online for a Centerforce dual friction clutch. I figure if it's designed for higher performance variants, it'd handle my wife's 103hp LX no problem...