1997 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Discussions

Volkswagen Jetta Brakes and Rotors

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Written by: ruking1 on Dec 03, 2008 00:42 PM

Gee, and I thought getting 60,000 miles on pads for 1994-1997 Toyota Landcruisers were consumptive !! But one data point for 03 VW Jetta TDI. It is @ 111,000 miles and I just am thinking of putting on the new tires, I bought 2 or so years ago, as I got the LAST place oem tire and most that had it pronounced it crappo and would probably not exceed 30-40k miles TOPS 50k. . ... Read More...

Is my Jetta a lemon?

Re: need some reassurance [kennbee]

Written by: 600kgolfgt on Jun 15, 2008 07:27 PM

Stay away from Mk3's as they're poorly made and damned ugly. My 252,000 mile 1997 Mk3 Jetta Trek and I beg to differ... And this is from a VW owner who had a 624,000 mile 1987 Mk2 Golf and a 250,000 mile Mk1 1975 Scirocco... The Mk3 2.0L engines are also impossible to kill. The Mk4 2.0L engines on the other hand... :sick: Which is why I opted for the 1.8T Mk4 (2003 Wolfsburg ... Read More...

VR6 timing chain

Re: VR6 timing chain [jrees]

Written by: 600kgolfgt on Apr 01, 2008 07:57 PM

Which is precisely why: 1) The only VWs I've owned have 4-cylinder engines. Besides from the extra weight of the engine, gas has gotten a bit too expensive to drive a 6-cylinder. The engines in my cars lasted as follows: 1975 Mk1 Scirocco - 250,000 miles 1987 Mk2 Golf GT - 429,000 miles on original engine - 2nd engine lasted until car collided with deer at 624,000 ... Read More...

2008 GLI vs 2008 328xi ...

Re: 2008 GLI vs 2008 328xi ... [hauschild]

Written by: 600kgolfgt on Dec 27, 2007 03:42 PM

Fair enough... Leasing any car with that price tag is cost prohibitive these days... :shades: My wife has a 2003 Passat that she loves. We did a comparison with the new Passat while her car was getting an oil change. The new Passat was bigger, with slightly more room than her 2003. The interior, although nice, definitely looked like it was a victim of VW's bean-counters, ... Read More...

Volkswagen Jetta Starting and Stalling Issues

Re: Also... [jeffyscott]

Written by: 600kgolfgt on Dec 16, 2007 09:58 AM

Careful, there...she did not say what year her car is. I don't know when VW started using G12, but my kid's '97 was orginally G11 (not G12). According to the Bentley Manual (covering 1993-1999 Golf/Jetta and 1995-2002 Cabriolets) right in front of me, VWs from early 1997 production (and on) SHOULD be used on all water-cooled VWs. So unless she has a VW made before ... Read More...

Volkswagen Jetta vs. Honda Accord

Re: Anyone comparing these? [venus537]

Written by: robertsmx on Nov 04, 2007 06:36 AM

I won't. VW's earned big time laurels with the 1.8T in the late 90s (kinda like the 2.0T is getting now), and I almost ended up picking Passat over Accord. A decade later, I am glad to say that I didn't. In fact, I have comprehensive experience with Jetta (two of them) from 2002-2003 model years. One of them is gone, and for very good reasons. The other is about to. The ... Read More...

Volkswagen Jetta Maintenance and Repair

Re: Buy or Bypass [ruking1]

Written by: ccostable on Oct 04, 2007 09:25 AM

ruking1 puts it very well "So for those who do not wish to understand a vehicle, or do not have access to so called "guru's" I would say stay away from VW's. For those who can see the problems, opportunities,can and want to use independent shops, can hook up with guru types, it is truly a hoot in almost every sense!" There is a risk in buying any car. My wife has had two ... Read More...

VW Jetta Electrical System Questions

1997 Jetta starter problem

Written by: gfant on Jul 22, 2007 08:22 AM

My son bought a 97 Jetta a few months ago with 115000 miles. Runs good. a month later would not start. Starter burned up. Replaced. two weeks later same thing. Replaced again. Two weeks later same thing happened. mechanic perplexed. Tried another brand starter this time lasted over one month. Starter burned up again. There has to be something shorting it out. ... Read More...

Volkswagen Jetta Maintenance and Repair

Re: 04 Jetta Sputters [bpeebles]

Written by: 600kgolfgt on Jun 27, 2007 02:31 PM

Dont forget that the 1.8T engine REQUIRES premium fuel at all times. Running lower-octane fuel in a turbocharged engine is asking for trouble. (like holes in the pistons from preignition) I was referring to a good quality PREMIUM fuel, as opposed to the premium fuel from the local Joe's Gas Station... You're preaching to the choir. I've been telling everyone ... Read More...

VW Jetta Basic Maintenance Questions (Oil changes, fluids, etc.)

Re: VW Jetta Burnin the oil? [jettagyalgo]

Written by: 600kgolfgt on May 26, 2007 08:58 PM

The 2.0L engine requires 4.2 quarts (just over 4 bottles)... Also, make sure you use the factory (VW or MANN) oil filter instead of the aftermarket oil filters. The factory (MANN) oil filter (which has a bypass valve and a n anti-drainback valve made of steel - rather than the cheaper rubber that the aftermarket filters use) is a critical part of maintaining the ... Read More...