Car Doesn't Start(intermitent problem)

I'm having car problems, Jetta 99, manual transmition, 2.0L.

The problem is that it dies or I turn the engine off and it does not want to start back up. Whenever I try to start it back up the engine sounds ok. The only way to get it going after it dies, is to let it sit for 2hr or more and it will start.

The diagnostic given by the scaner is P1582 (vehicle speed idle speed control) and P506 (idle control system RPM low). What should I do next?

The P1582 is because the air/fuel mixture idle adaption is at it's limit. Usually this is caused by a malfunctioing Mass Air Flow sensor, although VW recommends verifying the oil isn't old or diluted by gasoline (you an check if the oil level increases over time or if it smells like gas). MAFs for the 2.0 have finally come to reasonable price levels because of their high failure rates & are widely available on the aftermarket. To diagnose definitively you need a VAG scanner or simulator to check certain measuring blocks to identify the miscalculation by the sensor. You also might want to check all the small vacuum hoses as well as exhaust or intake leaks.

I just made an oil change today and there was no indication of contamination of gasoline on oil (smell or diluted). Does this still mean it could be the MAFs?
In reply you mentioned MAFs having a high failure rates, does this mean I have to change this sensor, every..............year? Are the replacements for the MAFs any better in durability or do they too have high railure rates?
How would I be able to get a hold of a VAG scanner and what would be a reasonable price to pay for one?

Thank you.

I'd say it's a very high likelyhood. MAFs seem to be unpredictable in how long they last, even new ones can die after a year or two. VW is about the only place to find a real VAG scanner, however there are simulators that run on a PC, the most popular is the VAG-COM, http://www.ross-tech.com/products.html These products only provide the scanner software, the understanding part of the data they provide requires a troubleshooting or repair guide. The best for North America would be Bentley, http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=vg03

You need to decide whether to invest in these products & the time to learn how to work with them or take it to someone who knows VW's & can understand how to read the data measuring blocks to inpoint the problem. A third choice is to just replace the MAF w/o being sure it will fix the problem, as the part is now farily reasonable (<$50 on the internet, about $65 from the dealer) and can be put in youself. The codes would still have to be cleared, but any generic scanner can do that.

I have a 2000 Jetta 5 speed with the exact same problem. The MAF sendsor was changed and the problem still persist, I have been going to the dealer for answers since May 17, 2004 and the problem happened to be another sensor which is being switched out as I type. I will update you with the name of the sensor tomorrow. I know how annoying this problem is.