96 Jetta losing acceleration

Need help figuring out a problem on my used 96 jetta...it sputters when accelerating so it led me to believe it was a problem with the exhaust. I noticed that it has a low idle speed and loses acceleration power.

Things I was told:
could be the camshaft sensor, problem with low timing, clogging catalytic converter...need to replace the distributor because of the timing problem.

Tell me what you think.

Check your fuel pressure. Check the timing. Any engine codes?
You may want to do a standard tune up: plugs, wires ... to see if it's anything simple.

I have 1996 Jetta and it has 90k miles on it. After I replaced the timing belt and water pump the Jetta is giving the error (P0341). The mechanic has rest the error but i come back as soon as i drive couple of miles. The mechanic is also not comfortable changing the ‘Camshaft Position Sensor A – Bank 1’. He is asking me to go to VW for right diagnosis and fix.

There is couple of other symptoms
- Generally the car acceleration is very bad especially in the mornings.
- When the engine is cold and I push the gas paddle there is no response from the engine for few seconds. And after that the car gives a jerk and then moves on but again the acceleration is very slow.
- I am also getting lot of vibration from the belly of the car.

Another point to note is that the car runs fine above 40-50miles without any acceleration or vibration problems.

I have also read this '94-99 2.0 will set a this code also if the timing belt is old and stretches causing the crank to spin at a faster speed than the distributor shaft and the ecm reading it as a bad sensor.'

I would appreciate if you can give me few pointers on what to do next.

Thanks

I am having similar problems with my 94 Jetta, i started with the cheaper easier replacements first, which would be the plugs. I installed 4 new BOSCH Platinum Series (.028'' Gap i think) and the problem still persists...I do have a hole in the catalytic converter though, so it is likely that it may be the problem in my case. although i looked for spark plug wires and to my surprise they cost over $80 I'd rather use salvaged wires than spend that much!!!

A very simple possibility would be a dirty air filter. It could easily be clogged fuel injectors or a clogged fuel filter. Have these easy things checked.

actually, i figured it out rather simply. after changing the spark plugs, i then figured one of my wires had kicked the bucket, so i went to the local parts store and found that the plug wires were close to $100 bucks for a set (that's 5 wires total!) I was stunned, so i went to a local salvage place and to my surprise, they had just recieved a VW golf with the 2.0 and the kid that messed it up installed performance wires before doing so. so for a measely $35 i was in. upon changin the plugs i found one wire that had the connector torn off of the wire, (my brother had previously pulled on it) so, after i changed the wires (carefully) the car ran fine. i am still trying to change the fuel filter but the bolts holding it on are rusted to heck and will snap off with no doubt. (the car has 220K miles on it!)

Thank you for your prompt reply!