First, a couple of really trivial corrections... the car only has 147,000 miles, and the power steering fluid leak is a lot slower than I initially said (she refills it every month or so, at most).
Ok, so I checked the CEL codes at Advance on Thursday evening, this is what came up (codes + description, as given by the OBDII reader):
P0100: MAF or VAF circuit malfunction
P0110: IAT Sensor circuit malfunction
P0135: 02 Sensor Heater circuit malfunction Bank 1 Sensor 1
The OBDII computer hasn't been cleared in years, though... a year or two ago, the only code was the P0135. The other two are more recent. I had the guy at Advance clear the codes for me, and will go and have them read again this weekend sometime after she's driven it a bit (as you guys suggested).
The CEL didn't reappear during the 7 mile trip back to her house (again, this was Thurs. night). She drove it a little over the next couple of days, and the light didn't come back on until Saturday night. Also, the car drove like a dream on the trip to and from Advance (no engine misfires, hesitation, odd shifts... nothing). A little like riding on a balloon from the worn out shocks, but other than that... it really doesn't seem like a car requiring $3k worth of repairs
When I got back, I poked around the engine bay a little, but by then it was pretty dark, so I couldn't really see much. I did check the transmission fluid, which looked a little burned, so I'm guessing a flush is probably in order for that at some point.
Anyway, w/ regard to the O2 sensor code, from what I can discern from a little research is that the O2 sensor is probably bad, and it is located in a really fun spot (close to the firewall). Can't wait to do that one.
Also, from my research, it looks like the IAT and MAF are all one unit, so barring any electrical shorts or corroded contacts, replacing the unit should cure that problem.
Of course, this is all preliminary. We won't do anything until I re-check the codes this weekend to see which ones have come back, etc. I'm most hesitant about the MAF unit... with my experience with VWs, if the MAF sensor is bad, you KNOW it without really even checking the CEL code (misfiring, poor performance/gas mileage, stalling, etc), so considering the engine runs like a damn top I'm a little skeptical that this is causing a problem. We'll just see, I suppose.
I've also been poking around online to try and find someone in the Richmond, VA area that can service automotive HVAC systems for a reasonable figure, but haven't been met with much success so far. I'll make some more calls tomorrow when I get a minute.
Anyway, it's all a work in progress. I will admit, it's a nice change working on a car that, for the most part, considering its age, does the basic functions it was designed for (as a mode of transportation) very well, and very reliably. I mean, I love my Jetta, but for God's sake, every time I turn around it's got another weird-ass problem. I just failed a state inspection today because my
rear brake pads are worn to almost nothing (I didn't check them before because there's sensors built into the front brakes that will illuminate a dashboard warning light when they get low). What other car can you possibly name that biases the rear brakes much more than the fronts
by design, but then only has sensors on the front??
Crazy Germans. Fahrvergnügen indeed.