'02 Jetta Engine Codes - HELP

[aleaston]

Here are the codes Autozone got when I took my car there for a check engine light. Any ideas? Anybody with a Bentley manual?

P0010
P0088
P1800

Anybody know what these might mean? The light came on when it hesitated at startup one time. It has 75K and never been touched.

[boschmann]

The only one I can identify is the P0010, Bank 1 Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit Malfunction. Did you clear the codes & has it come back? Does it still have a driveability problem or was it just momentary?

[aleaston]

No, the guy at Autozone wouldn't clear them unless I bought a part to fix it with! But, I'm sure it would have come back today because I went to start it up (after I had driven it about 30 miles)and it hesitated and died within a couple seconds. Then, it started right up. This is what it does when the light comes on. Sometimes it goes off by itself after awhile, but it always comes on when it hesitates at startup. After you get it started, it runs perfect. I notice no problems other than the sometimes shaky start-up.

[boschmann]

Is this a VR6 engine? You might want to look at the electrical connection at the cam sensor, it's at the rear of the head above the ignition coil unit.

[aleaston]

No, it's not a VR6, it's a 2.0L.

[boschmann]

Then make that the front of the head behind the camshaft sprocket. It has a harness connector nearby. That's the second one I've heard of giving trouble.

[aleaston]

So, just check to make sure it's plugged in? Or, is there a way to check to make sure it's getting/giving the correct voltages? I have a meter so if I know what to check I'm sure I can do it.

[boschmann]

Check the conector for looseness & corrosion. I don't know of specific voltage tests, but if it runs it is probably an intermittent problem. The best I can do is infer from the older style sensors. There should be 12V on the outer to pins of the harness. If you backprobe the center wire (plugged back in to sensor) & connect a LED testlight to it & battery positive it should flash when cranked. I would say it was a temporary problem, that guy at Autozone must have been a real jerk. Find another one to clear the codes & see if they come back.