01Jetta::Electrical Problem??

[01JettaGurl]

I have a 2001 4-cylinder Jetta with 90k+ miles. Been having what I think are electrical problems. Car will completely stall or most of the time, it seems like the car shuts down for 3 seconds (radio shuts off and lights flicker but will come back on in 3 seconds). When I turn my blinkers either right or left, all my lights flicker while i do it. Occasionaly, my radio will turn off and back on. At times, my car wont start at all. I have to grind it for a bit before it catches on. I had the alternator changed and it seemed to fix the problems for a couple of weeks and now, the problems start all over again. Same symptoms! Help. Is it a bad alternator again?? or something else? Alternator costed $600+ to change!

[01JettaGurl]

someone please help!!

[veedubmechanic]

did you replace the battery also.

Could be a faulty ignition switch there about 30.00 from the stealer and take about 30min to install.

[01JettaGurl]

the battery was just replaced in october...

the car sometimes just completely shuts off... sometime sit comes back on itself and sometimes it just doesnt... it resets my radio and my clock... so something bad is happening...

[01JettaGurl]

so i took it somewhere and they ran a full diagnostic test on it (which costed me $300) but it came back saying its a faulty Instrument Cluster........ now its gonna cost me $1,000 to fix!!!

[Serginator]

I am having the same the problem, I own a 97 Jetta and one moment it was working well and the next the lights flickered and the alarm sounded(very weak) I changed the battery and it started up well, but the moment that I turned on the AC and radio and lights on the car started sputtering and turning off on me. I think it is the Alternator so I am getting it fixed as I am writing this message... does anyone know what this might be.
Serginator

[01JettaGurl]

take it to discount auto parts and have them run a test to see if its the alternator.. if not, you may have the same problem as mines since your "symptoms" sound the same..... but beware, it is pricey!!!!

[Serginator]

So tell me what ever happened, what was it diagnosed to be the problem.
Serginator

[Serginator]

i just got a message from my mechanic that the problem was a bad idle problem. Gurl did your mechanic adjust this???

[01JettaGurl]

they ran a three hour diagnostic test and thats what they came up with.. i have not fixed it and probably wont for another month or two until i come up with $1k.... here is a recent post i posted about the symptoms on my car:
==================================
well... here is my long list of symptoms

• stalls sometimes when im at a stop sign.. car will be completely dead but i can always restart it..
• stalls sometimes when im at a stop sign.. car will restart itself...
• radio will shut off when my automatic door locks (when i reach a certain speed)
• sometimes when it stalls, it seems like my battery was disconnected cause my clock and my radio stations resets itself
• sometimes it takes a few tries to start my car... this only happens occasionally.... not as much as the stop sign stalling..
• at night, when i turn on my lights... i feel like its pulling too much from the battery.. my lights will flicker when i turn any signals on, emergency light or even pull down the front seat mirror

i do notice that all this happens when i have my AC, lights and radio on... when i dont turn my radio on... i havent had a problem yet... but then again, these symptoms are sporatic.

already had my alternator changed ($600).. now i have to get this faulty piece of crap changed which is going to cost me ($1,000).... last repair i make.... ill keep everyone posted once i get my car fixed (which probably wont be for another month or so....

[Serginator]

Well,
I just had the car fixed and it is running good, the idle is about 800 but at times it might dip to about 700. As for the car, it runs now and the "old school" mechanic adjusted only the idle with no work done to the alternator.

[texasjettaowner]

I will add mine to the list. I'll bet we will narrow this down

• One time and One time only I got a MAF lock on the computor. Never again after that.
• Anti Slip light will come on for no reason.... I still think that it is link in some way to the engine problem
• Battery goes dead overnight (sometimes) Yes, Battery and Alt replaced and it is not the CD changer I disconnected that
• And a new one today while driving engine stumble twice. Just kind of felt like hitting a bump in the road.

THE CAR RUNS LIKE A TOP AND HAS PLENTY OF POWER AND GOOD FUEL MILEAGE

Originally Posted by 01JettaGurl

they ran a three hour diagnostic test and thats what they came up with.. i have not fixed it and probably wont for another month or two until i come up with $1k.... here is a recent post i posted about the symptoms on my car:
==================================
well... here is my long list of symptoms

• stalls sometimes when im at a stop sign.. car will be completely dead but i can always restart it.. Same Problem
• stalls sometimes when im at a stop sign.. car will restart itself... Doesn't do this
• radio will shut off when my automatic door locks (when i reach a certain speed) Doesn't do this
• sometimes when it stalls, it seems like my battery was disconnected cause my clock and my radio stations resets itself Doesn't do this
• sometimes it takes a few tries to start my car... this only happens occasionally.... not as much as the stop sign stalling..Same Problem
• at night, when i turn on my lights... i feel like its pulling too much from the battery.. my lights will flicker when i turn any signals on, emergency light or even pull down the front seat mirror Doesn't do this

i do notice that all this happens when i have my AC, lights and radio on... when i dont turn my radio on... i havent had a problem yet... but then again, these symptoms are sporatic.

already had my alternator changed ($600).Same Free Buddy in Rebuild Business and it was ok replaced the recifier just in case . now i have to get this faulty piece of crap changed which is going to cost me ($1,000).... last repair i make.... ill keep everyone posted once i get my car fixed (which probably wont be for another month or so....

I'll let you spend the money first

[01JettaGurl]

im not sure if your "problem" is the same.... my batter is fine and never dies.... i even took it to discount to get it checked (although i just bought a new one last october) and it was okay, instead, discount told me it was the alternator and thats when i had that fixed.... now, we'll have to wait a month or two to get this next thing fixed! im glad to be everyone's guiney pig as long as it fixes the problem!!!

[veedubmechanic]

Did you replace your battery with a 580cca or larger battery, if not you need to have a OEM battery installed. There about 98.00 and worth it. Aftermarket batteries are usually "rebuilt" batteries and wont last as long as an oem one (thats why there 1/2 the price also)

THere are 3 ground cables below the battery tray that commonly corrode nice and green and cause grouding issues and mysterious electrical issues. The grounds are for the battery, ignition coil and other related engine sensors, and instrument cluster. Remove the battery and battery tray below it and check the wires for corrosion. If there is any, which there problably is, clean it off and use some sand paper to scuff the metal wire ends. wee if this helps any.

[01JettaGurl]

My battery is fine.. clean and new.... so nope...

i did notice however since i got my car back that if i dont use the radio, it has not stalled or light flicker not once!!! downside is, no radio.... but good side is, car is working like new! weird.. so im going to take it where i got the radio installed to see why this is happening... not sure how the radio will correlate with the instrument cluster.....