Chapter I:
Bought a third hand 98 Jetta 2.0 GLwith 130 K in Sept. Car started, ran, idled, (and even looks flawless). Listened (sic read) to all the horror stories about the timing belt breaking and turning the engine into modern art so decided to have it, and the water pump, changed preemptively. Scheduled appointment week ahead for a Thursday and left it overnight on Wednesday. For some reason the "chaps" didn't touch the car until Friday/morning/afternoon and then proudly announced when I went to pick up the car that evening the work had been proudly and dutifully done, however- the check engine light now glows and the engine skips and bucks, (especially at low speed). Was assured after giving them a check for $400 and change that it was a "minor" (cam position sensor) problem , the car was runnable as is and would be fixed sometime next Monday.
Chapter II:
Next day, (Saturday), start up the car to go to work and now the engine temp light is flashing to accompany the CEL. Drop the car off at the nearest VW dealer to have them check it b4 I kill the engine. (After turning off and restarting engine- temp light goes and stays off) They confirm with VAG that it is the camshaft position sensor- and here's the funny part- it's about $500 to fix because it's integral with the distributor.
Epilogue: Besides my own stupidity and bad karma does:
- Anyone have a best guess what's going on with this machine?
- And is this going to be a recurring problem, in various scenarios, with my new "friend" from Wolfsburg?
Cam