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Beetle: I bought new..000 miles..sounded..hollow scraping,vibrating…

Customer Question

A little background: the car...

A little background: the car is a ''99 New Beetle, which I bought new. There are only 75,000 miles, although the last 40,000 (over the last 4 years) have been hard ones. For several months, there was a noise which sounded like a hollow scraping,vibrating, coming from underneath. The car was drivable, but noisy. Recently, I was pulling out of a toll booth when I heard a loud bang, then a incredibly loud noise coming from the engine. It sounds like a baseball card in the spokes of a bike, only so much louder. The check enging light, which has been on for the last 4 years, started blinking. Besides this latest situation, there are several other problems: The alarm no longer works, nor do the power door locks. The hatch no longer opens without the key, the gas cap lid doesn''t open from the switch, and won''t stay locked. I have been through 2 air conditioners, and various other knobs and such have fallen off, as has the front grill. Should I go ahead with a diagnostic, or move on?

Submitted: 15 years ago.Category: VW

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1/23/2008

VW Mechanic: David, VW Master Technician replied 15 years ago

David, VW Master Technician

Category: VW

Satisfied Customers: 2,366

Experience: VW Master Technician Certified for 9 years, ASE Master Technician Certified

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IT would be best to start with a diag of the vehicle, if you try to sell in the condtion it is in it wont be worth very much. But if its a runnig vehicle you can get a lot more if you are trying to sell it. The locks, check the fuses, sounds like you are blowing the fuse for the alarm control unit, which is also the confort control unit, if the fuse keeps blowing check your dome light and power outlets (Cig Lighters) for metal in them, i.e. coins. the fuel door not working is due to a fuel door cable binding, not too difficult to fix.

Most of the items you are taking about are not big areas, but you really need to know what is going on with the engine. For info, the rattling cam be coming from a failed cat convertor which if you are in the states has an extended warranty for 10 years 120,000. miles for the 2.0. Let me know what you find, post the complete VIN and I will check for extended warranties and recalls

David, VW Master Technician

Category: VW

Satisfied Customers: 2,366

Experience: VW Master Technician Certified for 9 years, ASE Master Technician Certified

Verified

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Customer reply replied 15 years ago

David,

Thanks for the reply. I have been on VW forums, and have read most of what you have written here, re the hatch and gas cap. I figured the rattling underneath was the CC. The problems from the electrical system were dealt with by a mechanic, who bypassed the remote sensors. Since then the doors/alarm worked intermittently, then not at all. I am most worried about the noise coming from the engine. If this is a major problem, and I am looking at a several thousand dollar repair, I just as soon junk it and put the money into something else. I drive long distances, and I'm not sure I would trust this car anymore, even if repaired.

VW Mechanic: David, VW Master Technician replied 15 years ago

I understand what you are saying, if its a motor than no, but if its something else might be worth looking at. All I was saying is it might be a worth investment to find out, because you can always sell the vehicle. A running vehicle will bring a lot more money than one with unknown problems or possible motor. If you feel strongly that the engine is bad, or is what is making the noise, then I would say no. But if you are not sure, than its always worth to have someone take a quick look at it.

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