Need VW help!

[CHEVY]

I know this is not the right forum, but I tried all kinds of other places and I seem to have no luck. I need to find someone who knows about 1998 VW Jetta's. For a month now I can't find a book worth a damn, a mechanic that knows more than me, or a wiring diagram that shows the complete system. Have a 2.0 and it doesn't have spark. Frustrated!! So called VW wrenches around here have me guessing. I have juice at the coil (12 volts) not sure what the center wire on the coil does? Any ideas? I have power to the distributor and signal out. Still no spark from the coil. Replaced coil with new one . Still no luck. Swapped distibutors from running car Still no luck. Does any body have any answers?
The motor cranks. The tach moves. Yes the tranny just been replaced. Suppostedly the car ran. It died and the person before me replaced the coil and it ran for a short distance, then died again. He sold the tranny that was in it and at that point I aquired it. I dumped a tranny in it, one of my buddies friend had so I could get it started. Oh ya its a automatic. It took a shot in the front end from snow bank and has some broken electrical wires that go to the left front lights and a soft ball size evap can or some thing like it is smashed. I don't think these are giving me problems. I just have no spark at all. I can walk myself thorough just about any problem with motors but I just can't find any books that are worth anything. Most books say bring it to a dealer. So what does that wire in the middle of the coil wiring harness do? Some one told me that it may be the alarm system. I was told to by pass it, but no one could tell me actually where the box was except for under the dash board and there is 2 other items in the same location. Plus they weren't sure on how excatly to by pass it. Sorry for a long post, but I had this on another VW site and alls they could do is tell you how to a Borla tip on..:headwall:headwall Once again sorry for posting this here, but this site is great for actual help. Thanks

[Pickering Snow]

I know this is not the right forum, but I tried all kinds of other places and I seem to have no luck. I need to find someone who knows about 1998 VW Jetta's. For a month now I can't find a book worth a damn, a mechanic that knows more than me, or a wiring diagram that shows the complete system. Have a 2.0 and it doesn't have spark. Frustrated!! So called VW wrenches around here have me guessing. I have juice at the coil (12 volts) not sure what the center wire on the coil does? Any ideas? I have power to the distributor and signal out. Still no spark from the coil. Replaced coil with new one . Still no luck. Swapped distibutors from running car Still no luck. Does any body have any answers?
The motor cranks. The tach moves. Yes the tranny just been replaced. Suppostedly the car ran. It died and the person before me replaced the coil and it ran for a short distance, then died again. He sold the tranny that was in it and at that point I aquired it. I dumped a tranny in it, one of my buddies friend had so I could get it started. Oh ya its a automatic. It took a shot in the front end from snow bank and has some broken electrical wires that go to the left front lights and a soft ball size evap can or some thing like it is smashed. I don't think these are giving me problems. I just have no spark at all. I can walk myself thorough just about any problem with motors but I just can't find any books that are worth anything. Most books say bring it to a dealer. So what does that wire in the middle of the coil wiring harness do? Some one told me that it may be the alarm system. I was told to by pass it, but no one could tell me actually where the box was except for under the dash board and there is 2 other items in the same location. Plus they weren't sure on how excatly to by pass it. Sorry for a long post, but I had this on another VW site and alls they could do is tell you how to a Borla tip on..:headwall:headwall Once again sorry for posting this here, but this site is great for actual help. Thanks



I dont have a way to get you the diagrams you want, however Chris "Wlydman does and is well versed in VW has well pm him or poss he will see this and respond.

[CHEVY]

Thanks Fred. A glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

[wyldman]

The coil also has the power transistor as part of it,hence the 3 wires.

Coils are a big problem on those cars.Aftermarkets don't alwways work,or die quickly.Go OEM VW.

Do you have spark at the coil wire ? If you don't,and you have 12V at the coil,and a good dist signal,then the coil is dead.

If you have spark at the coil wire,then replace the dist cap.They are bad for burning internally and grounding out to the holddown clips.You cannot see it as it's under the RFI shield.Use genuine BOSCH only for the cap.

[CHEVY]

Ya I have 12v at the coil and no spark. I've swapped coils and distributors out of running cars and still no luck. Put them back and they still ran. Tried swapping out the ECM relay still no luck. The motor reaks of fuel from turning it over. By passed the alarm and nothing. Kinda leaning toward a bad ECM. I borrowed a book from a friend that has all the voltages at the ECM pin connector. I'll try that and see what comes up. I guess if the voltages are good then its probaly the ECM? I'll have to sit down and read the book better and not just scan thru it quickly. Let see just to find time. Maybe I'll be nice to the old lady and I'll get banned to the garage.:)

[wyldman]

Those coils are very specific.Get the wrong one and it will not start.Swapping coils off of another car is no guarantee it will work.

I went through the same ting a few years back with a customers car.We tried aftermarket,tried used,swapped off another car (same year),and the only thing that fixed it was a coil from the dealer.

Check the dist cap too,just in case.

[85Chevytruck]

If your still having a problem with this, there is a VW god down here in Norwich. Has gottin many WV running when no one else could. You could try talking to him. His name is Matt Swift over at Swift Motorsports.

Link to there site.
Swift's (http://swiftmotorsports.com/)

There number is (860)-823-1909

Hope this helps

[CHEVY]

Thanks! I've been busy and have had no time to fart around. Working on the sander, truck, and plow. Don't want to do what I do every year and wait until snows in the forecast.

[CHEVY]

O.k. last update. The ECU or ECM all depends who you talk to is spanked. Took one off a friends car and presto spark. The guy's down at Swifts found one 125 bucks. Good deal. Thanks 85chevytruck! As miraculous mother would say in the easy rider rag have a extra big piece of raisin pie on me.

[85Chevytruck]

Glad i could help. They've always been good for me so im glad they took care of you.