How common are Ignition Coil Problems on the 98 Beetles?

I am getting P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303 (Cylinder Misfire)
codes on all 4 cylinders.

I have replaced: Plugs, Plug Wires, Fuel Filter, and MAF Sensor
and still have the problem.

The symptom is I can accelerate slowly but if I try to accelerate
very hard the engine starts missing and doesn't want to go intil you let up.
This also happens in park with no load on the engine.

Running out of Ideas. I have a coil ordered but won't have it intil next week.
Wonder what else I might try checking this weekend.

Thanks!

 

Try the simple first. Check the fuel pressure regulator. It is easy to get to and may be the source of fuel flow problems. If it is bad it will act like a plugged fuel filter.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I put a fuel pressure gauge on the fuel line and can see
there is 32 psi with the engine idling and then when I unplug the pressure regulator
it goes up to 40psi so that tells me the vaccuum mechanism in the regulator is still
working.

Not sure if 32psi is ok or low for these cars??

My coil should arrive today or tomorrow so I'll post if it helped.

 

A New Coil did nothing for the missfire codes and the poor Acceleration.

The problem seems to lessen if I run with the vaccuum line to the fuel pressure
regulator plugged. I then have 40psi of pressure rather than 32psi (off idle).

Anyone want to give a guessas to what this is telling me? Fuel Pump not keeping up
or injectors clogged and need more pressure??

 

Sorry to hear about the coil. Guess it is becoming frustrating by now. The fuel pressure should be 44psi key on, engine off and 39psi engine running. It may very well be low pressure to the injectors if you have 32psi or less when running. Could be the fuel pressure regulator or the pump as you have already suspected. Keep me posted and good luck.

 

air flow meter

 

did you replace it with a new one

 

I first tried a used junk yard air flow sensor and that made the car worse and
gave new engine codes indicating low air flow input. I then bought a rebuilt
Cardone unit and that behaved identical to my original Air Flow Sensor so I
think my original and the Rebuilt unit are both good.

Thanks for the reply!
Joe

 

howare your air and fuel filters?

 

I replaced the fuel filter as one of the 1st things I tried and the air filter
looked good, still very clean.

I didn't mess with it this weekend, next thing I want to do is do a fuel
pump flow/volume test. Anyone know how long it should take to pump out
a gallon of gas?

Joe