I have a 2003 Jetta 1.8T with 100,000 highway miles. Yesterday as I drove home at about 60mph the car just dies. It was like someone turned the key off. I tried restarting several times and it's like it has no fire. It turns over but does not begin to start. I checked the fuses and none appear to be blown so I have no idea what happened. I will have to haul it 60 miles to the nearest Volkswagen dealership so any repair suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
RussT

 

Hi,

First timer here, from what you described I believe it is the timing belt. I had the same thing happen to me on on 1988 Honda Accord a few years back. My engine did not get damaged because I did not attempt to crank the engine. I just purchased a 2003 Jetta and had the same concerns about the timing belt since the car came minus the owner's manual. I went to the local VW dealer, according to the service advisor the suggested timing belt replacement mileage is 110,000. Can anyone else confim this? Good Luck!

RS

 

I would bet a million dollars its your timing belt. I had this exact thing happen to my 1999 passat with 103K miles. I was driving down the interstate and my car just started decelerating and died on side of interstate. With my car, the timing belt was supposed to be replaced at 90,000. The frustrating thing for me was my car was at 2 different VW dealerships at 90k and 100k for service and my complaining something was wrong, and they said nothing about replacing the belt. Then car dies at 103k. I don't know if jetta are wired like passats, but because of a computer chip or something like that... to fix the worn out belt my whole engine would have to be replaced. So we ended up selling the car for parts, and VW gave us a big discount to get another passat.
Hope yours turns out better.

 

yeah i would believe its the timing belt as they do have the average lifespan in 100K and looking at all the other posts here everyones is going round the 100k mark

 

x 2!!!!! I would change the belt LONG before that. I bought a 2002 1.8T in 2006 and it ate the belt at 85,000 miles. Needless to say I'm not very happy. It bent 16 of 20 valves and what a bi**ch if you do it yourself. RS you got VERY lucky!!!! In most cases it will bend valves due to the fact the pieces just don't stop instantly. Good luck!!!! Also, if it is a timing belt, don't let those idiots at the auto shop tell you that the pistons need to be replaced. It's total bull$hit!!!!!!!! I have the tools necessary to disassemble the head if your interested??

Yes RS my manual said 110,000 miles..

 

I learned the hard way with my 2002 Jetta. I forgot all about replacing the timing belt and a couple months ago the car just died. Unfortunately, I cranked it to try to re-start it and that's what probably damaged the engine. The only good thing is that the car had 150,000 miles when the belt went.

 

Sorry, but the mileage was closer to 135,000 than 150,000. (Not sure why I said 150,000, probably bad memory.) I also have a 2003 Jetta with 95,000 miles so it's about time to replace the belt.