2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas

Also, dirty stuck injector. Cheapest I found were on RockAuto. Rebuilt
ones for about $27.


"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nospam.TakeThisOut@pleasehotmail.com> wrote in message
news:O1GCj.614$p24.330@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...
> coolant temperature sensor?
> Fuel pressure not correct?
> MAF?
>
> ":Lee" <leeejohnson.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:8cee601d-fc05-45d1-a3dd-101ee5583e03@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>> 2000 Jetta - 2.0L
>>
>> Basically was running fine, maybe a slight stutter at idle. The check
>> engine light came on - checked the code and it indicated misfire on
>> #4. Once the light is on the engine starts running very rich (smell
>> of fuel and black stuff coming out of the tail pipe) and it burns a
>> lot of fuel.
>>
>> I've changed:
>> plugs
>> wires
>> coil
>>
>> Every time I change a part I reset the code and it seems to run fine
>> for a while (40km) then the light comes on again and then the car
>> starts to run very rich again though even before the light comes on it
>> is still burning a lot of fuel.
>>
>> I can't think of anything else to change. The O2 sensor was recently
>> changed as well (I got an O2 code for that one). Any ideas?
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

There are injector testing services that will test and clean injectors
off the vehicle for about $25 an injector.

http://www.rceng.com/Fuel-Injector-Cleaning-P43C0.aspx

On Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:51:09 -0400, "631grant"
<tjwitman.RemoveThis@bellsouth.net> wrote:

>Also, dirty stuck injector. Cheapest I found were on RockAuto. Rebuilt
>ones for about $27.
>
>
>"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nospam.RemoveThis@pleasehotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:O1GCj.614$p24.330@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...
>> coolant temperature sensor?
>> Fuel pressure not correct?
>> MAF?
>>
>> ":Lee" <leeejohnson.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:8cee601d-fc05-45d1-a3dd-101ee5583e03@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>>> 2000 Jetta - 2.0L
>>>
>>> Basically was running fine, maybe a slight stutter at idle. The check
>>> engine light came on - checked the code and it indicated misfire on
>>> #4. Once the light is on the engine starts running very rich (smell
>>> of fuel and black stuff coming out of the tail pipe) and it burns a
>>> lot of fuel.
>>>
>>> I've changed:
>>> plugs
>>> wires
>>> coil
>>>
>>> Every time I change a part I reset the code and it seems to run fine
>>> for a while (40km) then the light comes on again and then the car
>>> starts to run very rich again though even before the light comes on it
>>> is still burning a lot of fuel.
>>>
>>> I can't think of anything else to change. The O2 sensor was recently
>>> changed as well (I got an O2 code for that one). Any ideas?
>>
>>
>
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

Yes there are such places but not in 'rural North Georgia'. ) You said
'off the car' so someone is going to pay to remove them. It's very easy if
you are slightly mechanically inclined but most people will get talked into
thinking it's a big job and will pay big bucks just to remove them. The
only thing you need is a new gasket for the upper manifold and a wrench.


"Jim Behning" <jimbehning.DeleteThis@doesthisblockpork.mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:n3gmt3pt046m758r9i4rctntmpo95c8cuk@4ax.com...
> There are injector testing services that will test and clean injectors
> off the vehicle for about $25 an injector.
>
> http://www.rceng.com/Fuel-Injector-Cleaning-P43C0.aspx
>
> On Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:51:09 -0400, "631grant"
> <tjwitman.DeleteThis@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>>Also, dirty stuck injector. Cheapest I found were on RockAuto. Rebuilt
>>ones for about $27.
>>
>>
>>"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nospam.DeleteThis@pleasehotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:O1GCj.614$p24.330@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>> coolant temperature sensor?
>>> Fuel pressure not correct?
>>> MAF?
>>>
>>> ":Lee" <leeejohnson.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:8cee601d-fc05-45d1-a3dd-101ee5583e03@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>>>> 2000 Jetta - 2.0L
>>>>
>>>> Basically was running fine, maybe a slight stutter at idle. The check
>>>> engine light came on - checked the code and it indicated misfire on
>>>> #4. Once the light is on the engine starts running very rich (smell
>>>> of fuel and black stuff coming out of the tail pipe) and it burns a
>>>> lot of fuel.
>>>>
>>>> I've changed:
>>>> plugs
>>>> wires
>>>> coil
>>>>
>>>> Every time I change a part I reset the code and it seems to run fine
>>>> for a while (40km) then the light comes on again and then the car
>>>> starts to run very rich again though even before the light comes on it
>>>> is still burning a lot of fuel.
>>>>
>>>> I can't think of anything else to change. The O2 sensor was recently
>>>> changed as well (I got an O2 code for that one). Any ideas?
>>>
>>>
>>
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

Well as I look across the dirt road I see cattle on the 2500 acre
ranch. Yes in rural Georgia we do have cattle ranches. I use UPS to
get to places like Michigan. I get stuff from all over the US via UPS.
Even though Atlanta is just 40 miles away as the crow flies they
almost never have what I want at the price I want. Oh, now I see a
smiley face, sort of. I keep saying I need to send of the injectors
from the Toyota to see if the lack of power is clogged injectors or
something else. I guess I need to get a wild hair and just do it via
UPS.

I have not found a scientific injection cleaning service in Atlanta.
Scientific meaning they give me flow rates and pattern tests. Every
service I have found wants to clean injectors on the car. I want an
off the car test so I can eliminate without any doubt injectors as an
issue. Getting parts for the 20 year old truck is not real hard but it
is money. I am almost as cheap as the next guy.

On Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:23:40 -0400, "631grant"
<tjwitman RemoveThis @bellsouth.net> wrote:

>Yes there are such places but not in 'rural North Georgia'. ) You said
>'off the car' so someone is going to pay to remove them. It's very easy if
>you are slightly mechanically inclined but most people will get talked into
>thinking it's a big job and will pay big bucks just to remove them. The
>only thing you need is a new gasket for the upper manifold and a wrench.
>
>
>"Jim Behning" <jimbehning RemoveThis @doesthisblockpork.mindspring.com> wrote in message
>news:n3gmt3pt046m758r9i4rctntmpo95c8cuk@4ax.com...
>> There are injector testing services that will test and clean injectors
>> off the vehicle for about $25 an injector.
>>
>> http://www.rceng.com/Fuel-Injector-Cleaning-P43C0.aspx
>>
>> On Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:51:09 -0400, "631grant"
>> <tjwitman RemoveThis @bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>
>>>Also, dirty stuck injector. Cheapest I found were on RockAuto. Rebuilt
>>>ones for about $27.
>>>
>>>
>>>"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nospam RemoveThis @pleasehotmail.com> wrote in message
>>>news:O1GCj.614$p24.330@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...
>>>> coolant temperature sensor?
>>>> Fuel pressure not correct?
>>>> MAF?
>>>>
>>>> ":Lee" <leeejohnson RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:8cee601d-fc05-45d1-a3dd-101ee5583e03@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> 2000 Jetta - 2.0L
>>>>>
>>>>> Basically was running fine, maybe a slight stutter at idle. The check
>>>>> engine light came on - checked the code and it indicated misfire on
>>>>> #4. Once the light is on the engine starts running very rich (smell
>>>>> of fuel and black stuff coming out of the tail pipe) and it burns a
>>>>> lot of fuel.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've changed:
>>>>> plugs
>>>>> wires
>>>>> coil
>>>>>
>>>>> Every time I change a part I reset the code and it seems to run fine
>>>>> for a while (40km) then the light comes on again and then the car
>>>>> starts to run very rich again though even before the light comes on it
>>>>> is still burning a lot of fuel.
>>>>>
>>>>> I can't think of anything else to change. The O2 sensor was recently
>>>>> changed as well (I got an O2 code for that one). Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

Oh I forgot to mention the Fuel Pressure Regulator can cause the same
symptoms as yours.
It might leak fuel through the vacuum hose.

"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nospam.RemoveThis@pleasehotmail.com> wrote in message
news:O1GCj.614$p24.330@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...
> coolant temperature sensor?
> Fuel pressure not correct?
> MAF?
>
> ":Lee" <leeejohnson.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:8cee601d-fc05-45d1-a3dd-101ee5583e03@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>> 2000 Jetta - 2.0L
>>
>> Basically was running fine, maybe a slight stutter at idle. The check
>> engine light came on - checked the code and it indicated misfire on
>> #4. Once the light is on the engine starts running very rich (smell
>> of fuel and black stuff coming out of the tail pipe) and it burns a
>> lot of fuel.
>>
>> I've changed:
>> plugs
>> wires
>> coil
>>
>> Every time I change a part I reset the code and it seems to run fine
>> for a while (40km) then the light comes on again and then the car
>> starts to run very rich again though even before the light comes on it
>> is still burning a lot of fuel.
>>
>> I can't think of anything else to change. The O2 sensor was recently
>> changed as well (I got an O2 code for that one). Any ideas?
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

Thanks guys. Actually, the coolant temp. sensor is an interesting
suggestion since this whole thing started about the same time as my
thermostat went. I assumed once I got it changed that the problem
would go away but it didn't.

I'll slowly work down the list you guys provided and hopefully
eventually solve the problem.

Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

let us know what you find!!!

":Lee" <leeejohnson.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:256f37f5-fb8d-48f3-8927-1bc6afa9f21a@c19g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks guys. Actually, the coolant temp. sensor is an interesting
> suggestion since this whole thing started about the same time as my
> thermostat went. I assumed once I got it changed that the problem
> would go away but it didn't.
>
> I'll slowly work down the list you guys provided and hopefully
> eventually solve the problem.
>
> Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

I was having the same problems a while back ago and it wasn't anything
fuel related but air, VW's have the uncanny ability to spring leaks in
air intake tubes so I would check your breather tube (goes from your
oil cap to the intake and is notorious for rotting) your intake tube
and your brake booster vacuum tube, if any have holes in them it will
break the vacuum or let unmetered air into the engine causing it to
run rich, also check your MAF, I had to replace mine once.
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas 

:Lee <leeejohnson.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> 2000 Jetta - 2.0L
>
> Basically was running fine, maybe a slight stutter at idle. The check
> engine light came on - checked the code and it indicated misfire on
> #4. Once the light is on the engine starts running very rich (smell
> of fuel and black stuff coming out of the tail pipe) and it burns a
> lot of fuel.
>
> I've changed:
> plugs
> wires
> coil
>
> Every time I change a part I reset the code and it seems to run fine
> for a while (40km) then the light comes on again and then the car
> starts to run very rich again though even before the light comes on it
> is still burning a lot of fuel.
>
> I can't think of anything else to change. The O2 sensor was recently
> changed as well (I got an O2 code for that one). Any ideas?

Thats a tough one. The misfire detection, if I'm not mistaken is based
on looking at the crank sensor after a firing event, which means if the
sensor were malfunctioning it most likely wouldn't report just one cylinder
misfiring. In fact, if it wasn't working, chances are the car wouldn't
run.

So then you have to ask yourself, what could fail which could cause cylinder
#4 to misfire, and only #4. The only obvious answers I can come up with
are a bad injector, bad spark plug, or an intake manifold leak. It seems
like you've eliminated the plug. May want to check for manifold leaks.
An air leak could cause this because what will happen is cylinder #4 will
run so lean it misfires, and the other injectors may be stepped up to
compensate causing them to run rich. Try spraying car starting fluid to
check for leaks.

If we assume you are just dumping too much fuel, you have to ask yourself is
it that one cylinder or all four (where one is just enough richer than the
others that its having a hard time firing). Personally, if it were me...
I'd just go on eBay (or a junkyard) and get a new (used) set of injectors.
It's a fairly common car, so it shouldn't be hard to find, and it'd probably
cost you $50 or so.

If you want to clean them, there is a shop on the west coast called "Witch
Hunter Performance" (witchhunter.com) which will clean the injectors, replace
all the seals, and will give before/after tests (both electrical and flow)
for $18/ea (including shipping). I've never done business with them, but
everyone I know of who has, has been happy with them, and they were very
useful in providing information to me about injectors.
 >> Stay informed about: 2000 Jetta - misfire code - runs rich and burn a lot of gas