3rd Dec 2008, 01:38
I may have the same issue. My car makes an awful "clicking/rackety" type noise when I turn the steering left or right as I accelerate. Is this a steering rack problem? The problem is worsening...
I own a 2000 V6 Passat. Like all you guys that own this model year - I love the power and smooth ride. I also have experienced the "Emissions Workshop" nightmare and "Check Engine Light" annoyance. I have ignored the messages since 2004, with no apparent change in performance.
Please respond to my "steering rack" phobia. Thanks!
27th Jan 2009, 15:19
I just bought a 2000 Passat GLS 4motion Wagon and I love it... I think. Now I am nervous reading all these comments. The car has 172K- anybody out there with similar mileage have any recommendations of things to watch out for/do? Thank you!
7th Feb 2009, 10:08
I am glad I found this site. I have a 2000 Passat wagon V6. I have owned it for just over a year and have put just over 10,000 miles on it. It currently has 104,000 on the odometer. I too got suckered into the "check engine, emissions workshop" game.
Since my car runs fine despite the annoying lights and beeps, I am driving it as is. I am thankful I do not have to go through stringent testing periodically or I would dump mine also. I will however drive the wheels off it, and then I will buy another brand.
9th Feb 2009, 11:59
I have a 2000 Passat GLS 1.8T with 65K. I've had the Emissions Workshop pop up at several different times. I tried the batter trick to clear it up and it did not do it immediately. Two days later, it was gone. The car drives with the light and I have just ignored it. I haven't had any major problems with the car but it is very low mileage.
10th Feb 2009, 10:06
I own a 2000 Passat 1.8T. It has 142k miles on it and works fine.
I had to replace the ABS module (drove without it for more than a year, got it rebuilt for $216).
I had a problem once with the EW light coming on, but it disappeared. It happened again this week. I think I'm going to try and do the basic maintenance and the battery trick, and see where that takes me.
It also need a new steering rack (labor and parts around $700).
The car is just not worth putting money into it anymore. It is a great car, however as the people before me said, their parts are golden, and no one can work on them, except the dealer and a few other euro shops.
16th Feb 2009, 23:41
I drive a 2000 Passat wagon 1.8 turbo that I bought in '06 with 68k. When I bought it, it had a low washer fluid light on, when I refilled it I found the reservoir had a crack that leaked out all the fluid. Two part epoxy fixed that problem.
Within 6 months I got the emissions workshop light, which freaked me out at first. Took it in since it was under warranty to fix the light and a bad rear passenger side window motor. The dealer reset the light but said there was nothing wrong.
In the Fall of 07 I had a rear wheel bearing go out, fixed at the dealership as they also fixed the ABS in the same wheel that we had messed up trying to fix the bearing at home.
Since I started my love of VWs in air cooled buses, I do not consider these small issues overwhelming. Nothing I have experienced has been catastrophic or overly expensive, so I just ignore the Emissions Workshop light. I love my Passat.
18th Feb 2009, 18:37
I just got a 2000 GLX Passat.
I took it to the dealer, and they charged me 1034.00 to change O2 sensors, and the emissions workshop light came on again. They said it was my cat - VW wanted another (1300) to fix it. Took it to another shop where they fixed it for 234.00, and drove the car and the light came on again.
Looked at this message board and took it back to VW, and they retested the computer; it said cat converter again. Mind you, I just fixed it the same day. I finally told them I had it fixed, and so then they. "flashed" the engine by updating my computer and now the workshop light is off. I hope it stays off long enough to have the emissions test done.
I just think VW are getting mad money off of people, and they just need to be honest if that's all they have to do is update your computers.
6th Mar 2009, 07:12
I have a 2000 GTI GLX. I live in Canada where we have had one of the coldest winters in a long time, throughout the winter when it dropped to 20 degrees below 0 celsius or -4F, I would get the STOP command, then check coolant. If I let the car warm up it would go off, any reasons??
Second, today is the first warm day in a while and on the way to work I noticed a hesitation while accelerating in second gear, then the Emission Workshop/ Engine Light came on, I pulled over checked the coolant and oil and by the time I got back in the driver seat it was all off. Any suggestions to where I should start??
19th Mar 2009, 19:00
I too have the dreaded Emissions Workshop light.
I have a 2000 Passat with no problems at all until I brought it in for a Va Emissions Inspection. As soon as it came out of the inspection.. the light turned on and hasn't gone off. I went back to the garage to question them, and they too said it was the O2 sensor.
I was taking the car for a long ride and asked if this had any mechanical impact on the car and he said no. I've been driving the car for over 6 months without any issues...
30th Mar 2009, 13:32
I have a 2000 Passatt GLX 110K miles and have also had the "Emissions Workshop" message problem. Replaced vacuum hoses and both O2 sensors in January. OK so far, but I guess I'll be getting the Catalytic converter thing soon as well. Good thing I don't have to get smog checked this year. Also had the temperature sensor problem, have had to replace the motors on all four automatic windows and a plethora of other fun things. Pondering whether to sell it now or drive it into the ground.
9th Apr 2009, 15:21
I just bought a 2001 Passat GLX 2.8 last night with 100k miles down, which passed the smog test 4 month ago and now it complains with the 'engine check codes p0420, p0430', and my car specialist told me it's 2k to get the cat fixed and the registration is up in May...
The light turned on after I got gas and drove maybe 30 miles, any ideas?
23rd Nov 2008, 12:29
Our driveway is at a 45degree angle going up and our 2000 1.8 Passat Turbo a/t w/Tiptronic is unable to back-up the driveway without a running start. At the top the rear end shutters and will not make the hill. Driving out is not a problem. Has anyone had a similar problem? We also have the emission workshop and check engine light problem. Otherwise car runs and handles well.