What the hell is wrong with my car? Also, car for sale.

**Art Shirk** · 12-17-2012, 09:40 PM

I have a 2002 VW Passat V6 4motion that is paid off and I figured I would just drive it into the ground. Well, it may have hit the ground. It's generally been a good car, no major problems. 112K miles. Auto tranny with Tiptronic.

About a week ago it rained quite a bit. When I got in it in the morning, the rear passenger floorboard was under a half inch of water. Drove it to work, no issues. Sopped up the water when I got to work as best I could and then used the hairdryer on it when I got home to stymie mold. Zero evidence of water intrusion from above or at windows.

No problems for about 5-6 days. A decent amount of rain over the course of these days but no indication of intrusion. Then a few days ago, got in to go to work, checked floor, no water. Drove to work. No water after the drive. Got back in at the end of the day (not a heavy rain day) and the floor was absolutely flooded again, only in the rear passenger floorboard area. On the way home, I accelerated fairly abruptly and the car basically lost power. It was as if I was in 5th gear at 20 mph - extremely slow acceleration. It was this way until I got home. Turned off car. Restarted and drove around block with no issue. Sopped up water and dried again.

Today. Water again but in the morning. Acceleration problem again. Each time the acceleration problem occurs, the dash display shows all gears highlighted instead of the engaged one (i.e. park and drive/ if in tiptronic, all 6 gears are highlighted). When there are no issues with acceleration initially, just the correct gear is highlighted.

So, I figured today, I would start the car, engage the tiptronic and drive only in that mode. Zero problems. Always same problem if acceleration issue comes on in auto and then switched to tiptronic.

No clue if these are related but it is perfectly contemporaneous. Under the front passenger seat is a vent that extrudes air towards the rear passenger floorboard. It didn't seem clogged. The only thing I can think of is that the air intake (where ever that is) is clogged and then fills with water and purges itself once in awhile. Still no clue about the tranny issue.

WTF is going on? Sorry for the length, but more info the better with these things.

**Touring_Sedan** · 12-17-2012, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by commonlaw

I have a 2002 VW Passat V6 4motion that is paid off and I figured I would just drive it into the ground. Well, it may have hit the ground. It's generally been a good car, no major problems. 112K miles. Auto tranny with Tiptronic.

About a week ago it rained quite a bit. When I got in it in the morning, the rear passenger floorboard was under a half inch of water. Drove it to work, no issues. Sopped up the water when I got to work as best I could and then used the hairdryer on it when I got home to stymie mold. Zero evidence of water intrusion from above or at windows.

No problems for about 5-6 days. A decent amount of rain over the course of these days but no indication of intrusion. Then a few days ago, got in to go to work, checked floor, no water. Drove to work. No water after the drive. Got back in at the end of the day (not a heavy rain day) and the floor was absolutely flooded again, only in the rear passenger floorboard area. On the way home, I accelerated fairly abruptly and the car basically lost power. It was as if I was in 5th gear at 20 mph - extremely slow acceleration. It was this way until I got home. Turned off car. Restarted and drove around block with no issue. Sopped up water and dried again.

Today. Water again but in the morning. Acceleration problem again. Each time the acceleration problem occurs, the dash display shows all gears highlighted instead of the engaged one (i.e. park and drive/ if in tiptronic, all 6 gears are highlighted). When there are no issues with acceleration initially, just the correct gear is highlighted.

So, I figured today, I would start the car, engage the tiptronic and drive only in that mode. Zero problems. Always same problem if acceleration issue comes on in auto and then switched to tiptronic.

No clue if these are related but it is perfectly contemporaneous. Under the front passenger seat is a vent that extrudes air towards the rear passenger floorboard. It didn't seem clogged. The only thing I can think of is that the air intake (where ever that is) is clogged and then fills with water and purges itself once in awhile. Still no clue about the tranny issue.

WTF is going on? Sorry for the length, but more info the better with these things.

I'm assuming you have a sunroof. Have you checked to see if the drain tube from the sunroof is clogged or disconnected?

**skuff** · 12-17-2012, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by YourMomJustCalled

I'm assuming you have a sunroof. Have you checked to see if the drain tube from the sunroof is clogged or disconnected?

My memory is shot, but around 2004 I may have received a recall notice from VW for this particular issue.

**Art Shirk** · 12-17-2012, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by YourMomJustCalled

I'm assuming you have a sunroof. Have you checked to see if the drain tube from the sunroof is clogged or disconnected?

I do have a sunroof and didnt even think to look for/at the drain tube. I can google it, but any insight on where the hell I find that?

**Art Shirk** · 12-17-2012, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by skuff

My memory is shot, but around 2004 I may have received a recall notice from VW for this particular issue.

I think I actually heard about that as well. Going to check into that. Thanks.

**iscariot** · 12-17-2012, 10:42 PM

Water on the floor soaks the wiring causing acceleration issues?

**Bluebird** · 12-17-2012, 11:19 PM

yeah, check recall and TSB's, my parents had one of those for a bit and I think I remember them having this type of problem. There was a fix, but I have no idea what it was.

**karpiel** · 12-17-2012, 11:30 PM

The transmission control module in those is located under the carpet on the passenger side.

They had problems with the sunroof drain clogging, causing water intrusion that sometimes resulted in a fucked TCM. Get the sunroof drain fixed, make sure everything is bone dry inside (let it run with the heat on and a window open for a good amount of time), get a used TCM from a bone yard ( that offers a guarantee on electronics, most do) for $300, pull the carpet up and switch em out.

Any fault with the TCM will cause limp mode, which sticks it in 3rd gear.

Replace the water pump regularly and make sure your aren't leaking oil from the cam tensioner or seals and it should live a long life.

**Touring_Sedan** · 12-17-2012, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by commonlaw

I do have a sunroof and didnt even think to look for/at the drain tube. I can google it, but any insight on where the hell I find that?

Sorry. No idea on where to find it, but when you do, I've had good luck cleaning them out with a quick blast from the air compressor.

This stuff does works wonders at getting the water out.

http://www.damprid.com/

**karpiel** · 12-18-2012, 12:00 AM

Just did some digging, it could be worth going to a dealership and stating the problems (clogged drains, tcm) and demanding a free repair, as it's a known issue.

If that doesn't work this is a good DIY for the drains.
http://www.volksbloggin.com/2007/07/...-flowing-well/

to do the TCM you pull the plastic trim in the foot well and door sill, pull the carpet up and basically unplug the old and plug in the new.

**Art Shirk** · 12-18-2012, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by karpiel

The transmission control module in those is located under the carpet on the passenger side.

They had problems with the sunroof drain clogging, causing water intrusion that sometimes resulted in a fucked TCM. Get the sunroof drain fixed, make sure everything is bone dry inside (let it run with the heat on and a window open for a good amount of time), get a used TCM from a bone yard ( that offers a guarantee on electronics, most do) for $300, pull the carpet up and switch em out.

Any fault with the TCM will cause limp mode, which sticks it in 3rd gear.

Replace the water pump regularly and make sure your aren't leaking oil from the cam tensioner or seals and it should live a long life.

That sounds like exactly the problem. Thanks man. Hoping I could get this covered under a recall though and will look into it. ANd will also check out damprid. Thanks again.

**MakersTeleMark** · 12-18-2012, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by telemike

fuck you faggot niggers

it's fun to call people niggers and fags and stuff

you cunts

Originally Posted by telemike

oh wait - that's not cool

why would anyone say that?

Drunk Mike PPS.

**~mikey b** · 12-18-2012, 12:21 AM

yes

wrong thread son

faggot nigger

**Kim Jong-un** · 12-18-2012, 07:56 AM

Clogged sunroof drains. It not unique to VW but if there's a recall then you may some other issue with the drains. On most cars there are two front sunroof drains, one exits to the passenger side door jamb (which seems to be your problem) and the other on the driver side jamb. Look for a black rubber hose about 3/8" dia that has a flat nipple on it and squeeze the nipple to get to get it cleared. You may have to use a pipe cleaner if its really clogged.

There are also two rear drains that if you have a hatch or trunk run back that way.

Be careful of using high pressure air to clean the lines until you clear those drain nipples , as you can blow the fittings off and create a bigger problem.

I use one of those computer air in a can duster things to clear my lines once a year.

**Art Shirk** · 12-18-2012, 10:51 AM

All great info. Prior to hearing the advice, I couldn't conceive of a way for odd water intrusion to cause tranny issues, but here we have it. Going to crack a beer and dick with the sunroof drain tonight and see if I can get the TCM and maybe a carpet douching on the stealership.