2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

[JustJason]

GF's car was bucking and shifting by itself yesterday on her way to work. When she went to leave, car would crank but not start.
Went to pick her up and I brought my somewhat inexpensive scan tool with me.
Got a code P0864 "TCM communications circuit range/performance"
She stated that on her way to work not only was it shifting by itself, but the gas gauge would sporadically got to empty and back to half full.
When I went up to check it out. I tried to crank it, but when i let the key back to the run position the cooling fan would kick on and run for 3 to 4 minutes.
All reference voltages on the scanner read 0. The TPS% would not change with pedal position (dunno if that's because it's flyby or not) and the Coolant temp read 32F. The car was sitting for 8 hours outside on an 80 degree day.
Anyone have any experience on this one?
Is the TCM fried, or is the ECM fried and just won't talk to the TCM. Or a cable in between the 2.
Car has 51300 Miles.
Out of B to B warranty.
Got a few more miles left on the powertrain warranty, that runs to 60K.
The car is a lease, lease is up in a few months, obviously don't want to sink any money into the car. Anyone know if this would fall under powertrain warranty??
Thanks All.
Jason

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

What was the warranty? 36K or 50K? You are within less than 10% if it is 50K I thought I would mention that.

It does not sound good...... my very first check based on what you described would be the ground wires and the battery. The way the gas gauge was acting and it sounds like surges through the system.... a faulty ground.

That's my best guess.

I dumped my VW for electrical issues and the maintenance costs were killing me.

 

[noelm]

Re: 2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

My Son in Law is a VW trained diagnostic Technician, I could ask him for you if you like, but it may be too late for you, I will ring/email him now and see if he has a clue for you.

 

[noelm]

Re: 2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

don't want to scare you, but he HATES Beetles!! not that it really means anything though.

 

[JustJason]

Re: 2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

got it figured out.... dumb vdub......
and dumb dealer as well.......
thanks guys.
me~

 

[noelm]

Re: 2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

OK then what was it, my Son in law seemed to think that it is a very simple thing, but hard to tell from the other side of the World, but it could be the ECU faulty, Beetles suffer from earth problems, but finding it could take a bit of time.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

OK then what was it, my Son in law seemed to think that it is a very simple thing, but hard to tell from the other side of the World, but it could be the ECU faulty, Beetles suffer from earth problems, but finding it could take a bit of time.

That's my guess +1

 

[JustJason]

Re: 2006 Beetle (any VDub mech's here?)

here it is......
Bad plug caused a coil (stick coils) to litterally melt down... as in melt in half. It blew the fuse for the ecm.
GF takes car to dealer (it's under powertrain warranty)
Dealer replaces fuse and coil...
GF picks car up... tells me what happened.
Pays 184.....
I ask her why they didn't warranty it... she say's she doesn't ask.
I go through the reciept... look at the old coil, and quietly say WTF to myself...
pulled the plug....
it's got uneven errosion on the tip and point.
doesn't meter out.

dumb dealer didn't even stop to think why the coil may have melted.
dumb GF didn't think to ask to have it covered under warranty.