2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System Problems

2000 PASSAT WAGON 1.8 CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED - ITS WAS NOT RUNNING AND WAS PARKED FOR 20 MIN THEN FIRE STARTED UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. *TR

2000 PASSAT AUTO TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO CATCH ON FIRE NEAR ENGINE AND WHERE EXHAUST MEET. MY SON AND A FRIEND BOTH 20YRS OLD WERE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I THANK GOD IT DID NOT END TRAGICALLY. *TR

OWNER HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN STOPPED AND WAS SITTING IN HER DRIVEWAY USING HER CELL PHONE WHEN SHE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAW FIRE. EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD OVERHEATED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD AND MATERIALS ON THE FLOOR PAN JUST ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME OUT, AND OBSERVED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. HEAT SHIELD ABOVE RIGHT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MELTED AND SOME WIRING IN THE DASH WAS BURNED.

OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, PARKED IT, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE A RESTAURANT TO PICK UP A PIZZA. WHILE OWNER WAS INSIDE, THE VOLKSWAGEN CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE BURNED CARPET IN FRONT CENTER OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, PLASTICS IN FRONT CENTER OF DASH. ALL DAMAGE ABOVE LOCATION OF EXHAUST AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR, WHEN THE HEAT SHIELD ON THE TOP OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BEGAN TO SMOLDER. NO INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND CAME, ALTHOUGH NO FLAMES ERUPTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE. HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE WAS THE HEAT SHIELD.

VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS WORKSHOP INDICATOR HAVE BEEN COMING ON 2-3 MINUTES AFTER START UP. VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR 40,000 MILE SERVICE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIAGNOSTIC. VISIT # 1) REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON NEXT DAY. VISIT # 2)RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON NEXT DAY. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR FULL DIAGNOSTIC NEXT WEEK. VISIT #3) REPLACED VACUUM LINES, THOUGHT 40,000 MILE SERVICE WAS STRESSING OLDER PARTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEXT DAY. VISIT # 4) RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEXT DAY. SCHEDULED ANOTHER FULL DIAGNOSTIC. VISIT # 5) ORDERED AND REPLACED SECONDARY AIR PUMP, LEFT VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT PICK UP. NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE, AGREED TO RETURN VEHICLE NEXT DAY. VISIT # 6) REPLACED RELAY FOR SECONDARY AIR PUMP. PLAN TO RETURN VEHICLE TO ME AFTER 3 MORE DAYS. HOPING...

SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP USED FOR IGNITION HAS FAILED. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT MAKES A LOUD WINING NOISE. HARD PART REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

EVERY PASSAT OWNER I HAVE TALKED TO (5) INDICATED THIS PART HAD FAILED. RECALL? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

EMISSIONS WORKSHOP LIGHT COMES ON, THEN ENGINE CHECK LAMP SHOWS ON DASH. DEALER REPLACED AIR PUMP, SAID THAT A HOSE WAS LOOSE AND NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM. VW OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED ALONG WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER. WE HAD TO TRADE THE CAR BECAUCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AT THIS TIME. WHY IS VW ALLOWED TO SELL CARS THAT THEY CANNOT REPAIR? I WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR FINANCIAL LOSS AS WELL AS FOR OUR TIME AND TROUBLE.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON ALONG WITH EMISSIONS WORKSHOP LIGHTS; GAS TANK, VACUMN PUMP AND SENSORS ALL REPLACED BUT STILL THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES. *AK