Stalling and power loss

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

216,000 MILES • 1.8L • 2WD • MANUAL

DHARDING1686

MEMBER
1 POST

i have the vehicle listed above wagon 1.8t. i have replaced the alternator, battery,fuse box on top of battery. when i get it started and start to drive i lose all power to the car and all my dash gauges stop working, but the motor stays running and seems to be in a limp mode. where i let off the clutch and the car rolls like it is an automatic but once i turn the car off completely i am unable to start it again unless i jump start the car, but as soon as i take the jumper cables off the same problem happens again. Any input would be nice as to me now being on the third month of it sitting in my driveway and me trying to figure out what is wrong with it.

Sep 5, 2019 at 3:31 AM

94 TRANSAM

✓Experienced Mechanic
680 POSTS

Hi, welcome to 2CarPros. Lets see if we can figure out whats going on.

It sounds like you may have a bad ground issue.

I would start by ohms checking.....

The battery cable terminal to the cable, and the cable to the terminal where it bolts to the car to make sure the cable is good.

Then from the battery post to the engine, frame and body to make sure you have 000 ohms on all of them.

Also check the ground pigtail if the cable has one. This usually goes to the body.

I would suggest doing the same with the positive cable as well.

Here is a guide for testing with a meter if you are not familiar with one:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Let me know what you find out.

Rich.

Sep 6, 2019 at 6:40 PM

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Stalling and power loss

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