By the way, I did a vinaudit on nmvtis.gov and it showed only the 5 Title changes..There were no entries for accidents, salvage, fraud, etc..I also paid $1.00 on Sunday night for a trial period of SpyFly and looked up this guys background..Nothing criminal but I now possess his phone numbers and email addresses..So the car isn't listed with anything negative..Okay, thanks again!

 

Hi Beckie

it’s sounds like you got a fair deal as long as there isn’t anything major wrong worth the motor or tranny. Lots of people don’t want to maintain a car over 100k any longer and they sell. ESPECIALLY VWs They are great when they run but expensive to maintain especially over 100k. I would determine what needs to be done on it based on the recommended maintenance schedules. I also would have the timing chain or belt replaced since VW are know to be interference engines. If that breaks then your looking at an expensive fix.

If this helps I bought a 2010 Passat that the guy said it was just an EPC light that needed to be addressed. I discovered It nearly caught on fire and needed a new Transmission. Luckily I paid next to nothing for it. VW are great cars but they need to be maintained and aren’t for the average DIYer.
I would recommend taking it to an experienced VW mechanic to check the timing belt/chain or hopefully you verified it has been replaced.

It sounds like it’s just eve breaks. Breaks are services on a regular basis so not to worry.

 

Relax...It may only need pads all around but expect the garage you had it taken to will have a longer list of things that need fixin'. It's how they earn their living. Breathe deeply and follow 'Hitchhiker's Guide...' rules...Don't Panic. You appear to have done your homework and the guy you bought it from may have been simply mistaken rather than dishonest.
Post back with mileage, engine and trans type and how you intend to use your new car.

 

Okay, thank you! The mileage is 154,000, it's a V6 and 5 speed Manual Trans..When you say, it might just need pads, that's all well and good..I can handle that..It's the EPC with losing power that day and the MIL malfunction warning light that has me really nervous..My Dad bought the car for me because I'm on Disability and wasn't able to afford one myself right now..I definitely can't afford a huge repair bill right now..I just sold my 2000 VW Golf, which I loved, but it got up to 290,000 and I couldn't put any more money into it..I had already put thousands of dollars into various repair costs and it was time for ed to go..I love this Passat..My Dad gave me a cap of $3,000 and my choice of vehicle..We went to see it, I test drove it with the guy and loved it..(The guy actually blessed himself while I took it out to drive it..Weird) Anyways, I'm only concerned about feeling scammed because he lied about the BRAKE light problem and the issues that have occurred so soon after buying it..He said it just needed an adjustment, lifted the brake lever and pushed it back down very hard..I'm sure he thought the light would go off or something..Telling me it wasn't worth spending the money on it was for what reason? I asked why he was selling it..He said his girlfriend was sick of driving a standard..Oh, okay..No word from the garage yet..Maybe they'll call today..I'll keep you posted when I hear anything!

 

And before you agree to any work, give us the list.

None of it sounds too terribly crazy to fix. Got any friends that work on their own cars? We can help diagnose, provide instructions for repair/replacement, and steer you to good prices on parts.

 

And before you agree to any work, give us the list.

None of it sounds to terribly crazy to fix. Got any friends that work on their own cars? We can help diagnose, provide instructions for repair/replacement, and steer you to good prices on parts.

X2

You have most certainly come to the right place. We are here to help you.

That brake pad light, it might just be a broken wire on one of the brake pads. An easy fix.

 

Paying more for used cars is par for the course right now. I wouldn't fret about paying over blue book. I'm seeing that 3, 4 year old used cars are selling for more than they did new off the lot. If you have a used car to unload, now is definitely the time to do it.

 

You bring up a point.
My personal opinion is that we'll be seeing more of this the closer we get 2035. That's the year that California has nailed down for banning brand new cars running on gas.
A few manufacturers have committed to going ALL electric by year 2025.
There's still a huge number of people that don't want to have anything to do with an all electric vehicle. I think used vehicles will become high demand items as the time ticks away for the foreseeable future anyways.

 

very first thing you need to do is, IMO, download Ross Tech lite software/shareware and get some codes, that will not only help you but everyone as well, When you say "BRAKE" light flashing, are there any like 3 beeps accompanying that when you start the car? How about mileage ?

 

very first thing you need to do is, IMO, download Ross Tech lite software/shareware and get some codes

* And get an OBDll cable *

 

What is an OBDII Cable and what does it do? Is it something that I'm able to do myself? I'm always willing to teach myself how to do things..I'm alone here with everyone else in another state so I've become pretty self-sufficient..

 

Here's some FYI...
OBDII stands for On Board Diagnostics (2nd generation) - It was introduced in January 1996 and is the mandatory standard by which all cars sold in the U.S. must comply with.
The OBD system monitors all major engine functions. It's main purpose is to keep emissions within a specified set of parameters designated for each model years car requirements.
It also helps with preventing engine failure.
The ECU (Engine Control Unit - also sometimes referred to as the ECM Engine Control Module) has a bunch of circuitry in it. The circuits have the OBDII information imbedded into it.
In the simplest of layman's terms, it's the language by which the engine speaks.

An OBDII cable allows you to connect to the OBDII system and read diagnostic data and depending on the type of software used to read that data, some will allow re-programming of certain parameters.

The OBDII port interface (connector) is located on a panel underneath the steering wheel. It's slightly left of the centerline of the steering wheel about half way back.




I think most here would agree me with in saying you should download the free version of VCDS software.
Found here: Ross-Tech: VCDS-Lite

You can then buy a 3rd party OBDII interface cable and use that to scan your cars computer.
Others will chime in on what 3rd party cable to buy. I'm not savvy to that as I own the full on PRO version of VCDS and it's special interface.
You can get these 3rd party cables for $20 or less.

 

coincidence is logic's nemesis.........the 3 beeps, flashing light is on your watch ,(no malice intended with that comment), once it fails ,unless fixed it will do that every time ,no code erasure ,then reappear. As a casual observation I have been part to three of these failures in some manner and in my case it was rainy, humid in car, warm summer nights, all coincidence.

 

Just out of curiosity what major city are you near?

 

I live in Brattleboro, VT so prob Keene, NH?

 

Well, my father said he won't help me so I guess I have to see what other options I might have..Back to my original reason for posting...As I said, I'm not neurotic nor do I think I'm being targeted okay? What are the chances that these sensors have all gone bad at once? How did the seller not know about them? Too much to be a coincidence..

 

Try not to sweat it to hard.
Probability of the sensors going bad at once? I'll say highly improbable, next to impossible. I'm gonna take a guess and say the seller knew about this stuff. But don't take that as us thinking your naive.
Happens to the best of us, speaking from experience here. I've had (2) Passat's that were nothing but duds. I bought one for around $1400 sunk about $800 into it and pretty much right after that had it towed to the scrap yard.

What really needs to happen here is you need to scan the car for codes. We can show you how to get this done. It's not that hard at all.
Getting a cable and scanning for codes is the absolute cheapest thing you can do right now. A third party cable is around $20 or less on eBay.
These codes will tell us where to look for probable cause. This will also help determine with factual data what to and what not to replace, instead of just throwing parts (and money) at the car hoping it will cure the problem.

If it really needs both front ABS sensors, it's probably because some donkey didn't install them the right way.

 

Yikes! Aftermarket ABS sensors are $40 or so (there are four, they almost NEVER fail together.) Speed sensor, maybe $60 (and it's one bolt to replace.) And the CTS perhaps $35. I could probably do all three in an hour and a half, a good mechanic in half that. I'd get another quote.

 

Speed sensor, maybe $60 (and it's one bolt to replace.) And the CTS perhaps $35.

Autozone has CTS for $10 and I got my Speed Sensor for $6 on eBay.

 

somebody steer me in the right direction if my thoughts are illogical, personally I believe the ABS module has failed, highly likely, with that known I believe the prev. owner and that shop have misdiagnosed the cause and think it is a myriad of other issues. Totally agree with Scotts and AP that the odds of all sensors going South at the same time is really a stretch, and of all the B5s & B5.5s I have been around have never replaced the external speed sensor on the 5hp19 trannys, and if it did need replacing, it is at most a 15 minute job.

 

I'm thinking along the lines of a failed ABS module, considering the year of the car and the history of ABS modules on Passat's.
But instead of theorizing and working the OP into a ball of stress I don't want to speculate.
We just need the list of codes so we can figure this out.

 

Question for the OP (BeckieL0915)
When the car is driven, does the speedometer work?

 

Yes, speedometer works fine..Got stopped doing 84mph on the highway soon after buying it and that's what I was doing!

 

I have family from the Walpole area with VW vehicles. Try Dexparts in Walpole, NH. They've been around a long time and know their way around Volkswagens.

 

Thank you very much! I'll give them a call!

 

They'll know all the quirks of that car. I had an 04 Passat GLX that put the ABS light on and it scanned that an ABS sensor was bad. It was actually the ABS module. I removed it and sent it out to get fixed, it cost me $125 and the problem went away.

 

I know that Advanced Auto gave me a cost of $110.xx for an ABS Sensor when I inquired about it..

 

Those few things that the dealer told you were wrong will not make the car undriveable at all. Just go pick it up and drive it whatever you'd like. I've driven Passats with bad coolant temp sensors, no ABS modules, bad ABS sensors. It'll be fine.

 

I was concerned because of what the manual stated when I looked up the MIL light and it's meaning..Good to know, thank you!

 

I had an 02 Passat that I drove probably 75% of its life with the MIL on. I mean if the code is no oil pressure, that's one thing, but coolant temp sensor, eh that's nothing. You might get a hard start symptom or rough idle at startup.

 

How much am I looking at roughly to get the 2nd key fob re-programmed? The car won't stay running when using that one..

 

You have one key that works fine and a second key that the car won't stay running, or just won't operate the car at all?

 

Yes, one key works fine and the other one will start the car but then it shuts off after like 5 seconds..

 

Huh, that's strange. I can't really answer that. My current Passat has one key that works everything perfectly, the second key will start the car and it drives fine, but none of the buttons will lock or unlock anything and the battery is new.

I'm not sure that a reprogram will fix your issue. I think that'll be a dealer item but I'm not positive.

 

Okay, thank you..Not a major issue right now..

 

A V6 5 speed manual!!...My dream car!...Is it in black?

ABS wheel sensors vary in price A LOT!? Original VW - $350. Bosch or Meyle OEM - $45. They did not mention rebullding/replacing the ABS module as cchief22 noted? I'd be dubious. Speed sensor? Really? My Passat (2002 V6 ATQ 4Mo wagon) has 211K on the original sensor...It's a bugger to get to but one nut below and one connector above and she's out. The coolant sensor is another one like that...Cheap to buy (Meyle $9/VW $33 quoted from the FCP Euro site)...Hard to get to and therefore many dollars to replace...nearly all of it in labor.

If you cannot find an EXPERIENCE VW MECHANIC in you area to bring that quoted listed to below $600, you will at least find MANY MANY owners in this space who may be looking to trade up.

BTW, the OBD2 cable plugs into the car on one end (under the dash to the right of the steering wheel...a pinkish purple D-shaped piece of plastic with holes in it) and into your laptop computer or tablet on the other. The VCDS (or the cheaper VCDS Lite) software than reads all the sensors and lets you save time and money for the mechanic. Modern style is to go bluetooth on the ODB2 reader...but since you are hanging in the B5 garage you won't find many of us with time or energy for those 'new fangled' jim-cracks. It gets much cheaper when you tell the mechanic, "She threw this code, please check (and replace if necessary) that thing." Saves you the $100-$160 per hour just to get a diagnosis.

The rest of the car checked out? Radiator, heater core, brake disks, A/C, transmission, clutch plates, etc? An extra grand for a 'new to you' Passat that will spin for AT LEAST another 50,000 miles, ain't so bad...but being able to pull (and turn off) those fault codes on your own will save you dough if you decide to keep her.

Let us know which way you decide....post a photo somewhere we can see it.

 

A V6 5 speed manual!!...My dream car!...Is it in black?

ABS wheel sensors vary in price A LOT!? Original VW - $350. Bosch or Meyle OEM - $45. They did not mention rebullding/replacing the ABS module as cchief22 noted? I'd be dubious. Speed sensor? Really? My Passat (2002 V6 ATQ 4Mo wagon) has 211K on the original sensor...It's a bugger to get to but one nut below and one connector above and she's out. The coolant sensor is another one like that...Cheap to buy (Meyle $9/VW $33 quoted from the FCP Euro site)...Hard to get to and therefore many dollars to replace...nearly all of it in labor.

If you cannot find an EXPERIENCE VW MECHANIC in you area to bring that quoted listed to below $600, you will at least find MANY MANY owners in this space who may be looking to trade up.

BTW, the OBD2 cable plugs into the car on one end (under the dash to the right of the steering wheel...a pinkish purple D-shaped piece of plastic with holes in it) and into your laptop computer or tablet on the other. The VCDS (or the cheaper VCDS Lite) software than reads all the sensors and lets you save time and money for the mechanic. Modern style is to go bluetooth on the ODB2 reader...but since you are hanging in the B5 garage you won't find many of us with time or energy for those 'new fangled' jim-cracks. It gets much cheaper when you tell the mechanic, "She threw this code, please check (and replace if necessary) that thing." Saves you the $100-$160 per hour just to get a diagnosis.

The rest of the car checked out? Radiator, heater core, brake disks, A/C, transmission, clutch plates, etc? An extra grand for a 'new to you' Passat that will spin for AT LEAST another 50,000 miles, ain't so bad...but being able to pull (and turn off) those fault codes on your own will save you dough if you decide to keep her.

Let us know which way you decide....post a photo somewhere we can see it.

 

you can drive with "Brake" 3 beeps, just no ABS, your electronic part of the ABS module is bad ! And you can drive it while module is out for repair,just no ABS. You can get a cable on ebay or from other VW parts supply companies like ECS Tuning FCP Euro Parts etc. RossTech has basic free shareware,you just need to get only a cable and download to your own laptop

 

Okay, so you're saying that I shouldn't drive while bad module is still in the car?

 

I would say, as long as there is the proper level oil in the engine, driving the car will be ok. You shouldn't need to have it towed anywhere.
All the ABS light does is indicate there is a problem with the ABS system. You still have brakes and the car will be safe to drive.

 

Have you checked Craigslist for mechanics? I've seen a couple of VW mechanics advertise that they did side work out of their home. I didn't advertise, but I did similar work for about 15 years. They are usually much cheaper than other shops. I would stick to a VW/Audi mechanic if you can find one as they will know the car well.

My older son has an 01.5 V6 5sp manual in that same color, but with gray leather. It's very quick and only has about 82K on it. He worked from long before the lockdown and just started commuting before the lockdown.

 

Have you checked Craigslist for mechanics? I've seen a couple of VW mechanics advertise that they did side work out of their home. I didn't advertise, but I did similar work for about 15 years. They are usually much cheaper than other shops. I would stick to a VW/Audi mechanic if you can find one as they will know the car well.

My older son has an 01.5 V6 5sp manual in that same color, but with gray leather. It's very quick and only has about 82K on it. He worked from long before the lockdown and just started commuting before the lockdown.

Craigslist people really screwed me over (3 different guys) when I needed my Golf repaired..I'm going to begin looking for someone who I can trust and who knows VW's/Audi's...

 

I own a 2005 GLX wiith. 151 K and love the car. I drive it from Nov to April as my "winter car" the 4 wheel drive capability is perfect for snow. That said , I've had to sink some money in it to bring it from a problem car to a great car which has been as follows:

Replace leaking valve cover gaskets with heavy smell of burnt oil inside the car ( a common problem for high mileage V6 VW engine., Probably THE most important things an owner can do for this so called "interferrance engine " is to renew the timing belt after driving around 65000 miles...... above all keep the oil clean ( synthetic ONLY !!)

Replace exhaust flex pipes on both sides along with new O2 sensor as they usually get destroyed with flex pipe installations (quite expensive .. around $800 bucks)

air bag alarm caused by faulty seat belt connector at driver seat ( broken wires )
I am a "backyard mechanic" and do much of the work myself

. Frankly I would not recommend this car to anyone who isn't. .....for example I replaced rotors and pads on all 4 wheels saving hundreds of dollars).
The GLX when mechanically sound is a top of the line VW thats LOADED with goodies and fun to drive......somewhat of a "gas pig ( premium fuel only ). However, I don't think a high mileage car is good for anyone especially women who must pay to have all work done on the car.
Anyway I wish you good luck and hope that none of the problems I have described appear in your car. t is a truly great car to own and drive

 

I own a 2005 GLX wiith. 151 K and love the car. I drive it from Nov to April as my "winter car" the 4 wheel drive capability is perfect for snow. That said , I've had to sink some money in it to bring it from a problem car to a great car which has been as follows:

Replace leaking valve cover gaskets with heavy smell of burnt oil inside the car ( a common problem for high mileage V6 VW engine., Probably THE most important things an owner can do for this so called "interferrance engine " is to renew the timing belt after driving around 65000 miles...... above all keep the oil clean ( synthetic ONLY !!)

Replace exhaust flex pipes on both sides along with new O2 sensor as they usually get destroyed with flex pipe installations (quite expensive .. around $800 bucks)

air bag alarm caused by faulty seat belt connector at driver seat ( broken wires )
I am a "backyard mechanic" and do much of the work myself

. Frankly I would not recommend this car to anyone who isn't. .....for example I replaced rotors and pads on all 4 wheels saving hundreds of dollars).
The GLX when mechanically sound is a top of the line VW thats LOADED with goodies and fun to drive......somewhat of a "gas pig ( premium fuel only ). However, I don't think a high mileage car is good for anyone especially women who must pay to have all work done on the car.
Anyway I wish you good luck and hope that none of the problems I have described appear in your car. t is a truly great car to own and drive

You know, I absolutely LOVE this car! If I didn't want to keep it so badly, I would've taken action by now..I love the manual trans and it's just a really sweet car..If I had someone with the time that knew their stuff, I would love to learn how to do whatever repairs I could myself..I get into learning whatever I can to continue being independent and self-sufficient..I really hope that these repairs are it for at least a little while! I do love the car though..My Golf had hit 290,000 and had to go..

 

If you are located near SW lower Michigan I could run the diagnostics, have most tools as I am on my 7th or is it 8th VW and have a 2005 Passat Tdi which is similar to your 04 gasoline version. Otherwise anyone with a VAG reader or a Foxwell equivalent or Ross Tech can do the same.

 

Unfortunately, I live in the weird state of VT but grew up in Mass...Thanks for offering though!