Volkswagen Other Repair Question
Mileage: No information provided.
My jetta doesn't like it when it's raining! what's wrong?!
When I tried to start the car, in addition to not turning over the brake pedal locks. When it is dry the car runs fine (I drove from DC to Michigan between these two events!) and I recently had the oil/fluids changed. It is a 1996 Jetta manual transmission. It has previously always run fine in the rain. I thought cars were waterproof! I don't even know what could be wrong enough to figure out what type of service the car needs! What could be wrong?
Asked by sarahcougarAnswer
I had the same problem with my 96 vw jetta ... distributer cap was cracked. The distributer sends current to the engine while starting engine and running engine, when the cap is cracked, residual moisture gets in and arcs the current causing the engine to run improperly. My car wouldnt turn over after it rained. If I was driving, and would step on the accelerator, nothing would happen or acceleration was jerky. Check the cap out or have it replaced - shouldnt be too costly if that is in fact the issue. I actually had the same issue with my newer Jetta... could barely get out of a car wash once! - probably a recurring VW issue.
This could be a cracked ignition coil pack. Have the cracked sealed with a hard resin heat-resistant epoxy (purchase in store), or have it replaced (more expensive ~ $350)