Engine start, then stalls and shuts off

ABUGSLIFE0911

MEMBER
1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
2.0L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
117,100 MILES

Scan tool showed low signal coil 3, and misfire on cylinder 3. Changed coil pack, plugs and wires. Now the car won't stay running for long. Starts right up, but either runs with a really rough idle (motor shakes the whole car) or stalls and dies immediately. Please help!

Saturday, June 29th, 2019 AT 2:29 PM

4 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
51,648 POSTS

Hello,

It sounds like you have low compression in #3 cylinder. To be sure here is a guide to help you test it:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Please run down this guide and report back.

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Monday, July 1st, 2019 AT 12:26 PM

ABUGSLIFE0911

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thanks for the help. Ran compression, read a little low (135 - 140). But that's across all four cylinders and within accepted range so I figured it was okay. Ran scan tool again after and now I'm not getting the misfire code. But I'm now getting p1543, and the symptoms are the same. I'm so lost. Could I have done something to damage my throttle body, actuator or position sensor?

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Monday, July 1st, 2019 AT 2:00 PM

ABUGSLIFE0911

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Also getting p0121 code.

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Monday, July 1st, 2019 AT 2:01 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
51,648 POSTS

These are throttle body codes I would replace the TPS and clean the throttle bore. here is a guide and diagrams below to help you get he job done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

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