Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

[luunta]

I'm looking at buying one of these.

Things I should look for are?

Timing belt service, water pump.
Maint. records.

Beyond that I don't know what else to look for.

Advice and help is 100% appreciated!

[eldo]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

a car without a 2.0L.

[dJ]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Yeah....you would be better off with a 1.9 lol....or at a 1.8t if you don't want the economy...or a vr6 if you are baller lol.

[Lars]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Brake wear, clutch, all the lights work.

[longsock]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Tranny -- Now, (with caution - safety first!), shift the transmission lever into neutral. Apply the parking brake. With the engine idling, press the clutch pedal all the way, hold it down, and listen for noises. Then release the pedal and listen for noises again. There should be no loud noises at either positions.
The next step is the test drive.
Try to drive the vehicle at different speeds in all gears, one by one. Every gear should shift smoothly and easily without any noises or jerks. While driving at the second or third gear, try to press down sharply on the accelerator pedal for an instance. The clutch should not slip.

Engine -- With the engine turned off, try to open the engine oil cap and look inside through the oil filler hole. Use a small flashlight. If it's possible to see any internal parts there, check their condition. What you are looking for is the oil sludge.

[luunta]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Yeah....you would be better off with a 1.9 lol....or at a 1.8t if you don't want the economy...or a vr6 if you are baller lol.

Why do you say this?

So transmissions are sometimes problems in the 2.0L GLS?

I need a car that will be cheap to fix, if ever, and runs well and is big enough for me. The 2.0L GLS was suggested as a good engine and I quite like Jettas.

[luunta]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Tranny -- Now, (with caution - safety first!), shift the transmission lever into neutral. Apply the parking brake. With the engine idling, press the clutch pedal all the way, hold it down, and listen for noises. Then release the pedal and listen for noises again. There should be no loud noises at either positions.
The next step is the test drive.
Try to drive the vehicle at different speeds in all gears, one by one. Every gear should shift smoothly and easily without any noises or jerks. While driving at the second or third gear, try to press down sharply on the accelerator pedal for an instance. The clutch should not slip.

Engine -- With the engine turned off, try to open the engine oil cap and look inside through the oil filler hole. Use a small flashlight. If it's possible to see any internal parts there, check their condition. What you are looking for is the oil sludge.

It's been probably 6 years since I've driven a standard. :S

But this is good advice. I don't want to suddenly have to do any unwanted repairs.

What about timing belt replacement km's and stuff like that?

[longsock]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

It's been probably 6 years since I've driven a standard. :S

But this is good advice. I don't want to suddenly have to do any unwanted repairs.

What about timing belt replacement km's and stuff like that?

Heh well an auto is good too then.
For auto if the tranny was rebuilt, don't buy it! You dont know if it was properly rebuit or not... Also check the fluid for color and smell, shouldn't smell burnt. There shouldn't be a long delay between the moment when you shift the shifter into "D" or "R" the tranny should kick right in. When you drive it, same thing, make sure you feel it changing gears smoothly.

As for the KMs don't buy high-mileage .I'd recommend to avoid cars with more than 200,000K.

Timing belt..make sure they did it if over 100k. If it's at 90K and they ask for 12G, offer them 10G or max 11G.

[luunta]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Definitely want a manual. I want to have fun in the car, for sure. Especially since I had to give up my allroad with 320 HP!

[Khyron]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

On the 1.8T the water pump has to be done around 100K, and since the labour is 90% of a timing belt job you do it at the same time. I dunno if the same rule applies to the 2.0 but I bet it has the same shitty water pump.

2.0 is not a fast car but it's pretty rock solid. A few like to burn oil but I don't know how easy you can check as it's usually over a month or so that you'd notice and any seller would top it up.

How much are they asking? I'd say not more than 7?

Edit: Just noticed what you're coming from - I think you'd be better spending an extra 1K or so and get a 1.8T.

[luunta]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Haha, I'm done with Turbos for now, I think. I need a rock solid car that I can run for a while and not worry about. I never really even used the turbo power on the Allroad anyways. I've read about the oil burning, seems to be semi consistent across the board that it's either.. there or not.

I can do TB service myself, it's not complicated, Graeme helped me do it on the allroad, and if we can manage an allroad, a jetta can't be bad.

So far the price is roughly 10k ish, in BC. There's a car that MIGHT be a rebuild that I'm looking at but I have to call the seller to confirm if its a rebuilt or just had an accident, doesn't specify, either way.. red flags a bit.

Managed to sell my allroad as of tomorrow, if this guys banking goes through. horse shoes in my ass full of luck that it does.

I would also look at alternatives but the 2.0L seems to be kind of solid and reliable. Good fuel economy as well apparently?

[dJ]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Haha, I'm done with Turbos for now, I think. I need a rock solid car that I can run for a while and not worry about. I never really even used the turbo power on the Allroad anyways. I've read about the oil burning, seems to be semi consistent across the board that it's either.. there or not.

I can do TB service myself, it's not complicated, Graeme helped me do it on the allroad, and if we can manage an allroad, a jetta can't be bad.

So far the price is roughly 10k ish, in BC. There's a car that MIGHT be a rebuild that I'm looking at but I have to call the seller to confirm if its a rebuilt or just had an accident, doesn't specify, either way.. red flags a bit.

Managed to sell my allroad as of tomorrow, if this guys banking goes through. horse shoes in my ass full of luck that it does.

I would also look at alternatives but the 2.0L seems to be kind of solid and reliable. Good fuel economy as well apparently?

I would go for a VR6...if you're going to spend 10k..or just go for economy and get a tdi...My dad just sold his 06 Jetta Wagon TDI with 170,000 on it for just over $9000 and that thing was rock solid. I can't vouch for the fuel ecomony in the 2.0's, but I highly doubt they will get over 1200km/55L of fuel.

[luunta]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Sooo many choices!

1.8T seems like maybe a better option after coming from the 2.7T.

What price range should I be looking for in the MK4 2002-2004 region?

Also whats the best way to check the cars history?

[luunta]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

Bonus:

Thanks for the heads up and advise guys. I haven't had time to research this much and I'm going to need a car very soon. This is suuuuper helpful.

[boostedmk4]

Re: Things to look for in a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0L

2.0 = Soild and proven, cheap to fix

1.8T = Somewhat balller, quick and expensive to fix

VR6 = Baller, expensive to fix, and timing chains need i say more?