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Car Troubles: What should I do and/or look for to fix my car?

Below is a list of the ongoing issues that I have endured with my 1999 Volkswagen Passat every since I purchased it from a used car dealership about a year ago:

1) About 5 months ago the A/C went without warning. One afternoon, as I was leaving a store, I noticed my A/C just wouldn't turn on --which includes the fan, blower, and defrost. The lights that are associated with the defrost and A/C, dashboard, and car lights work just fine though.

2) I may need rotors for my front tires (they make this really loud and annoying screeching noise whenever I press the brakes). I had the front brake pads replaced about a month or two ago.

3) Whenever the car is put in reverse or drive, and even when it fully stops after braking, it makes a clinking sound. What is that sound and does it have anything to do with the transmission?

4) Someones after gas is put in the car, it stalls at the gas station.

5) Rear driver side window of my car has somehow slipped off of the track. I took the car to a nearby Grease Monkey and the mechanic told me I may need a new motor for the window.

6) The blinker switch (the switch the controls the turning signals) is really loose. And the box that shields the wires under and around the steering wheel is separating.

7) The car has an alignment issue as well (It veers off to the right periodically, even when my hands are on the wheel. It is sometimes hard to control the wheel).

8) Lastly, since the car's A/C and heat is not working, the car shakes violently in the morning, and sometimes while driving and braking; especially since temperatures have reached below 25 degrees at night where I live.

At this point, I am not really sure what to do with the car. I really want to keep it --mainly because it is my first car. When I first bought it in January of 2013, it did not show any signs of malfunctioning to this extent. The only minor problems I had was with the brakes, which started around February of 2013, and the radio, which I had replaced shortly after I purchased the car. Maybe it is an electrical problem? I'm not really sure where I can find anything to fix this stuff for cheap.

What I really need to know is whether I should purchase parts for the car to fix these problems; should I take the car to a Volkswagen dealership for a broader understanding of these issues? Or is the car a total lose and should I sell it for what it is worth based on its current condition and Blue Book value? I really need an answer to every questions. It would really help!

3 Answers

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  • ?
    Lv 7
    7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    I suggest you take it to the VW dealership next time instead of whoever did your brakes. They should not be making noises after having the front brakes done. Bad rotors wouldn't cause it to squeal, the brake pads would. Shouldn't wear out that quick either

    Any car you buy, always have the dealership look at it & pay the $100 inspection fee. You will be thankful in the end because they know what to look for & they will write up everything they see that is wrong!!!!!!!!

    But you need to take it to the dealership now & have them look at it

  • 7 years ago

    I think that there are two problems here. First, you bought a Passat. Those are beautiful looking cars but they aren't known for good reliability. Second, you didn't do your homework before buying. If you had, you wouldn't have bought a Passat. Like I said, beautiful cars, but that's where the good stuff ends. Take it to a shop and get it looked over. Find out everything that's wron g on the car. Then decide whether you should keep it. VW parts aren't cheap so I wish you luck. just know that if you keep it, plan to invest a lot into it in the long run. Many will say it's because of age or neglect, but those cars started usually started having issues within the first 5 years.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    7 years ago

    Sell it to a crushing company.

    Don't stick someone else with

    that piece of junk. With the

    problems you describe you'll

    never get blue book value.

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