Curbed the Jetta hard. Looking for some Info

[RabidNoodle]

Well.....as the title stats I hit a curb going about 30mph. My passenger side wheel is now at a slant. Looks like I probably broke a tie rod or a-arm.....and blew the strut out. Where the strut attaches to the wheel is in two separate pieces from what I can see

I had it towed back to my house and I took a good luck under the car and luckily found no holes or leaks. What I am really scared about is that the car won't start. It will turn over fine but just won't start the engine. I have no check engine lights and it sounds normal when turning over but it doesn't even sound like its going to start. On occasion I can here the exhaust make a sputter. I can't really hear the fuel pump running at all. I have tried to reset the ECU with no luck.

Does anyone have any ideas on what this could be?

[Matt Cramer]

These would have had a switch that detects a crash and shuts down the fuel pump. Maybe that tripped and needs to be reset?

[RabidNoodle]

Originally Posted by Matt Cramer

These would have had a switch that detects a crash and shuts down the fuel pump. Maybe that tripped and needs to be reset?

That is kind of what I am thinking. Do you happen to know where this switch is or how to reset it? Thanks for the reply.

[Matt Cramer]

Let me know exactly what year / model / this is and I'll see if I can look it up. I can't promise I will be able to find it.

[RabidNoodle]

Originally Posted by Matt Cramer

Let me know exactly what year / model / this is and I'll see if I can look it up. I can't promise I will be able to find it.

02 Jetta GLX VR6 Manual Trans.

[sdhelzer]

Hit a curb at 30mph... probably on a slant... that's a tough hit.

I'm surprised your airbags were not deployed or were they?. There are sensors that detect a frontal / rear / side impact collision and above a certain energy threshold fire off the airbags. Once deployed a code is entered into the ECU indicating that the airbags were deployed and if I am not mistaken '02 going forward did employ a fuel pump shutoff.

Recheck your ECU for codes.

[RabidNoodle]

Yes it was a very rough hit. The airbags didn't deploy luckily. My strut is in two pieces and I really hope that is the worst of my problems, not to mention my poor Audi wheel and tire. I thinking the engine is OK, maybe just an electrical safe guard or maybe some wire/hose damage from the impact.

[sdhelzer]

I feel pretty sure that the engine is ok. I would however, be concerned about the motor mounts, not to mention your control arm, ball joint, tie rod and cv joint.

I assume that you checked the under carriage for damage to the oil pan etc.

I am going over to see a friend of mine today who is a real expert on VWs about another matter. He only works on VW and Audi. I will ask him about the fuel shutoff and post what he tells me either tonight or tomorrow.

[Matt Cramer]

Looks like Alldata doesn't have the location. Sorry.

[RabidNoodle]

Originally Posted by sdhelzer

I feel pretty sure that the engine is ok. I would however, be concerned about the motor mounts, not to mention your control arm, ball joint, tie rod and cv joint.

I assume that you checked the under carriage for damage to the oil pan etc.

I am going over to see a friend of mine today who is a real expert on VWs about another matter. He only works on VW and Audi. I will ask him about the fuel shutoff and post what he tells me either tonight or tomorrow.

I did check for damage to the oil pan. I don't see any and I checked oil level and they are fine. I wouldn't be surprised if all of the above are damaged.....kind of sucks. The engine cross member looks a little scraped up but thats about it. Thanks for the help.

- Matt, thanks for looking into it. I appreciate your help!

[sdhelzer]

I aologize, I didn't get over to see my old time mechanic friend until yesteray and I forgot that he always goes to Germany for a month between mid September and mid October for VW factory training.

I asked both of his sons who work for him and supervise the shop when he is out if a Jetta has a fuel "shut-off switch / valve" but... they had no clue. They are still young and learning.

I also searched his Bentley shop manual and found out that only the TDI models employ fuel and air shut-off valves which are located on the fuel injection pump and controlled by the ECM.

I did however come up with a few things that I thing you ought to check:

1. Check your fuel lines both supply and return for collapses and crimps due to the accident. Since you believe that you do not hear the pump run when the iginition is turned on this is not likely the problem; but you should check anyway.

2. Check your fuel pump fuse in the fuse box. It is a large size 30A fuse located near the bottom left of the box. In my 2000 Jetta 1.8T it is fuse number 28, but check your locater card for your location.

3. Check your fuel pump relay. In my Jetta it is located in the relay panel under the dash on the driver's side to the left of the steering wheel at the top left and marked "409..."

If none of the above cures the problem then I believe it will be most likely a problem with the fuel pump itself or perhaps a break in the electrical circuit to the pump.

Oh, and just for grins and tickles try to start with your secondary remote key or your valet key. Jettas can get pretty nasty when they think they have been mistreated. It is an outside chance but the accident may have caused the ECM to stop recognizing your primary remote key. I know it sounds wild but I have experienced something similar in the past.

Good luck and please post your results.

[sdhelzer]

Hello RabitNoodle,

How are you and your Jetta doing up there in Big Sky country?

I am dying of curiosity to know if you tried starting with your secondary remote or valet key and if so what happened.

I am going to relate to you a funny story relative to my suggestion, although it wasn’t all that funny at the time:

When my 2000 Jetta turned six months I took it into my dealership for its 5,000 mile inspection and oil change. After changing the oil and filter the mechanic started the vehicle (hood opened and positioned up) and checked for leaks as he should have done. No leaks… he lowered the vehicle and dropped the hood really hard. I could hear the bang from inside the waiting area window overlooking the service bay.

Less than a second after he dropped the hood Miss Jetta locked all doors and proceeded to roll up all windows that were down. Here was my Jetta purring away at an idle, key in the ignition and completely locked up. Talk about shocked… I thought the mechanic was going to piss in his pants and needless to say I was pissed.

After some spirited discussions I agreed to let the body shop manager snake a wire through the rubber / nylon door molding and unlock the car. Car unlocked, it was driven around to the front of the dealership and turned off.

I paid my bill, got into Miss Jetta, turned the key and absolutely nothing happened, nada, not even a peep or sputter. VW’s infamous immobilizer had kicked in and nothing worked.

The bottom line is the dealership had to reprogram my remote so that Miss Jetta would accept it again.

Sounds crazy I know and I still can’t quite believe that it happened, but it did.

That is why I suggested in my last post that you try your secondary remote or valet key, because sometimes Jettas can get pretty nasty when they think they have been mistreated.