Christina
Veteran Member
Hi everyone. It's been a very long time since I last posted here; hope all the Metro DC area TDIers are doing well.
My 2001 Golf has been pretty fine so there's been no reason for me to post, but now it's sick. I'm not very knowledgeable about cars so forgive me for what may be imprecise language...
For a little while now I've been noticing that I have to push the "gas" pedal pretty far down to get the car to shift properly, and it seems to rev up unusually high -- like, up to 30 on that RPM dial -- before it downshifts. And it seems to labor when I go uphill. I do mostly city driving so it's not often an issue because I'm not driving highway speeds and I don't have to put on quick bursts of speed. But, it's bothered me enough that I knew I would have to take it into the shop soon. (Meaning, when I had enough money.)
Today, I was out and the car was driving fine early on, but then when I left a store and cranked up I couldn't turn the steering wheel (easily). Turns out my power steering was gone, and that battery indicator light on my dashboard was illuminated. I drove straight home (a chore, with no power steering) because I assume that indicator light means that I was driving off my battery and that it wasn't properly recharging.
The owner's manual says this could be an alternator problem, but I'm wondering if the acceleration problems I've been having, and this electrical problem, could be linked? If so, is this a very expensive repair?
Of course, I've got to take it to be fixed as soon as possible. Any DC area shop recommendations other than Martens? I've not been very happy with them. I've been going to Pat Goss Auto World in Seabrook, Md. but I'm worried I might not have enough juice to get there from DC. However, since they've done much of my recent service, perhaps it's best to stick with them?
My 2001 Golf has been pretty fine so there's been no reason for me to post, but now it's sick. I'm not very knowledgeable about cars so forgive me for what may be imprecise language...
For a little while now I've been noticing that I have to push the "gas" pedal pretty far down to get the car to shift properly, and it seems to rev up unusually high -- like, up to 30 on that RPM dial -- before it downshifts. And it seems to labor when I go uphill. I do mostly city driving so it's not often an issue because I'm not driving highway speeds and I don't have to put on quick bursts of speed. But, it's bothered me enough that I knew I would have to take it into the shop soon. (Meaning, when I had enough money.)
Today, I was out and the car was driving fine early on, but then when I left a store and cranked up I couldn't turn the steering wheel (easily). Turns out my power steering was gone, and that battery indicator light on my dashboard was illuminated. I drove straight home (a chore, with no power steering) because I assume that indicator light means that I was driving off my battery and that it wasn't properly recharging.
The owner's manual says this could be an alternator problem, but I'm wondering if the acceleration problems I've been having, and this electrical problem, could be linked? If so, is this a very expensive repair?
Of course, I've got to take it to be fixed as soon as possible. Any DC area shop recommendations other than Martens? I've not been very happy with them. I've been going to Pat Goss Auto World in Seabrook, Md. but I'm worried I might not have enough juice to get there from DC. However, since they've done much of my recent service, perhaps it's best to stick with them?
