My 1999 VW new beetle stalls when it warms up. This has happened 5 times now. There is a temperature light that goes out when engine is warm. If I let the car sit for half hour or so it will start again. But can only drive a few miles and it will stall again and not start.PLEASE HELP!!! I don't want to buy lots of parts and labor for parts that are fine.Automatic, 2.0 engine

First time you might check the thermostat operating.

Heed of antifreeze coolant temperature!!!

The thermostat location for 2000 VW Beetle 2.0L is on back of the alternator at the bottom side of the bracket.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is NOT necessary to replace the alternator if you want to change the thermostat !!!

Thermostat checking:
1. Cold engine. Start up the engine and watch of the water temp indicator. After first value 60 Celsius Degree you still warm up the engine until the lifter (pointer) reach 80 C deg. (second mark after 60 C deg.). At this time you let engine running at idle speed and check with your hand the thermostat plastic housing and hose temperature in bottom left side of the engine. Heed of alternator driving belt and ventilator fan !!!
2. If the thermostat is good the hose must be cold until the water temp indicator reach almost 90 C deg.
3. The thermostat opening temperature is 87 C deg.
4. If the hose is already warm the thermostat is out of order.

Thermostat location, Part number: 050 121 113 C, in german - "Kuehlregle".
Remark: 87 ... 102 Celsius deg.
Price around $35:



Important note: Always replace the thermostat seal, position 7 in the above picture.

cold start sensor faulty

16501/P0117 - Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (G62): Signal too Low Possible Symptoms

• Difficulties with starting a cold engine.
• Starting the engine when engine is warmish or warm, idle rpm immediately is 1200 - 3000 rpm.
• RPM at idle is irregular.
• With all engine temperatures seldom idle rpm will vary between 900 - 1000 rpm.
• With engine warm (90 °C) the engine temperature suddenly drops (70 °C) and slowly comes back to 90 °C.
• Bad acceleration during warming up.
  • Diesel: an indication is extreme long time burning time of the glow indication light.

Possible Causes

• The electrical signal coming from G62 is too low
• Wiring and/or connections faulty (short circuit?)
• Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (G62) faulty

Possible Solutions

• Check wiring and connections
• Check / Replace Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (G62)

Special Notes

• In MY 1995-2002 (?) in Europe at VW-cars the G2/G62 had the bad reputation of breaking down often. The default G2/G62 is black and all replacements are green.

it could be just contaminated fuel. keep an eye on it and if it happens again. let me know. also keep notes(i.e. time of day, cold/hot, driving/starting, just fueled, raining). all these can play important roles while diagnosing.

Modern vehicles like yours do not need any prewarm up before take off. The thermostat system takes care of that as your car will reach operating temperature quickly-5 to 10 minutes' drive. Start and go--you cause no harm to the engine at all.

I would start by scanning the car, your Audi friend should be able to help, being that they are basically the same car. If nothing appears then start looking at wire harnesses and grounds, VW uses brown wires for it's grounds very common to have a bad engine ground to mess you up. Good luck.

If the light goes out after engine gets alittle warm, this is normal. Since there is no temp guage, VW uses this light to inform that the engine is cold. When that same light flashes red, it means that the coolant is low or the engine is overheating.

First off need to know if it is a 2.0 or 1.8T engine. Most likely you have a 2.0L engine. The coolant light on the dash will stay blue untill the temp reaches a set temp by ECM, then goes out. Since the Beetles do not have a temp gauge you dont know what the actual temperature is. I replace thermostats on these all the time for this problem on these cars. To test this, start car and let run at idle and set heater fan on low. Let run untill you feel warm to hot air coming out the vents. Once its as warm as it is going to get, go drive the car at a steady cruise and see if the temp drops. If so then you need a thermostat replacement. I only use OE VW thermostats 050121113C. Hope that helps you out. Kevin

its normal if the engine is cold,it should go out once it warms up....

Thats the car telling you that it is not warm goes off when the engine warms up