Should I buy this?

[Brian]

I’m very familiar with domestic and Asian cars, but German stuff is new to me. I haven’t owned a vw since the air cooled beetle about 20 years ago.
A friend wants to sell me a 99 Jetta v6 dohc with just over 200k miles. New tires and brakes a year ago, which is when it was parked and not started since.
He said an oil leak would be over $2k to get fixed, but I’m handy and it’s $400.
We charged the battery up, but it acts flooded. Backfires then dies. After the engine is done spinning, there is a loud whirring noise that sounds a lot like a jet engine winding down. What causes that sound and what is it?
I can’t find the throttle body to try to open it up manually.
There are obvious oil stains on all the front pulleys, and I don’t know how hard to fix it would be. I’m thinking the timing chain and crank pulley has to come off for the fix.
The engine is not transverse either, so I don’t know if it’s rwd, awd or an odd fwd arrangement.
I left a charger on the battery and am going back to it tomorrow afternoon.
I want it to start so I can check for blow-by. The brakes have also rusted into place, it’s parked on an incline and won’t budge in neutral. Once I get it running, I assume I can put it in gear and try to force it to move.
I’m still puzzled by the jet engine noise after the car engine has totally stopped.
Any tips guys?

Topic

[Mike]

Seems a bit odd to put new brakes and tires on and then just park it.

If you’re looking for a fun project, then the answer is maybe.
If funds are tight, then no.
Generally speaking, German cars cost more to repair than Domestic or Asian made.
I believe its 2.8 is known as a VR6 .
The 2.8L DOHC VR6 engine was only used in fewer than 8% of 1999 Jettas–as per Wikipedia.
Parts may be scarce and expensive.
Research the cost of parts for this car.
Looking on Rockauto, there are very few parts available, even for such common things as a serpentine belt.
Search for reviews by owners of the ’99 2.8 DOHC Jetta
Look on Jetta forums and inquire there, too, as they likely know more about expected and expensive issues than anyone here does.

A $2000 oil leak is likely to require some serious engine disassembly.
The owner probably has a written estimate on hand.
I’d ask the owner what exactly is leaking—and I’d want to see for myself how fast the leak is.
It may be pouring out.
Starting the engine could just be a matter of putting in some fresh fuel or maybe the timing chain has jumped teeth.
Look at the huge amount of work is involved to change the timing chain, in this video.

OR
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1264409

Things I would do before buying it, in addition to getting it to start.
You’ll want to check for any codes

[Mike M.]

I had an 89 Jetta back in the day and loved it. Though, I will concur..I had a model that seemed different than literally all the rest of the ones in the US, and the parts were expensive. Had to buy a 5 inch hose for something that was 2 different sizes on each size..cost me $120 from the dealer as this was the only place to get it. Then again, this was well before the internet afforded us options.
I concur with the previous response…under no circumstances would I get this unless it was going to straight up be a hobby/project. That being said, while I loved my Jetta, I would rather have something WAY more fun that a jetta 🙂

[Brian]

That’s a fair statement. I spent time looking at it today, it leaks oil with the engine off too, there are missing interior trim bits too.
I chose not to buy it. He’s scrapping it. It’s in Minnesota for cheap if any of you want it.

[Author]

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