About Rick O. Expertise Classic, aircooled (rear engine) 1949-1979 VW's, specializing in electrical problems, fuel injection, and Type 181 "The Thing".
NOTE: I have limited experience on water-cooled VWs (Rabbit, Golf, Jetta, etc...) but I am glad to help to the extent of my knowledge, due to the fact there are currently no other experts registered for these models.
Experience 15 years of aircooled VW ownership and maintenance.
Publications Wikipedia, VW Beetle
Education/Credentials Retired US military Electronics Tech/Master Training Specialist, Civilian Computer engineer.
My engine light is on I went to go get a diagnostic test don on it, but it said that the OBD II has a bad connection. I had the computer check and it pass the test and was not giving a bad code(mechanic talk and over my head) I tried telling the mechanic that I am smelling burning oil through my vents, but he said it was nothing to make the engine light come on. I asked a question to someone else and they said it could be a leak near the gasket or something or a (clogged breather???). I am looking for some one to narrow the problem and tell me about how much it will cost, because i will be going to a new mechanic and don't want to get ripped off.
Than you
Answer Fred,
Unless you have a bad ECU (unlikely) I would get it scanned again by a different shop. Ask for the code(s) found. You can look them up yourself at www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes. If it is a volkswagen specific code, go to www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/volkswagen/. Then you will have more knowledge about what fix the shop might be trying to sell you.
As far as the burning oil smell, you may have a leaky head gasket in the engine compartment, hard to say. You may want to be sure it actually an "oil" smell; other possibilities are burning electrics and anti-freeze leaking into the heater core.
