Hi Scotty! I recently started having a mega problem with my 2009 VW beetle, automatic transmission, 229,000 miles- it kills when I idling or when decelerating but drives *almost* normal when going around 80, if I start the car and don't instantly slam the pedal to the floorboard then it automatically kills over, the engine does feel very shaky (if that's a good way to describe it), and it does have white exhaust coming out, I replaced the ignition coils in April (so about a month ago) and just today replaced the spark plugs so I know it's not that, usually I YouTube what I can and it's been immensely helpful but I'm at a loss right now, please help because I don't have mechanic money right now, thank you!! 🙂
It sounds like your PCV Valve diaphragm has ruptured and you have a massive vacuum leak while you're sucking oil into the intake manifold which is causing the white smoke.
You'd remove the silver colored, plastic engine cover (it just pulls right up and off).
Under that you can see the PCV Valve diaphragm housing.
VW wants to sell you the PCV Valve Diaphragm as part of the valve cover but you can buy just the PCV Valve Diaphragm and cover at the auto parts store for around $40.
Dorman PCV Valve 917-064
There's youtubes of guys changing these out and it's a lot easier than having to replace the valve cover and valve cover gasket just to get a new PCV Valve diaphragm
Hi Jack! Thank you for your help (and also being so specific), it is greatly appreciated 🙂 I just saw your comment and will look into that and I'm hoping that will be the issue and not something bigger, fingers crossed!
Anything suspicious in codes or live data?
Hi Chuck! I just saw your comment - the codes did show a cylinder misfire (I did replace the ignition coils and spark plugs) but also has a code of "leak in the air intake system" as well as "evap leak", I've been doing a lot of googling/trying to narrow down solutions because I've never seen those codes before and am trying to do as much as I can on my own (with the help of my brother) before having to go to a mechanic because life's just kind of kicked me while I was down lately lol
There are too many possibilities based on the information provided. The quickest way to a identifying the cause is for a professional to run diagnostics.
Hi Joe! Aside from being a broke girl right now I'm kind of scared to drive it with how it's running and that's mostly why I haven't taken it in to have an actual mechanics code reader tested on it, I did do one of the at home code readers though which did show cylinder misfire (which I did replace the ignition could last month and just did the spark plugs yesterday), but also showed "leak in air intake system" and "Evap leak" as well and those are the first time I've ever seen those codes so I'm trying to Google and narrow down solutions for those