Volkswagen Repair: 2002 Jetta smoke, letter designation, volkswagen dealer


Question
QUESTION: I have an 02 Jetta that smokes very bad, but only does it once in a while, and only for about 5 - 10 sec. I have had the car put on a scanner a # of times, but no-one can tell me what to do to fix this car. I don't know if this is related, but the speedometer showes correctly at first, then showes 15 - 20 mph less than I am really going. I wonder if the ECM is bad????
Thank You,

ANSWER: Hi Charlie;
Where does the smoke come from?  What kind of engine does your car have?  How many miles does your car have?
Is the smoke in the interior, or under the hood, or out the tailpipe, or at the base of the windshield?  When the car was placed on a "scanner," what were the results?  Did anyone give you a printout of the session?  I have a couple of ideas, but those ideas would change given a different place for the smoke, or a different engine.  Please get back to me, Charlie, I might be able to give you a few ideas that will help.  Thanks.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: All I can tell you is it has a 2.0 gas engine, the smoke comes out the tailpipe (blue/white smoke). Scanner results show cat. converter.
Thank you,
Charlie

Answer
Hello again, Charlie;
Thank you for the additional information.  I don't think your ECM is bad.  I think it's all in the catalytic converter.  Since it is a 2.0 liter engine, it might even be covered by a factory campaign.  2.0 liter cats. have been prone to "low efficiency" and have been under factory recall, or factory campaign, but before you run down to the local Volkswagen dealer, and say..."Give me my new cat."  You should call them first with your symptoms, and be prepared to give them your engine code so they can tell you if your car qualifies.  The engine code is a 3 letter designation on the timing belt cover, and is probably..."AEG," or "AZG."  But it might even be "AVH."  I don't know because I can't see the sticker.  It's a white sticker with a design, or pattern that looks similar to a "bar code" at the grocery store.  However it has some other stuff on there too...like the engine code.  Good luck, Charlie.  I hope you're covered!