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Fri Aug 22, 2025 9:00 am

I suspect the PCV valve is not working on my 2003 MV Weekender with its VR6 motor, and trying to figure out how to resolve the dilemma.

There is some discussion here and there on this problem, but all the threads I’ve found are years old. The OE part was discontinued before the pandemic.

There are many of these vehicles out there, and none are getting any younger, so I thought there might be a consensus among owners as to how to fix this. Usually the aftermarket will step in when demand becomes high enough. With used OE PCV valves (with the intake it’s molded into) show up on eBay at $800, I’d think somebody would have figured this out by now.

Am I missing a discussion somewhere?

Fri Aug 22, 2025 10:12 am

Welcome to the group!

Depending on the mode of failure, there may be options to use parts from similar era VWs with the VR6. There is also the option of sourcing generic component parts from other makes/models or general automotive parts.

In many cases, PCV related failures are due to cracking/splitting of the tubing, especially near the fittings. These failures can be repaired temporarily with tape or shrink tubing, semi permanently with epoxy, or sourcing similar parts from other VWs.

Sometimes the fittings themselves fail. There are generic fittings available from Dorman and similar manufacturers that can be used as direct replacements to rebuild your existing PCV system.

If its the PCV valve itself, these may be repairable with generic diaphragm material or source a similar part from another VW.

Of course, it could also be a vacuum leak causing your PCV system not to function at all.

My recommendation would be to diagnose the mode of failure first (hose, fitting, electrical, vacuum, etc). Use those results to focus your repair/replacement strategy.

Fri Aug 22, 2025 10:19 am

Below is the latest thread on the PCV issue that was repaired before a long road trip.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=802707&highlight=pcv

In that thread is a link to a replacement PCV for a 1999-2003 EV.
https://www.vwpartsgiant.com/genuine/volkswagen~pcv-valve~021129101d
PartsGiant indicates the part is in stock. The only way to find out is to order and see what the response is.

Welcome to the samba and the EV insanity!

Sat Aug 23, 2025 6:48 pm

I may not need a new PCV valve after all. I remover the air intake and the breather hose to inspect and clean. The PCV valve was loaded with carbon.

I spent quite a bit of time cleaning it, and everything else I removed.

Sat Aug 23, 2025 6:51 pm

67rustavenger wrote: Below is the latest thread on the PCV issue that was repaired before a long road trip.

In that thread is a link to a replacement PCV for a 1999-2003 EV.
https://www.vwpartsgiant.com/genuine/volkswagen~pcv-valve~021129101d
PartsGiant indicates the part is in stock. The only way to find out is to order and see what the response is.

That PVC valve is not what is used on my engine; I believe it is for the earlier models.

This is the breather hose itself. The PCV valve is molded into the air intake hose on the rear side of the horseshoe

https://europarts-sd.com/crankcasepcvbreatherhoseassembly2001-2003.asp

Sat Aug 23, 2025 7:06 pm

Let me offer some context so you know what my thinking is (was)

This 2003 EV MV Weekender is new to us last month. We bought it locally from the second owner who bought it from the original owner at the beginning of the pandemic. She wanted something she could use with her two young daughters to get away on weekends. The kids are now teenagers and not into “going camping” with Mom, so it was just sitting. She decided to sell.

The original owner was also in Seattle, and the van was bought from the VW dealership here in my neighborhood. It’s always been based in Seattle.

This is my first experience owning a EuroVan. I have no real baseline of experience to compare it too.

We have just been going through the squawk list, all little things, mostly deep cleaning, and I noted oil spreading on the outside of intake end of the air intake hose; the engine compartment has a lot of road dust, and the oil wicks through the dry dust and had spread several inches from the joint between the air filter box and the intake hose.

I was in there changing the engine air filter, cabin air filter, etc. and when I discoed the intake hose I found a puddle of engine oil in the pleats of the air intake hose.

I also have noted the engine idles a little rough when it is started, just a faint hesitation maybe? Just not like I’ve come to expect from 21st century EFI autos.

This is what lead me to think the PCV valve was faulty, but now I don’t know.

What should I do next?

Sun Aug 24, 2025 4:10 am

The 2003 24V will idle rough and chuff on cold start as it blows cold air into the cat to burn off excess cold start emissions. That high whine ( like a phaser, on overload) stops after a minute and it settles to a nice smooth 750 rpm.

If it’s doing that, it duplicates how mine started at the VW dealer in 2002

:D

Sun Aug 24, 2025 7:01 pm

I put everything back together today and started it.

Sounds the same. Really nothing to complain about, but I do note that removing the oil fill cap while the van is idling, produces no change in engine sound. Nothing.

That makes me think no vacuum. Everything is in a place and looks good.

Thu Sep 25, 2025 5:21 pm

I ran across this thread this afternoon as I searched oil in the air intake hose...

Anyhow, I am curious to find out what, if any, solution was found. My 2003 EV has a similar issue with oil in the intake hose. I'll look for any obstructions in the PVC.

Thanks,
John

Fri Sep 26, 2025 6:50 am

John - I can’t answer really your question because I’ve driven the van so little after cleaning my PCV valve. I suspect it may take time for oil to accumulate.

In spite of the thread title, I doubt the PCV valve was the root cause; it worked both before, and after cleaning it. That is to say I could blow through it, and then suck through it, before and after. Given how gunked up it was, I’m glad I cleaned it, and the breather hose though.

Sat Sep 27, 2025 4:41 pm

I finally got the inlet hose removed. The membrane looks a bit dirty, but I believe it may be working. I'll spray it with some MAF cleaner to remove some of the debris.

One thing I noticed was that the oil in the inlet hose only went in a few inches. The remainder of the hose was clean and dry. How I discovered the oil was when I removed the air filter there was oil residue covering about 1/4 of the bottom of the filter box. I guess gravity allows it to work down past the MAF and into the filter box, yet the filter is dry.

Anyhow, here's a picture of the membrane. Any and all suggestions and comments are welcome!