Here is the scoop.

Pulled out of the driveway, 2.1l engine. Pulled out of the driveway and low
power foot on gas surged to 1800 down to idle and back 3
times......................

Drove into town, and no power...black smoke.....occasional normal operation.
I looked at the fi connections and all seemed well.  Most of the FI is
fairly new, but it had been running fine up to this point.  Any ideas or
experiences with this?

Adam P

Disconnect the O2 sensor. I installed a new O2 sensor when I repaired the
heads on my van a couple of weeks ago, and I had to rewire it, had it
working this past Monday, filled the tank Tuesday afternoon, and when I
started the van next morning, no power, backfiring and it died after it was
warm. It ran like this the whoe day, and this morning, same ritual. I
thought it was bad gasoline, but decided to disconnect the O2 sensor, and
what do you know, it ran like it should the rest of the day. I filled the
tank again today, so I'll plug it back. Did you hear that 1999-2001 New
Beetles, Jettas and Golfs have a factory recall due to bad O2 sensors? Read
about it today on VW Trends, so it's not impossible that I could have a bad
one.

Hector