Engine in a mess help!

[Ainsleyg1981]

Hi
I've just brought a golf mk4 turbo 20v.
It seems it's been owned by an 18 year old lout. It's got a atmospheric dump valve at the front left of engine which apparently isn't the correct place or type of dump valve.  It's got a cone filter which is hanging over the mAf sensor not connected properly or at all. There's hoses with bolts in them to blank them off and lots of other things that don't look right. Where can I start to unravel all this mess and tune it correctly? All I can find are people to remap it I need a vw specialist who knows this engine.
I live in Hastings East Sussex if anyone knows anyone?
Many thanks.

[OSR]

The DV being down at the left hand side (I assume where the inlet pipe is to the throttle body) sounds like someone has fitted a "cold side DV relocation kit" - not strictly incorrect but not a popular mod as it doesn't make any difference IIRC?

Hoses blanked off using bolts could also be fairly legit - I have hoses blanked on mine as I'm sure many other do - sounds like the previous owner has attempted/started the simplify the engine bay vacuum/emissions system which is common, but needs to be done properly. There's some really good guides over on the VW Vortex forum, it may be worth having a look and trying to retrospectively work out what has and hasn't been done, from there we will all be able to advise a bit better.

Have you got a pic or two of the engine in its current state? From this it will be relatively easy to identify a few areas that someone may have had a go at modifying.

[Ainsleyg1981]

Thanks osr!
The car is at the garage tonight for MOT tomorrow. Once it's back I'll take some pics and post them. Only reason I wonder it's not been done correct is that the car is very slow.  I assumed most turbo cars threw you Back some what in your seat but this certainly does not.

[Rhyso]

VAG turbo cars won't throw you back into your seat; certainly not in standard trim!!

Standard boost pressure is 7-8psi so what you are seeing on your boost gauge is right........

Welcome to the crappy world of the 1.8T 

[Ainsleyg1981]

VAG turbo cars won't throw you back into your seat; certainly not in standard trim!!

Standard boost pressure is 7-8psi so what you are seeing on your boost gauge is right........

Welcome to the crappy world of the 1.8T 

Ah ok!
So with a decent air filter, exhaust and a stage 2 remap will I at least be moderately excited by the power punch? Or should I sell and buy a Focus st or Vauxhall vxr.
I'm really gutted as I've always wanted one of these but my nans zimmer has more power and excitement than my golf 😔

[barrym381]

VAG turbo cars won't throw you back into your seat; certainly not in standard trim!!

Standard boost pressure is 7-8psi so what you are seeing on your boost gauge is right........

Welcome to the crappy world of the 1.8T 

Ah ok!
So with a decent air filter, exhaust and a stage 2 remap will I at least be moderately excited by the power punch? Or should I sell and buy a Focus st or Vauxhall vxr.
I'm really gutted as I've always wanted one of these but my nans zimmer has more power and excitement than my golf 😔

Don't buy a vxr whatever you do they are p**h full stop the st is 4 or 5 times the cost and like any car has there problems  get your car running right and don't expect it to throw you back in your seat

[The ANT]

You've got to pay to play, mk4s weren't known for excitement in standard trim anyway.

[OSR]

Not to bring up the whole "x car is faster than y car" but a stage 2 1.8t all running correctly and setup properly should give an ST a run for its money any day of the week, an RS however is a different matter but if you want to spend the best part of £20k+ on a focus be my guest! As for VXRs I never could see the whole Vauxhall thing personally, but a big part of the whole 1.8t thing is because I've always wanted a Golf GTi and knew you could mess about with the engines relatively easily and do everything yourself (minus the mapping).

At the end of the day it's a VW ;-)

[Ainsleyg1981]

Not to bring up the whole "x car is faster than y car" but a stage 2 1.8t all running correctly and setup properly should give an ST a run for its money any day of the week, an RS however is a different matter but if you want to spend the best part of £20k+ on a focus be my guest! As for VXRs I never could see the whole Vauxhall thing personally, but a big part of the whole 1.8t thing is because I've always wanted a Golf GTi and knew you could mess about with the engines relatively easily and do everything yourself (minus the mapping).

At the end of the day it's a VW ;-)

Yea me too.  I've always wanted one a 1.8 turbo but didn't expect it to be slower than my wife's diesel touran, that does throw you back in your seat my golf just pulls like it's not got a turbo. Very underwhelming 😔
Maybe I have an issue with mine?

[Dalo Harkin]

my stage 2 throws me back in my seat if you foot down in third gear!