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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Billy213 on 04 February 2012, 11:02

Title: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 04 February 2012, 11:02
Where to begin.. Basically, I bought the car from Leeds just before Christmas. I needed a bit of work doing cosmetically but other than that ran fine. Drove it back up to Middlesbrough and then from there down back home to London a few days later with everything running fine. Worked fine until new years day when I was due to travel back to Middlesbrough when all of a sudden everything went tits up.

I started losing a lot of power when driving with it randomly fading in and out. I read through the forums and decided to change the dizzy cap and also discovered that the accelerator cable had come off of the lever arm bit of the Weber carb. After changing that and the HT leads it was still struggling to start and most of the time not at all. It wouldn't sit at idle and I've never got it close leaving my drive. It then started making funny noises and eventually stopped working altogether. Now after getting the start motor changed I'm still not able to get it started. It's turning over without the noise but now wont fire up at all.

Running out of ideas completely now, I'm only able to get home from the north some weekends where ever lifts are possible because I refuse to pay over £100 for a train ticket.  :rolleyes: Everything I've tried seems to lead to something else breaking or just not fixing it at all. Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Diamond Hell on 04 February 2012, 13:12
make sure all the earths are clean and secure.

A bad earth on the motor will cause all of the faults you have described.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 04 February 2012, 16:18
As far as I know I've checked them. Where are they all in case I missed one?
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Seanl on 04 February 2012, 16:33
Are you getting fuel and spark? If your fuel pump was on it's way out before then that could account for it being sluggish if it was loosing pressure. It could now be totally shot, hence why it won't start. That's a good start anyway or to give us all more of an idea of what you've tried already
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 06 February 2012, 01:30
Yes, I'm getting spark. How do I check the fuel pump? I know they're cheap but I don't want to pile more money into trying to fix it and not getting anything in return.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 19 February 2012, 21:38
So I finally got to work on the car this weekend. Got it up and running again. All earths fully cleaned and with new terminations. Started first time and I was over the moon. Got it up to temperature and run up the revs a bit to clear it all through and not a single misfire.

Then went to take it for a drive again and just like the original problem, stuttering and jerking under acceleration making it impossible to drive.

Any ideas? Really wanna get this back on the road now. My first car and I only got to drive it for a week.  :cry:
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Craigwilson on 20 February 2012, 02:13
likley the fuel pickup pump in the tank happened to mine and it now runs an absolute dream
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 20 February 2012, 07:11
Probably should have mentioned that I checked the fuel pump and that it was running fine. Could it be struggling under load though?
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Craigwilson on 20 February 2012, 08:16
which fuel pump coz there's one under the car and one in the tank and yes it may be struggling under load that's what delayed me to replace it I thought it was fine but it obviously couldn't give me the pressure I needed.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 20 February 2012, 09:38
The driver only has the one mechanically driven from the engine AFAIK. Small diaphragm pump.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Tomonator1985 on 20 February 2012, 10:47
i had a similar problem, the timing was just way out.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 20 February 2012, 12:13
How much am I looking at to get the timing done? I've never done it before and don't have the equipment. A mobile mechanic would probably be my best option.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Craigwilson on 20 February 2012, 18:15
The driver only has the one mechanically driven from the engine AFAIK. Small diaphragm pump.
oh it's a driver, never realised my bad  :laugh:
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 21 February 2012, 00:40
But I'm gonna assume a split diaphragm could still give me the same issues under load?

It will happily go all the way through the rev range on my drive way but on the road and moving it goes batshi*t mental.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: walchy01 on 21 February 2012, 08:10
Had this with mine, a couple of things i have not seen mentioned yet, firstly check your coil, mine was arching/sparking etc(check at night when dark :wink: and doing exactly what your saying yours is doing, no power, jumping about etc.. also check your leads to ensure no breaks in the cables, after checking mine one of leads was damaged within the plastic which you could not see from just looking at them :wink:

All the best

Walchy
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 21 February 2012, 08:26
My ht leads are new from GSF and have never been on the road. the coil pack is a possibility but wouldn't that arc all the time as opposed to when just under load?

Also, what should I be looking for on the carb? I've got a service kit but no time to work on it right now.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: X4MGS on 21 February 2012, 08:57
My Lads Driver has just been to the Mechanics to have a similar issue sorted and his was a multiple issue problem....

1, Fuel filter
2, damaged Coil lead arcing on the rotor
3, dist cap not fitted properly
4, knacked rotor
5, past their best HT leads
6, Carb full of crud and other issues with the dreaded Piersburg which he rebuilt from a spare unit we had...

Might help - might not!!
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 21 February 2012, 19:20
I think my best bet is to give the carb a clean up and replace everything in the service. Everything listed I've changed recently with no success.

Failing that, get someone to do my timing and see how it for a from there.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 24 February 2012, 09:52
I once had a 1991 1.8GL and i swapped the shoddy pierburg for a daddy weber 32/34 ran great, then i came across the exact same probs as your having so checked everything as you have and then removed my carb stripped it and cleaned its individual parts thouroughly with fuel and compressed air, then re-assembled it and ran engine - seemed ok -took for a drive and problem is back so struggled home and tried one last time with the compressed air into the ports of the carb and just as i was about to give up so the smallest ever piece of grit came out so i cleaned it out and took her out - problem solved and never had any problems ever again.Also someone i know had the same prob with his jets in his carb due to a dog hair lodged in the jet!!!Hope it works for you,good luck
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 25 February 2012, 11:25
By jets I'm guessing you're talking about the four at the front of the carb if you take the air box off? If so, I have cleaned them with a can of compressed air and they seemed very clear. I think my best bet will be a total strip down, thorough clean and service. We have dry insrument air at work so I'll be able to do a proper job when I'm back in London but for now I'm stuck in Middlesbrough with no car.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 27 February 2012, 08:46
Yeah thats right they are in the carb. I used a compressor, never used it in a can but cant imagine it being very effective.
A full strip down is probably nescessary as dirt can get lodged not only in the jets but in a number of places inside the carb, just make sure you remember where everything goes! and i assume you have a spark on all cylinders?
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 27 February 2012, 08:56
Yeah it wasn't ideal but it's all I have access to at home. I've found a few posts on another forum that recommended changing the rubber gasket the carb sits on as they fail regularly. £13 online so I'll change that whilst I'm at it. The problem they had was with one of the sealing faces so had to use hylomar.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Diamond Hell on 27 February 2012, 09:15
The rubber gasket could be the issue here, definitely worth changing.

You've mentioned that you're running a Weber carb.  Do you have any hooky cold air feeds on the intake?  Icing is a common issue on these set ups and this will be exacerbated by a cold air feed, rather than the OEM induction set up.

Also make sure the hedgehog intake manifold heater under the inlet is hooked up - big red lead comes out the back of the motor.  These things can can disconnected when works is done and suddenly when the temperature drops you're in sh*t street with a motor that won't run.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 27 February 2012, 20:23
It's still running the original air intake box etc. but with a k&n filter. Not sure what you mean by the rest of it but I did notice there was an air pipe missing from the left side of the engine to the intake. It was like that when I bought and it hasnt been particularly cold recently. 
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: T~L~C on 27 February 2012, 22:38
You can get carb icing without it being cold, damp air alone can do it, I used to get bad spluttering / stalling on a 1.3 which was missing the air intake pipe... new air pipe & it ran perfectly... worth a try.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 27 February 2012, 22:46
Right, I'll add that to my list then. Any links to what sort of pipe it is? I'm guessing similar to the one that goes into the right side of the air box, behind the filter, and into the rocker cover.

Could a poorly fitted air box also be a cause? I've noticed it wobbles around a bit, not the most secure feeling connection to the carb. I know it wont just fall off but it has a fair bit of play in it.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 28 February 2012, 09:24
The rubber flange could cause it take your airbox off completely and you can see the rubber flange it sits on, has it got a hole in it or is it hanging off? does it start with the airbox off? and how big is this pipe you say is missing, if you could post some pics i might be able to point out something obvious.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Diamond Hell on 28 February 2012, 10:12
The rubber flange is under the carb.

The pipe that's been mentioned is the hot air pipe off the manifold and must be there to ensure the car runs right in cold weather.

Make sure the vacuum pipe is also present there - switches the hot/cold air intake.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 28 February 2012, 10:32
Yeah sorry i meant take your airbox off and you can see the flange the carb sits on.
Being a Weber has it got manual choke?
If the hot air pipe is missing it is a factor but in this weather it should atleast start.
It should start fine without the airbox on at all.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 28 February 2012, 12:59
It starts fine with the air box off.

I'd say the pipe should be roughly an inch in diameter and runs into the air intake pipe.

Yep manual Weber. Gonna take the whole carb off when I'm back home and replace the rubber regardless of condition. The carb its self looks fairly old. I never even realised it had a webber fitted in the first place because it looked too old.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 28 February 2012, 22:43
If it starts fine with the airbox off take it down the road and see if it runs ok , provided you dont leave it like that you wont get any crap in the carb its ok just to test it.If it runs ok then it has to be a restriction in the air intake but have you not checked all that?
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 29 February 2012, 08:39
It revs up fine all day long with the air box on, though. Just dies under load.

Sorry I've not actually tried any of this yet. Just trying to come up with every possibility so when I eventually go home at the end of March I can do it all then. Cheers for all the help so far.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Diamond Hell on 29 February 2012, 08:54
It revs up fine all day long with the air box on, though. Just dies under load.

Still smells like carb icing to me.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: mk2bal on 29 February 2012, 10:19
Not in this weather. Get it to a rolling road where they know how to setup a carb, if somethings up with your hardware the r/r session will highlight it to the operator, if not its just general carb settings, which are crucial to its running
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 29 February 2012, 10:27
For the price and hassle of a bit of pipe you might aswell fit the hot air pipe just to rule it out.
can you tell us exactly what you have checked please?
If you say the ignition system is ok then i would still go with the carb being clogged up.
I assume you drove it without the airbox on and it is still the same?
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 29 February 2012, 10:29
Car wqs running fine before all this though. Really pleased with how responsive it was. Surely ita set up wouldnt change over night.

Anyone have a theory behind the loss of idle and choke speeds. Sits at about 700 and 1200 instead of 1000 and 2000ish.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 29 February 2012, 10:34
tell me what have you checked on the engine???????
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 29 February 2012, 11:05
As of yet, nothing really. Cleaned the carb jets the best I could.

Everything I've done has been electrical which is just to get it back into a position where it will actually start. Now I've gone full circle and ended up in the same position I was in at the start of the year.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: T~L~C on 01 March 2012, 01:33
Not in this weather. Get it to a rolling road where they know how to setup a carb, if somethings up with your hardware the r/r session will highlight it to the operator, if not its just general carb settings, which are crucial to its running

And why not in this weather ? carb icing happens in the damp not the cold...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carburetor_icing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carburetor_icing)

My Golf used to get it worse on warm humid days... until I got a new air intake pipe
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: The Mighty Elvi on 01 March 2012, 09:59
I used to get carb icing on my 1.3.  Wasn't necessarily down to the weather.  Sometimes happend when I was at motorway speeds - all that cold air rushing in.

Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: mk2bal on 01 March 2012, 17:40
I had a k+n bolt on jobbie on my 1.3 for years with no air feeds / vac hoses at all, and never suffered from icing. The pierburg was a load of sh!te until r/r'd though. Spluttering, stalling, crap starting etc etc. Surely if its a problem that's come about its probably mechanical rather than temp related??
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: KRdubber on 02 March 2012, 07:27
if you have not even checked your basic service items mate then you should,it needs to be a process of elimination otherwise your pissin in the wind!
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: JMallows on 04 March 2012, 08:21
I used to suffer from carb icing with my 1.3 ALL the time and was really really annoying :( When i happened to mention it to an RAC man when we were chatting, he said you could get a heated temperature probe in the airbox, and this wouls stop it. I asked the garage, they said they hadnt heard of it, but the "official" VW recommended upgrade was to force the flap into the hot position with a screw or similar so that it only ever had warm air, and never cold. I did this (with the option of reversibility) and not once suffered from icing since. The car never ran too hot in traffic/summer either.

Same as said above, when the weather was really cold, it would rarely carb ice, it would do it on warm/cool mornings with the condensation/dew, and it would do it along the motorways, not when cold, but mostly in the summer etc.... v annoying, and glad to have fixed it with such a simple modification!
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: JamesS on 08 March 2012, 11:54
When my mk2 was a 1.8 driver I put a webber on it. It went through 3 rubber carb flanges in two years. Fine on idle then as soon as you tried to pull away the rubber seal lets a load of air in leaning the mixture and causing the engine to stutter & cut. Cheap and under an hour to change. Buy more than one, if you plan on keeping the car it will happen again.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 24 March 2012, 16:22
if you have not even checked your basic service items mate then you should,it needs to be a process of elimination otherwise your pissin in the wind!

Everything has been changed except for oil and oil filter.

When my mk2 was a 1.8 driver I put a webber on it. It went through 3 rubber carb flanges in two years. Fine on idle then as soon as you tried to pull away the rubber seal lets a load of air in leaning the mixture and causing the engine to stutter & cut. Cheap and under an hour to change. Buy more than one, if you plan on keeping the car it will happen again.

Just finished changing the rubber gasket. Brought it up to temperature and reversed it down my road fine. But once again, pulling away it just splutters and jumps and doesn't enjoy it one bit. The old rubber gasket didn't look too bad, either.

So it looks like I'm back to square one with regards to that idea. As for carb icing, I'm currently sitting in 20c sunshine with a humidity of about 20% whilst enjoying a cider. Surely if it was that I wouldn't be affected by it in this weather?

EDIT:

Been out checking in the dark (again) for any arcing from the coil etc. and there is nothing visible. Tried to take it for a quick spin now the temperature has dropped again and still the same problems.

Also noticed the exhaust is blowing quite a bit now and rattling on the rear bumper. Seems to be quite a lot of silicon on the joint where it's leaking from. It's definitely not a standard exhaust, at least the back box isn't. It also appears to be stainless all the way through. I have no idea what comes standard on a Driver so any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 25 March 2012, 18:06
Upate: Just had the carb off, stripped down and cleaned with carb cleaner. Used the Weber service kit I had to replace like for like. Put the carb back and magic. It still worked the exact same as before. Jumping and stuttering and jerking like a gooden, as if nothing had been changed in the last 4 months.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: mk2bal on 25 March 2012, 18:23
I'd still take it to a r/r if I was you. Within one hour they should be able to diagnose the fault, provided you have gone over all the basics beforehand. You wouldn't be looking at a huge bill.
Title: Re: Golf Mk2 Driver 1.8 '91 - Desperate help needed!
Post by: Billy213 on 25 March 2012, 18:32
Someone has just suggested to me that it may be a clutch problem. What are the chances of this and how could I check it to make sure?

As for a rolling road, the only way I could get it there would be to have someone pick it up which I can see being fairly expensive so would have to be a last resort.