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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: watercool on 09 November 2010, 19:47

Title: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 09 November 2010, 19:47
Hi everyone,

I have just bought a lovely late (98) mk3 Golf Gti 8v and have noticed that;

1) When setting off and putting the accelerator down its quick, but then it just goes flat.
It makes all the right noises and the revs go up but it doesn't actually seem to go anywhere!

2) There seems to be slight stuttering and hesitation.

3) Its a pain to get in to 1st and when reversing it makes a really loud horrible noise.

I know this is a common fault on Mk3's and I've lost about 3 hours searching and reading up on the net about what the problem is and
how to fix it but without sounding like the dumb blonde that I am, I need it breaking down in to baby steps  :laugh:

I just don't know what to do first with it really, it idles beautifully and doesn't seem to be running rough apart from the hesitation. It says
on a lot of guides to hook it up to vag-com, but I don't have vagcom!

Any help would be much much appreciated.  :nerd:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: Ventonut on 09 November 2010, 21:18
Id try disconnecting the air mass meter and taking it for a test drive and see if it performs any better, if yes then thats the cause o your problem, sometimes you can get away with cleaning them out or its a replacement, if disconnecting it does not improve the performance then its eleminated the air mass meter from the equation.
If ur unsure where the ir mass meter is it should be situated between your air intake pipe and your airbox and it will have a wire connected to it.

Give it a try its an easy starting point, let me know how u get on
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 09 November 2010, 22:08
Awesome, thanks for the explanation ventonut. I'll try that in the morning and see how I get on  :cool:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: jeremybarker on 09 November 2010, 22:35
Don't know if this will help but I had a similar problem with my old Integrale Evo2, it was fine on idle even drove fine until you put your foot down and then it would stutter and judder on hard acceleration, it turned out to be water in one of the spark plugs, just a thought and maybe worth checking.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: rubjonny on 10 November 2010, 09:02
do the revs go up really quick but car not moving fast? if so that could be as slipping clutch. or do you mean at first its ok then power goes, and revs limited to 5kish? if so sounds like dizzy timing:
http://vwtech.no-ip.info/downloads/aggadydizzy1.pdf
http://vwtech.no-ip.info/downloads/aggadydizzy2.pdf
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 10 November 2010, 10:45
Yeah its exactly that, the revs go up really quick but the car doesn't really move.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: rubjonny on 10 November 2010, 11:40
doh, new clutch time :(
change the cable first though, never know could be down to that. would want a new cable when you change clutch anyway so nothing lost there.

even worsecase would be if the clutch is oil contaminated, if so that would mean at best new gearbox/crank seals and at worst new box if it has a hole in the bellhousing which can happen on these cars
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: snifferdog on 10 November 2010, 12:51
My first thought was clutch, this is exactly what mine was doing. Apparently the crank seals on these become weak over time and oil gets onto the clutch, either that or it dribbles down from the cam cover gasket, mine was doing both.  :undecided: Are you losing any oil, little patches on the floor when you park?
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 10 November 2010, 13:29
Apparantly the clutch was changed about 1000 miles ago but I think the guy did it himself.
I don't think I'm losing oil but will check the driveway.

I know nothing about gearboxes and clutches so don't know what the hell to do. I've just been out in it again and theres a constant noise (quite faint) coming from the gearbox. When I push the clutch in this noise goes away. Then when I reverse it gets really really loud.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: dom on 10 November 2010, 13:37
Apparantly the clutch was changed about 1000 miles ago but I think the guy did it himself.
I don't think I'm losing oil but will check the driveway.

I know nothing about gearboxes and clutches so don't know what the hell to do. I've just been out in it again and theres a constant noise (quite faint) coming from the gearbox. When I push the clutch in this noise goes away. Then when I reverse it gets really really loud.

Is it possible he smeared his greasy hands all over the clutch whilst changing it?  :undecided:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 10 November 2010, 13:58
It's highly possible that he didn't do it right.   :undecided:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 10 November 2010, 15:26
Ok I've been taking some pictures...

This is my poorly breather pipe, will the crappyness of this pipe make it run badly?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Sally_H/SNV82662.jpg)
bottom
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Sally_H/SNV82659.jpg)

Clutch cable and gearbox
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Sally_H/SNV82670.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Sally_H/SNV82669.jpg)

And the engine as a whole. Is it missing an ISV or am I too used to mk2s?!  :laugh:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Sally_H/SNV82663.jpg)

Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: snifferdog on 10 November 2010, 15:57
Dont worry about the oil breather pipe, most of em are like that. :grin:

As for the engine itself, I cant see anything immediately apparent although it does look like something may have leaked onto the top of the gearbox?!
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: dom on 10 November 2010, 16:41
Dont worry about the oil breather pipe, most of em are like that. :grin:

As for the engine itself, I cant see anything immediately apparent although it does look like something may have leaked onto the top of the gearbox?!

+1 also your not missing an ISV because there never was one!  :grin:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 10 November 2010, 16:51
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Sally_H/SNV82663eng.jpg)

Is that the air mass meter that the red arrow is pointing to?
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: snifferdog on 10 November 2010, 17:19
Yes :smiley:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 10 November 2010, 17:20
Right, i'm off to disconnect it and see if it runs any better. Here goes...
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 10 November 2010, 17:37
Ok it ran even worse with the air mass disconnected, in fact it kept cutting out so I didn't even take it out for a test drive.
So that rules that out then?
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: rubjonny on 11 November 2010, 09:56
yeah id say so. from all the oil on the box it looks liek it may have been overfilled in the past, there is a breather just under the clutch cable which could explin why its so oily round there. it also might have pushed oil past the clutch seals if it was way over max?  the bellhousing end looks pretty dry to me which would rule out oil leaking from above.

breathers to head/block look ok, as long as they arnt leaking you should be fine. the dealer will sell you new ones which are a better design, hard plastic for much of the routing which will stop it happening again. not too expensive either from what I recal
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 11 November 2010, 12:31
£60 for the 2 pipes from VW. I think that's the least of my worries since its started cutting out in the morning. argh. I'm losing
all hope with my little purple car  :sad:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: rubjonny on 11 November 2010, 12:43
step 1 clean the throttle body till its proper shiny.
then coil or crank sensor would be on the list for the cutting out, after you have replaced the cheap stuff like dizzy cap, rotor arm, leads and plugs.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 11 November 2010, 12:51
Yeah I'll clean it with some carb cleaner and see what happens.

So basically I seem to have most of the mk3 issues,

-Car cutting out when first started
-Gearbox or Clutch on its way out
-Power steering belt slack
-Lack of power but not revs

This is going to be a massive money pit, can't believe I bought it and the guy ripped me off completely :cry:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: snifferdog on 11 November 2010, 13:33
Ahh well, stick with it, try and get everything done as cheap as you can and you'll love it when its done!  :wink:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 14 November 2010, 22:51
Just been to Scotland in the Golf, done about 600 miles in the last couple of days and its served me well.

The hesitation was very noticable and it does it from 10 - 70+mph so basically all the time and whatever revs.
AND with one of my mates in the back it was making a loud creaking noise?! No idea what it was..just something else to add to the list  :laugh:

I've just had yet another look though the mk3 maintainence section (good guides in there, love it) is there a particular section about
engine hesitation? Is that the same as a misfire/backfire?!
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: snifferdog on 15 November 2010, 12:10
Sorry, cant be bothered to read through the whole thread again but have you tried replacing the ignition coil? This causes dodgy running, idling, backfiring etc?! I had to replace it on one of my old golfs, made a noticeable difference to how it ran.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 17 November 2010, 20:01
No haven't replaced anything yet. First job is plugs and leads.

Where should I be getting these from...GSF? I keep looking on the GSF parts lists and find it a bit confusing  :kiss:
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: rubjonny on 18 November 2010, 10:51
try here: http://www.vwspares.co.uk
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 20 November 2010, 22:54
 I cleaned my throttle body this morning, very quick job, couldn't get to it easily with the carb cleaner but it worked!
It still hesitates but not as bad as it was! Very chuffed. Need to take the TB off really to clean it properly. Can I take it off
without too much trouble?
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 20 November 2010, 23:34
Yes. But get a new gasket for it.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: Wayne on 21 November 2010, 00:03
As above don't reuse the gasket.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: watercool on 25 November 2010, 18:59
Ok cleaned it again but did a much better job, now it runs even better! Still a bit of hesitation but I'm going to give it a full service, including leads/dizzy/rotor arm and see how it is after that. Also need to change the gear box oil as getting it in to first and second is NOT smooth.
Title: Re: Mk3 Gti Running issues (yeah, mine too!)
Post by: javalin on 26 November 2010, 12:21
>including leads/dizzy/rotor arm and see how it is after that
yup deffo - its a must on the mk3's!!  Can recommend the Bosch Super plus quad electrode ones - probably not much difference to other decent plugs, but some are really poor.  I think its these I put in my AGG (look up the correct ones for yours) - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_170523_langId_-1_categoryId_165736 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_170523_langId_-1_categoryId_165736)

>need to change the gear box oil as getting it in to first and second is NOT smooth.
good plan.  Also check that the engine mount behind the gearbox isn't dead - you might see oil arround it if its dying.  Mine was and the gearbox/clutch is much more consistent to use now.

James