GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Waspy on 29 May 2015, 10:08
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So driving home last night the car just suddenly started to crawl, didn't die, just lost drive. My tank was getting low, so assumed it was fuel. Pulled over and let it sit for 30 secs and it seemed to sort itself out. I set off again aiming for the petrol station. On route it did it again. But since the petrol station was in sight I just kept my foot on the throttle, after about 10 seconds it burst back into life. Filled up (48 ltrs, so the tank wasn't like really empty), no issues after that. However this morning it did it again. I pulled over. When I got out there was a strong smell of fuel/oil. Checked the under the bonnet for leaks, but couldn't see any.
As I was late for work, and it was raining I just left it where it was (about 2 miles from my house) and got a taxi...
So, anything obvious I should be looking for? I don't want to drive it, as the smell concerned me. (Once bitten, twice shy)
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I think I remember a thread of yours from a while back, was it you who had the engine bay fire, and what is it you drive again, 8v 16v?
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Yep, mine was the engine bay fire. Thats why I'm worried about the smell. I had a quick look in the bay at where it leaked last time and there wasn't any signs of a leak, but I need to walk up and check it tomorrow morning properly.
Its an 8v mate
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I had to change a fuel line on Monday as it was stinking of fuel and I found the return line from the fuel rail f**ked. Think it may have also be causing vapour lock when it got too hot.
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I replaced all the rubber lines after the fire, and the plastic ones were in good nick. I hope it isn't the lines ...
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Checked the car over for leaks this morning and found nothing. Drove it home, extinguisher in hand, with no issues. The only even remotely related problem I found was that one of the sensors on top of the oil filter housing was discounted (corroded wire) but I'm guessing that's not going to be the source of my issues.
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could be an ignition problem and unburnt fuel your smelling due to it not firing properly. distributors are very common fault on the gtis.
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With it running go and sniff the exhaust. If it's not igniting all the fuel then you will be able to smell the hydrocarbons.
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Okay, after a month of not driving it, its time to sort this out.
Because it isn't constant in doing it, it is really bloody hard to tell if/when I have fixed it. And because of this I don't want to drive it on a motorway (losing drive and power steering at 70 isn't going to be fun), rendering my car virtually useless *sigh*
I am spitballing here. So bare with me. The exhaust smells pretty fuelly. So I am guessing ignition. But what would cause it to run, then not run, then run? Is it possible for the timing to vary while driving (i.e fall out enough to stop it running, then re-align so it has power again) if you see what I mean?
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Think we're now in the same boat, almost. Mine didn't cut out whilst driving, fortunately I'd stopped. But yeah, got in car this morn, drove to work, happy days. Dinner time, gets in car to pop to shop, briefly runs, 2-3 seconds and dies. I can hear the pump priming ect ect, but when I start it, it's like the fuel pump doesn't go into 'run' mode if you like. I've had a tinker, as I had no food to eat cos I was going to get some, and I'm pondering if its the ignition switch what's at fault. Depending on which wires behind the unit I wriggle, depends on how loud the pump whirls, if that makes sense. Would a failing ignition switch cause the car to run, not run in this way or is it just coincidence?? Thoughts??
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Does yours cut out completely? Mine never actually dies. It idles rough and wont actually go, ten suddenly it will go again. Its either fuel or ignition of some description I am sure. Neither fit perfectly though.
If it were fuel, wouldn't it just die? And why would it smell rich?
If its ignition, why is it intermittent? and wouldn't me keeping my foot to the floor flood it?
Sound like a failing dizzy? Fuel Pump relay playing up?
I'm so lost on this one. You definitely sound like you have a loose connection of some kind though!
EDIT: done some reading an pump relay failure and it seems to fit the bill, so I'll try that first
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Wish it was my relay, mines brand new today as I thought that was the cause. Ignition switch my next port of call, the starter ignition switch just for the record, not the ignition switch on the ECU!
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Bogging down when hot can be a sign of ignition amplifier or coil break down. I just binned a pb dizzy you could have had if you wanted to try it but I don't think it will be. Maybe hall sender or even knock sensor. Just test for all the things aha. I have had an afm that would cause high revs when and even bad batteries can throw up funny faults
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Bogging down when hot can be a sign of ignition amplifier or coil break down. I just binned a pb dizzy you could have had if you wanted to try it but I don't think it will be. Maybe hall sender or even knock sensor. Just test for all the things aha. I have had an afm that would cause high revs when and even bad batteries can throw up funny faults
Can you hang onto that dizzy? If the relay doesn't work I will probably swap out my coil and dizzy next, but there aren't many working used ones around, and new ones are pretty spendy.
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Just thinking about it some more, are we barking up the wrong tree, most of your simptoms could also be put down to an air leak. You may want to have a look around the vacuum hoses, intake ect to see if one hasn't pop't off or developed a split.
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Just thinking about it some more, are we barking up the wrong tree, most of your simptoms could also be put down to an air leak. You may want to have a look around the vacuum hoses, intake ect to see if one hasn't pop't off or developed a split.
I've had that a few times now and the affects are always that the car kangaroos. Ive never had the car just stop driving the way it does atm. I will double check though, would be a fairly easy fix
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Sorry I would have but the old block with the dizzy in had already gone to be weighed in with a load of other crap. I doubt it's the dizzy if it bogging with fuel. Money is still on ignition amplifier and coil. Then moving onto the standard sh!t we all know about
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No worries, well I've got a new relay to put in, since that's the easiest I'll try that first, then I'll look at ignition and coil!
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sounds a bit like damp electrics to me.
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sounds a bit like damp electrics to me.
Well, funny you should mention. This isn't the first relay to go recently. After the fire when the fireman hosed the engine some water found its way behind the fusebox and I think it has been causing problems since. In Jan I went on a waterproofing mission and was sure I had got all the leaks, but may have missed one tbf.
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I haven't tested it yet. But I would guess we have a winner lads n lasses.
(http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h338/jojomojoe/AE092F94-8459-44DA-9A1D-B6D483E12DA7.jpg)
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Fuel pump relay! Guessing from the state of the relay terminals the inners of your fuse box arent going to pretty either. If your feeling brave, and you've got an early early fuse box, because you cant do it with the later types as there plastic welded, you could dismantle the fuse box, rub down all the crappy blue corrosion crap off the inners, put it all back together and have a good as new fusebox!! I did it with mine time ago, its a real mission, took me about a week, and reassembly is a f**kin mare, but worth it for peace of mind!