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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: dieselgeezer on 25 January 2017, 14:31

Title: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: dieselgeezer on 25 January 2017, 14:31

My 16v GTi has not been started for a month. It fired up OK (although battery only just made it) & now it runs fine but will not tick over, just stalls. All was fine the last time it started a month ago.
Any suggestions of where to start?

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: dieselgeezer on 25 January 2017, 18:07

Just thought I would add that the battery was so low the dashboard display went out when trying to start the engine. Could this be similar to disconnecting the battery? Has this caused the ECU to loose the tickover setting & is there a DIY way of getting it back?

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: lemski on 25 January 2017, 18:59

Air leak. Split vaccum. When it gets warm does it start to idle properly

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: dieselgeezer on 25 January 2017, 19:41

No change when it gets warm; still won't idle. The car hasn't been used for the last month so no reason to suspect any split pipes etc. just the fact that the battery initially died when trying to start it. Should the equivalent of disconnecting the battery cause a "memory" fault in the ECU?

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: lemski on 25 January 2017, 20:19

The ecu should relearn anyway.
Is the idle lumpy at all.
Ide if you can take it for a drive. Have you got a scanner? See if theres a code.

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: itavaltalainen on 25 January 2017, 20:21

Battery charged up now?

It does not loose 'tickover' settings, it will just default to standard values if ECU was without power. Should still start.

Maybe the immobiliser kicked in?

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: dieselgeezer on 25 January 2017, 20:49

Unfortunately don't have a scanner. Also, can't take it for a drive as it's SORN & no insurance at present. It won't idle at all without foot on accelerator. Don't think it's an immobiliser problem as it runs 100% with foot on pedal.

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: dieselgeezer on 25 January 2017, 21:23

Looking in the Haynes manual, could a fault have developed with  the throttle potentiometer on the throttle body? Bit wary about fiddling with it as it says it has to be matched electronically to the ECU if it's been removed.

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: itavaltalainen on 26 January 2017, 12:46

Have it scanned for fault codes and check measuring blocks in ECU - everything else is a waste of time.

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: dieselgeezer on 26 January 2017, 12:59

Sorted!!
Cleaned the throttle body-no change.
Fully charged battery-ditto.
But, when fiddling with the throttle potentiometer I noticed that the adjacent vacuum pipe (to the ECU) was slightly perished. Cut the duff end off, reconnected & all back to normal.

Lemski, you were right but thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Much appreciated.

Title: Re: 16v ABF won't tick over?
Post by: lemski on 26 January 2017, 13:33

Had enough running issues throughout the vag range that the 1st thing i look for is air leaks.
Glad its sorted for you