GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Golf mk2 how to guides + info => Topic started by: Hammy on 02 December 2003, 14:58
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Hiya folks..
Just to give you a little heads up on a problem I had with my MK2 8V recently. Ever since I had the car (1 month) I have had this annoying misfire whilst travelling down the motorway to and from work. I did the normal things like change the leads dizzie cap, rotor arm etc, but this didn't cure the fault. I was tempted to change the coil, but as it wasn't failing under load I was reluctant. I checked the coil at night for the usual signs of 'blue glow' but nothing was seen.
Well last Friday I was bombing down the motorway as usual and the misfire came back again, something triggered in my mind to dip the clutch, blip the throttle a few times and lift the clutch again. Suddenly the misfire went! Hmm this is strange... Okay about 5 mins later the misfire came back again, so I did the same. Same thing happened and the misfire went. So I knew I could cure the fault by doing this and it only happens at fairly constant speeds. First thoughts were the MAF (Mass Airflow) which might be giving off spurious readings to the ECU and cutting off the injectors, so at lunchtime I took out the airbox and put it on the bench at work. Stripped it down and took off the black cover to the MAF and had a look inside.
The potentiometer seemed okay, and I placed an AVO (moving coil meter) across the tracks and moved the airflow trap. The needle went all over the place, so this was indicative of bad contacts. Therefore I cleaned the tracks and needles with switch cleaner and tested again. It was still moving eratically but no where near as bad as before. There does seem to be some laser cut resistors along the track so it somehow changes the range of resistance when moving from one side of the track to the other. Also it is in a 'bridge' configuration so the sensor in the air filter side of the network also comes into play.
Anyway I cleaned it all up, re-siliconed the black cover back on and put it back in the car.
BINGO!!! No more misfiring and the car is running alot smoother.
Not sure if you folks have come across this problem before, but I thought I would add this to the forum for future reference.
Paul.. :)
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thats good advice :)
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Nice one ;). Air flow meters are a known fault on mk2 golfs, most people just fit a replacement. Good to see someone repairing one as mk2 parts seem to be getting a bit scarce lately.
Steve.
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good idea to go diy!! sahme you didnt habe a digi cam with yas!! could have done a step by step how to guide with pics to help follow members!!! never mind good advice!!
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its always moving without and lubrication so its going to wear fast! bit like the scaylextic cars those little metal wires!!!!!!!! and the burnt smell of fresh mains electric!!!!!!!!!!! i got the power baby!!!!!!!!
(http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:5wf9Rbgh-GgC:www.geocities.com/foz_2/lighting.jpg)
ooohhhh lovely picture!!!!!!!!!! i do like abit of electric!
me being hit by lightning and being into veedubs!
(http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:orV6p7g3aOEC:ew2.lysator.liu.se/loth/w/h/wharris/raiden.jpg)
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apparently if you tighten the needle by the cog inside, it gives you bad fuel consumption??
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Hmmmmm this could be the route of my problems too. Looks like a strip down is needed ;)
OP
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im just agreeing so i can pass the 200 post barrier :o
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yeah ;D
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Ehh?
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mmmm :)
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what ?? ;D
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Just sorted mine, turned out to be one of the HT leads was arcing inside the spark plug cover. Also had the computers reset to factory settings and it's now flying :)
Bosch injection specialist near me said that a lot of people tamper with settings over the years without the right equipment. A lot of problems can be sorted with a simple re set.
OP
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dissconect the battery will reset the ecu.......
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i tired this on mine but the spring was slack so thru trial and error i tightened it by a few notches (3) and the car runs fine! no more black smoke! or misfire! chirps when im caning it aswell (1st to 2nd fast gearchange) ;D
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Hi,
I have a problem with my mk3 Gti 2.0 8 valve Golf that sounds similar: When I'm on the motorway (and pretty much anywhere else when I can get over 50 mph) and I'm on part throttle (not quite on the over-run, not accelerating, just cruising really) the car seems to stutter. All of a sudden for a split second it's as if the engine cuts out and you get a jolt through the car and then it's fine again. It doesn't seem to do it when accelerating or braking and it doesn't do it when cold. The gauges don't die and the stutter is really quick, over in a flash. It doesn't feel like a fuel problem i.e. no loss in power (apart from during the split second), no missing or popping - but obviously I can't be sure.
I've replaced the plugs and coil and fairly recently the water temp sensor, before I spend more cash on the leads, cap and rotor arms does anybody have and ideas as to what could be causing the problem?
All suggestions gratefully received!!
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MAx you have the exact same prob as my MK3, try disconnecting the 3 pin plug on the maf and then go for a spin, my car is transformed although the fuel consumption goes out the window and it doesnt idle well. So a new MAF should sort me out a treat.
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I might try this maf thing see if mine goes any better
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Hi,
I have a problem with my mk3 Gti 2.0 8 valve Golf that sounds similar: When I'm on the motorway (and pretty much anywhere else when I can get over 50 mph) and I'm on part throttle (not quite on the over-run, not accelerating, just cruising really) the car seems to stutter. All of a sudden for a split second it's as if the engine cuts out and you get a jolt through the car and then it's fine again. It doesn't seem to do it when accelerating or braking and it doesn't do it when cold. The gauges don't die and the stutter is really quick, over in a flash. It doesn't feel like a fuel problem i.e. no loss in power (apart from during the split second), no missing or popping - but obviously I can't be sure.
I've replaced the plugs and coil and fairly recently the water temp sensor, before I spend more cash on the leads, cap and rotor arms does anybody have and ideas as to what could be causing the problem?
All suggestions gratefully received!!
Been there had that on my VR6, get your leads replaced and get you car's brains reset by a good VW garage as you can bet your codes are all mixed up just like wot mine were. (man that sounded soooo common!)
From that they will be able to tell you all thas wrong and you can get wot needs doing instead of everything else that dont! Could save you a packet!
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I disconnected my MAF.
Woaw - the car feels like a GTi again.
Thanks peeps :laugh:
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yes i agree but still has the issues of bad miss fire
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TAKE THE TOP OFF THE MAF AND CLEAN THE SLIDING SCALE I THINK THIS HAS FIXED MINE
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anyone got a picture of that for mk2 16v? :huh:
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on mk3 its on the top of the airbox black plastic bosch wrtitten on it if that helps
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Wow. I have just bought my first Mk2 8Valve GTi and all was fine then last night I started getting a missfire at around 2500 -3000 RPM when doing around 70Mph. Have driven the car this morning and it's cleared but your advice is sound and something I may look into, Got any pics of what you did, as am fairly new to all this and not so experianced at electronics :smiley: :laugh:
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Well I smelt petrol yesterday morning when I started the car, so thought I would investigate. Turns out that the fuel pipe that goes to the injectors was lose and pissing fuel all over the manifold :sick: So tightened this up and misfire seems to have gone now aswell as the danger of me exploding.
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Need some advice guys,
got a mk3 8v gti and basically couple of months ago got the thermostat changed cos it was running cold. before this got replaced I didn't get any juddering but afterwards I experience it once or twice on a long run but other than that the car ran sweet and got good mpg. dad said this was due to guys leaving air bubbles in system so was gonna drain it out and get rid of the air... anyways before I got round to this(it had been a month after thermostat repalcement) was driving home (100miles) and car started juddering/misfiring alot. me+dad replaced dizzie cap (bosch), rotor arm and leads (not VW ones) but seems to have got worse... now misfires everytime I drive to work and before the cap, arm, etc replacement this never happened, on top of this today on the motorway was doing 3k revs and suddenly just dropped to nearly cuttin out (bit scary)
so been readin various posts and seen following:
- clean throttle body
- reset ECU (Is this possible without takin to garage??)
- MAF replacement
- fuel and/or ECU relay
- coil
- etc....
funny thing is though it's got worse since we replaced the leads, etc... so maybe we got dodgy leads or ECU needs reset.... when it doesn't happen the car runs like a dream... HELP!!!!???
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Just thought I would give peeps a heads up regarding misfire/cut-out... seems like quite a few mark2/3 owners getting this problem... I got a mark3 8v and mine started misfiring really badly after replacing the dizzy cap, plug leads and rotor arm... it also started cutting out when slowing down :sad:
Anyways looked at quite alot of threads relating to both the issues and the common thing seemed fuel pump relay, so replaced it but didn't help with cuttin out... not sure if it helped with misfire because it hasn't for a while... went to get an ecu download at (Autotechnik, Southampton) and this told me that there were no major faults... the guys down there suggested to do the obvious and replace the rotor arm (even though it was new) So went to GSF and got BERU rotor arm and dizzy cap and so far so good :laugh:.... not cut-out or misfire since.... so looks like get yourselves some quality parts.... actually also after replaced parts the first time I hooked up the leads in the wrong order and tried to start the car... read somewhere that this may screw up the ECU so I also reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery for 15mins...but be careful if u got alarm cos mine doesn't work anymore think just needs resetting....
Hope this helps...
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I do 130miles a day commuting into London in my faithfully unreliable 1991 MK2 GTi 8 valve and I have had many of the symptoms listed and I've replaced the leads, dizzy cap, rota arm but my car has behaved since replacing the fuel pump which died, then later the fuel filter after another bout of juddering about 3 weeks ago.
I'm having the MAF apart tomorrow for a spot of cleaning for the hell of it.
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My Mk2 8 Valve has just started doing this, between 3000-4000, will give the MAF cleaning a go first, then since i have done a oil, filter, plugs and leads less than 3k miles, if that dont cure it will replace all them!
Should i bother with fuel filter too?
What about the coil and rotor arm?
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Cheap leads seem to be a real a problem on these. I bought a set and it missfired all the time.
Got some from VW and it purred like a cat.
Nick
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Well I'll be damned - just joined up to find out some info on this problem having bought Mk3 8v over Xmas.
So far new coil and plugs have improved things slightly ( i.e. car now driveable ). .
ECU Also Reset by Local VW Specialist..
Def up for new dizzy cap from GSF ( part number anyone ? ) and some VW leads.
Actually found using some injector cleaner smoothed out the problem but the car lacks any power on full throttle ( still able to zip away at half throtlle but want more )..
Intrigued to learn more about the DIY Maf clean up - any pictures any one ?
Cheers
Hope to help in future with advice and articles and will probably get the camera out 2m to show pictures of the MAF..
Cheers
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Hi,
I have a problem with my mk3 Gti 2.0 8 valve Golf that sounds similar: When I'm on the motorway (and pretty much anywhere else when I can get over 50 mph) and I'm on part throttle (not quite on the over-run, not accelerating, just cruising really) the car seems to stutter. All of a sudden for a split second it's as if the engine cuts out and you get a jolt through the car and then it's fine again. It doesn't seem to do it when accelerating or braking and it doesn't do it when cold. The gauges don't die and the stutter is really quick, over in a flash. It doesn't feel like a fuel problem i.e. no loss in power (apart from during the split second), no missing or popping - but obviously I can't be sure.
I've replaced the plugs and coil and fairly recently the water temp sensor, before I spend more cash on the leads, cap and rotor arms does anybody have and ideas as to what could be causing the problem?
All suggestions gratefully received!!
I have same issue and the maf plu is dangling on the side unplugged ( I have piper induction kit on) so that is not the answer for me as reported by mosdef....
I am wondering since my mechanic said I should get the original airbox and try it maybe it would fix it but after reading these replies I am a lil more confused to what really is the cause, since the solutions are seemingly mixed....
I will allso try to clean the injectors maybe the flow of fuel is restricted when the beast needs it...
is there a way to have a induction kit and the maf plugged in?
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Mr G, I have a 97 Gti 8v with a piper induction kit and the kit has a hole for fitting the maf into. I think it depends if you have the Bosch or Siemens/Hitachi one. I think that is the part you are talking about, as i don't have anything left dangling out.
(http://www.pipercross.net/images/kitimages/PK072B2.jpg)
The rubber part near the actual filter.
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Ah yest thats the plug I meant. :) Soorry if thats caused misunderstanding.
I actually have A K&N now cause I found out the previous owner was a total numpty and installed the wrong filter on I think it was for a ford what he had there. (bad job too)
I have now bought the sensor (£23 from VW) Which I understand is the MAF or What I call the Air temperature sensor and have the Lot Plugged in. Still However I experience the same both will Hesitate at 3000RPM and not make it past 5000RPM, however this is not allways the case since every now and then 1 time out of 50 will actully run fine.....
I have seen some mates that know more about this then me and they have told me that theres a chance its the ECU, so Im having that looked next week on the 8th.
I have swapped all parts mentioned here like Dizzy cap, rotor arm, Leads (I have Magnecor super doper set on) and spark plugs (Splitfire)
Timing is fine also and now I recon its down to the Mate thats coming down with his lappy and the Vag.com soft and maybe even look at remapping it.
I will post what the findings are.
Also The Catalyst Converter Stinks of Sulfur sometimes So I recon I have to fix the main issue b4 I move on to that....
If All Fails I am considering a full engine rebuild or a 16V engine swap whatever is cheaper. But thats just Silly.
Please leave your thoughts....
Laters :)
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From what i've read on here the hesitation at 3000rpm is very common on the 8valve and that there is also some sort of restriction to stop going over 5000rpm which most folks remove, i dunno how as mine seems to be done anyway.
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A restriction you say, if that were the case the car would never ever go past it, which is not the case it is unfortunate it doesnt goe past 5000rpm every time...
I have no restrictor on the rotor arm either.
I will have to wait until the 8th (next week) so \i get a better idea what the ECU is telling the engine.
Im keeping my fingers crossed.
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hi, iv got a mk2 gti 8v and having similar problem as most of u guys. Car runs fine through 1-3 gear, but in 4th and 5th the car (i guess) is misfiring/juddering and have no power at all. litterally cant get over 70mph. iv changed leads, cap, plugs, air filter and oil filter but still the same. whilst it does this misfiring my headlights will flicker (when on) and just to add to this iv had a mass of white smoke pouring out when i have managed to get it goin over 5000rpm at which point i lose all power till i let off the throttle and all is fine again. Somebody help!!!!
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thanks