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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Horney on 12 June 2006, 13:53

Title: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 12 June 2006, 13:53
Hi Folks,

First off the car is an 87 Gti Digi 8v.

THe problem I am having is as soon as the car has warmed up it seems to lose about 33% power. It feels a little rough but not like a missfire, it just feels really underpowered. If you rev it in neutral it revs cleanly without splutterin gor seeming to misfire. As soon as you put any power through the box and to the wheels it just feels all wrong.

If I kill the ignition and then restart it (So when driving along turn off and then on again therefore bump starting it) it goes back to being normal for a shortwhile and then loses power again.

Now I thought I had fixed it as I found an earth lead that had rotted through and come disconnected at the gearbox end of the engine on the cam cover. I re attached this and cleaned it all up and things were fine for a week or two and now the problem is back.

I have asked about this before and was told it was the "Blue temp sender". My car however seems to be a roll over model between K-Jet and Digi. Coming out of the front of the block where I believe the blue sender should be the housing is metal and not plastic like other digis I have seen and the one I owned years ago. THe sensors are also not coloured and the one nearest the front of the car is funny looking thing with a spade connector that pushes on a little round metal color on the top of it.

So really my 2 questions are these:-

1) DO you guys think it is this sensor that's up? All the symptoms above are all that's wrong. I have no issues with stalling or finding it hard to start when hot or cold.

2) If it is the "BLue Sensor" which on eis it on my model?

Thanks guys and sorry for the essay!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 13 June 2006, 10:31
Anyone? I want to know which bit to order asap so I can get my car running right again :-(

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Mart8V on 13 June 2006, 11:48
Right- the sensor issue!!

Your digi (like mine) has a screw in temp sensor.  About £30 from VAG (and they will look blankly at you!) but well worth replacing.  According to GSF it does not exist, and I've asked the call centre and in store.  It's taken me about 2 months to finally track one down, but drop me a PM and I'll send you the part number when I can get to the receipt later.

Has made a big difference to the smooth running of mine both at idle and at speed, warm or cold.

Hope that helps!
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 13 June 2006, 11:56
CHeers guys, I shall go with Mart's sensor change first and if that doesn't help I'll go for a coil too (I assume a coil is failry cheap)

I'm also gonna try and borrow a gas tester and follow the set up instructions as my car seems to be drinking fuel like a yank tank.

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 13 June 2006, 12:09
Does this sensor also feed the temp gauge in the dash as mine used to work sometimes but now never works?

Cheers,

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Mart8V on 13 June 2006, 12:22
Engine temp comes off the small sensor in front of the two pin one (on the same housing).  Has a small bolt on the top- check the connection, as the wire is not too secure and may have drifted off.
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Organisys on 13 June 2006, 12:27
Nick if you don't get this solved cheaply, and easily, then see Tony at Automotive Solutions in Binfield Heath. He has an emissions tester of course. 0118-9484868.

Defo try temp sender first though, the combination of lack of power and over consumption sounds like the failed sensor is making the car run far too rich.

 :smiley:
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 13 June 2006, 12:30
Ok cause I rang VeeDub dealership about the correct part and the only screw in one she could find she seemed to think also fed the dash gauge. Hummm.

Ok just to make sure I know where we are talking about the area these sensors is on is the metal casing that comes out of the front of the head with two sensors on it and a couple of hoses attached. THe sensor closest to the head on mine has two poles and is a puch fit type plug thing. THe other one is simply a little brass thing with a spade connector that clips on it from the side.

Hope that made sense!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 14 June 2006, 11:50
THanks to Mart8v correct part will be ready for collection tomorrow.

I'll pop it on over the wekend and let everyone know if it helps.

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: rubjonny on 15 June 2006, 17:58
For anyone reading thru this thread, the part number is:
035 919 369 M - thermal switch, white, digifant - £25.19+VAT

And can be found in this thread, along with loads of other handy numbers :)
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=33909.0

Thanks to Mart8v for confirming the part number I dug out was correct :)
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Mart8V on 15 June 2006, 22:12

Thanks to Mart8v for confirming the part number I dug out was correct :)
My tiny moment of glory!  Will never happen again, but the fame was fun while it lasted :cry:.......

Back to life in the shadows!
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 16 June 2006, 10:25
Well I've picked up the little fella from VW and I'll be fitting it tomorrow.

It annoys me when people post about problems, get advice and then you never hear whether it solved it or not so I'll keep you all posted.

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 18 June 2006, 16:22
Total disaster!

Swapped the sensor and all seemed fine apart from lumpy at idle and still munching fuel. So I thought I'd try and follow the tune up advice. Big mistake! It now tries to stall every time I blip the throttle and pops and bangs under deceleration. Power delivery is in fits and starts so it's another expensive garage bill for me!

THat'll be over £1000 I've had to spend on it in 3 months. I'm starting to hate the damn thing and I can't get it into the garage for a few weeks as at the moment I can't even pay our mortage.

ARSE!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: rubjonny on 18 June 2006, 16:52
sounds like the CO is way out, or the idle switch isn't working!
worth having the timing checked too!
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 18 June 2006, 23:10
Yeah I'm gonna try and get in the garage tomorrow and see if they'll let me pay up on pay day. I think the idle switch is on ot's way out as the revs have been dropping right down for a while now.

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 19 June 2006, 11:52
Found myself a local VeeDub specialist garage and it's booked in for next monday. Gutted I've gotta wait a week but hopefully they can sort it and it'll be worth the wait.

I'll let you know how I get on and if they're anygood I'll be passin gtheir details on to anyone else local.

Fingers crossed.

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: dubslug on 20 June 2006, 14:33
who u got doing it mate~??
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 26 June 2006, 08:37
Well she's gone in and I spoke to the guy who was gonna be working on her and I was dead impressed with his attitude and his apparent knowledge. Lets see what the outcome is later today!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 26 June 2006, 15:22
Garage are having two problems.

1) they can't loosen the Dizzy, but that I'm sure they'll over come.

2) The timing seems to be set at 0deg

I mentioned the correct procedures as per the Maint guide for setting up a DIGI. Problem is min eis an early one with the white screw in temp sensor. If you disconnect it as per the instructions for the blue tyope the engine just dies.

HELP!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: rubjonny on 26 June 2006, 15:27
that procedure is still valid, if it dies either something is very wrong elsewhere (idle screw wound in too far, massive air leak etc) or they havnt warmed it up.  The oil temp should be over 80 degrees or it wont run with the ECU sensor disconnected :)
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 26 June 2006, 15:31
NIce one I'll relay the info!

If we ever meet I owe you a fair few pints for your advice over the last couple of years!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: rubjonny on 26 June 2006, 15:38
Don't thank me yet, wait till after they fix it  :grin:
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 26 June 2006, 15:50
Coolio, the guy thought that was the case and is having a nosey.

Seems the timing was set to 0 deg. No wonder it was munching fuel!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: rubjonny on 26 June 2006, 16:04
Yeah my 2.0 conversion was very thirsty at first, the dizzy was way out.  Now its setup right its easy to get 35+ mpg!
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: dubslug on 26 June 2006, 16:05
nick take it u were impressed by them??
how much they cost??
rik
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 26 June 2006, 16:08
Yeah so far so good they know what they are doing but hadn't come accross a Digi with a white sensor before.

Not sure on cost yet, I'll let you know when I get it back!

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: dubslug on 26 June 2006, 16:11
ah right fair play
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 27 June 2006, 08:38
A quick update!

Spoke to the garage this morning and the DIzzie is still stuck but they have left it soaking over night and will try again today.

Hopefully get the car back tomorrow as I'm going to sort out wedding things today I have no time to collect it this arvo if they've done it all.

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: rubjonny on 27 June 2006, 09:12
The way I freed mine was to use one of those watchmaker screwdrivers to scrape as much of the crud out of the gap around the dizy base as I could, then plenty of proper penatrating fluid.  Then I got some mole grips on it and twisted it about, freed it off nicely :)
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 28 June 2006, 09:42
Just spoke to John at the garage and "It goes like a bloody rocket" and it's ready collection.

To make it even better he's charging me 1 hour labour at £40 + vat which a total result!

Can't wait to pick it up and take her for a razz at lunch time.

Cheers all who have contributed to this thread.

One very happy Nick!
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 28 June 2006, 09:45
Oh yeah and for those in and around basingstoke they are called Grantley's and their number is 01256 333777 can't recomend them enough :-)

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: rubjonny on 28 June 2006, 09:51
Awesome  :cool:
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Organisys on 28 June 2006, 13:01
.... and "It goes like a bloody rocket" ..

That's the thing with Digifants, they are great when setup right. They have a poor reputation sometimes, but I think It's due to people tinkering, or not having the car setup by someone who knows what they are doing.

 :smiley:
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Horney on 28 June 2006, 13:41
Well just got back from collecting it and giving it a razz and WOW! It's better than ever and better then my old red MKII from years ago which I always thought was better than this one!

What a result, can't stop grinning. I might have to drop £15 in the tank tonight and just go for a long blast round some country lanes.

Nick
Title: Re: Losing power when warm
Post by: Organisys on 28 June 2006, 22:03
Well just got back from collecting it and giving it a razz and WOW! It's better than ever and better then my old red MKII from years ago which I always thought was better than this one!

What a result, can't stop grinning. I might have to drop £15 in the tank tonight and just go for a long blast round some country lanes.

Nick

 :cool: