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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: inthecity77 on 14 June 2006, 07:50

Title: 8v running lumpy
Post by: inthecity77 on 14 June 2006, 07:50
Alright all! not been on here in a while.

Anyway, need a bit of the old advice.
My 93'L 8v is running a bit lame, in that, it goes ok, but got the following symptoms

-slightly lump idle, not enough to raise or lower the rev counter, just sounds  a bit lumpy
-the power isnt too smooth on acceleration, feels a bit lumpy accelerating
-Sometimes seems less powerfull than other times.

dont get me wrong, its not really bad, just seems like it needs a service, but it only had one 3-4months ago (less than 2k), it had a fully 30k job, after which it ran great. Any ideas? as i heard that this particular year of 8v engine has idling issues and can run a bit lumpy.

What are the top say 5 things I could do to help this?

Cheers dudes
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: monkeyalan on 14 June 2006, 12:23
clean the throttle body

replace ecu relay

replace fuel pump relay

check for vacuum leaks

check oil breather pipes aren't blocked
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: adyh on 14 June 2006, 13:15
All of  the above and have you tried taking the car on a long run ? Works for me when my car is lumpy .
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: Len on 14 June 2006, 13:42
Check the relays first!

Warm car - bout half an hour or a quick blast. Stop/switch off, bit obvious but there are some numpties out there!
Take out the relevent relays E30 and E??? i think and hold em next to cheek is best. If warm they are ok if cold even on one side then replace!
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: monkeyalan on 14 June 2006, 16:52
relay numbers 30 and 167

part numbers are 165906381  and 191906383C

did mine today £32.74 .
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: inthecity77 on 14 June 2006, 20:29
thanks guys, will check and keep you posted
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: inthecity77 on 14 June 2006, 20:39
I know these are the fuel and ecu relays, but, and sorry for being thick, what do they actually both do? and what fails in them for them to need replacing? I would have thought they either work or not, and if they didnt work, then how does the car still go? sorry for being a pain
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: AudiA8Quattro on 14 June 2006, 20:57
If all of the above fails, look at the airflow meter.
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: mowgli on 15 June 2006, 09:54
I know these are the fuel and ecu relays, but, and sorry for being thick, what do they actually both do? and what fails in them for them to need replacing? I would have thought they either work or not, and if they didnt work, then how does the car still go? sorry for being a pain

A relay allows a small amperage circuit to switch on a circuit that requires big amps.  So, for both these relays the ECU and the Fuel pump require big amps to work so use a smaller feed to energise a small electro-magnetic circuit which in turn attracts the switch that enables the big amps to go through.  If this is teaching you to suck eggs, sorry, gotta start somewhere and they may be someone interested who doesn't know this bit  :wink:

What can happen over time is the contacts inside the relay can become gunked up with deposits from a slight amount of sparking that occurs when the circuit is made - have a look at the inside of the dizzy cap and you can see the same stuff on the 4 electrodes.  This build up leads to a resistive joint so some of the voltage available (12 - 13.4v ish) is dropped across this relay.  This in turn reduces the voltage available at the ECU/Fuel pump and using ohms law (V = I x R, voltage = current x resistance) if the volts available drops and the resistivity of that circuit stays the same the current must also drop.  So, the item needing the high current doesn't get it and operates under par, leading in this case to hesistation and stuttering.
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: inthecity77 on 15 June 2006, 12:22
i didnt know any of that but i do now!
techie talk rules!
cheers dude
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: Len on 15 June 2006, 13:39
Hey! Thanks mowgli mate!!!!!!!

I didnt know all that and had wondered myself the whys and wherefores!

So that was great!
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: mowgli on 16 June 2006, 07:49
I was expecting to be called geek to be honest   :nerd: , no worries, any time  :wink:
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: monkeyalan on 16 June 2006, 11:37
geek.  :wink:
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: mowgli on 16 June 2006, 12:05
I'm happy now, ta  :grin:
Title: Re: 8v running lumpy
Post by: Len on 16 June 2006, 12:46
Mowgli - think you should put that into the FAQ's section!

Or maybe one of the Mods could. :rolleyes: