Engine timing problem

[Lewism3]

When I first bought my wife an 8v GTI we had a problem with the engine generally running lumpy. I noticed that it wouldn't rev beyond about 5000rpm, sounded like a rev limiter was cutting in. My father being a retired mechanic instantly said "it's the timing". So he put the timing light on it and the mark was slightly out, thus corrected. Unfortunately the car still ran rough.

This is where I get a bit lost, but he managed to time the engine manually with the top dead centre point, or something. It now runs fine, but putting the timing light back on to check, the mark is nowhere to be found!!

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Has my wifes car got the wrong flywheel on it?

[dr.gonzo]

same pproblem here i think!
just had water pump and timing belt done so i took it back to the garage  who done the work and they said the timing was spot on.
the car was tip top before going in. theyre trying to tell me its my back box and it needs replacing.
I call bullsh!t!
ill manualy check tomoro

[karl29]

seems same as mine my timing mark on my bottom pulley dont line up when its tdc so i timed mine off the flywheel tdc now it runs perfect

[dr.gonzo]

Just checked, everything lined up spot on!
But inside the dissy cap I found two tipexed marks, one on the rotor and one on the body, I lined em up again and it's runnin a dream!
Obviously hadnt strobed it at the garage and hadn't lined it back up very well.