Spluttering Mk2 Golf 1.3 (Please Help)

[speedy gonzales]

Dear Forum,

Due to my love for golfs I ended up purchasing a 1.3 Golf for city use rather than my Golf GTi (8 valve), costs me too much on petrol.

I thought that the engine on the 1.3 was sound and so I bought it for £200.
However, yesterday I was driving home from work (at 3am) when the car started to splutter and shudder and then it just turned off!  So I cruised to the side of the road to see what the problem could be?
It was however dark and I thought id better walk home (only 5mins away thankfully) and see to it in the morning.

I have been under the bonnet all morning and this is what I done:

Checked fuel
Checked spark plugs (newly fitted last week)
Checked fuel filter
Checked spark plug leads
Checked timing belt
Checked rotor arm
Checked Distributer

I then tried to start the engine but as soon as i turned the key it was struggling to come to life. so i pushed on the accelerator pedal and hey presto it came to life!  However it was juddering and it really was not smooth (acceleration- it took its time to reach half of its power).
Then it just seemed to have cleared and the car returned to normal.  I drove it to the local garage and he was puzzled at the sequence of events and assured me that the car is fine (although rather old- its a 1987 plate!).

However on my way home the car went through the same sequence of events where it spluttered (under acceleration) and then came to a stop! (b!tch!!)

Please can you help me on what I should do now....and can i just add 'BIN IT' is not an option (as I have only had it for a while!)

Apprecite it guys (and gals)

Speedy Gonzales (who is rather pathetic looking at the mo!)

[Andyfitz]

I had this one on mine, it was crap in the carb, take the air filter off, if it will run then good otherwise get someone in there to start it, then rev the balls off it and push the choke flap closed and that sucks the muck out and clears it, the AA did that on mine  the first time then i did it the second, keep your face away tho incase it blows back at high revs (happened to me on me dads pinto - not plesant) has to be done from warm tho or the flap will be shut already and has no effect.

And you really do need to rev it high to get the crap shifted, if this dont work then I have no idea what it would be

[Alexg40]

Check the vacuum hoses especially the one that goes to the brake servo, if these split, which they do, the car will run like a dog.

[monzablue16v]

My friends mk1 had this problem got the carb set back up and been fine ever since touch wood lol geuss what i'll be fixin tommorow now 

[speedy gonzales]

Thanks guys

Will have a crack at it 1st thing 2mrw morning.

Enjoy the good weather!

S.G 

[KKK]

Hall sender in distributor or carb flange gasket can cause these probs.

KKK