Idleing and Stalling Problems From Cold on GOlf GTI 16V 1990

[Garrydohc]

Hi, I have owned my GTI 16V for five years and after standing it up (not used) for 7 months now when I start it up from cold the engine wont idle properly and shudders and then sometimes stalls.  But when the car has warmed up a little it seems fine.  Has anyone else had these symptoms and if you have what solved your problems.  I have now been using the car on a daily basis (12 miles a day) for a week and the problem still happens- please help.

[systemseiko]

Sounds like ISV valve and a good thorough service,  to check that your ISV is working start the engine. Basically your valve should vibrate or hum slightly. If the valve is not operating, check that the small black idle switch on the throttle valve is closed and functioning correctly. sometiems a tight accelator cable holds this open or badly adjusted throttle,   If no faults are found with the idle switch, turn the engine off, disconnect the black connector from the valve, and check for continuity at the terminals on the valve with a Amp meter. If there is no continuity, the valve is faulty and should be replaced.

Also check all vacuum hoses are connected and in good condition and free from leaks,  this will also play into poor idling,  as does incorrectly setup timing,  have you adjsuted anything on the car since it was parked up?

[16v]

I have exactly the same problem on my car. Start it from cold and it runs like a pig. Once warm it's great. I have to run it at 2k rpm every morning for a minute or so before I set off, then it's fine.

Here's what I've been advised to try so far, with varying degrees of success.

1. As said above, the ISV. Cleaned out mine with brake cleaner and all associated pipework. The valve worked fine before and after but was very dirty.

Didn't make a difference

2. Bought 2nd hand ISV for tenner off ebay, just to check.

Was worse

3. Checked throttle cable. Was a bit baggy and needed replacing. So had new trhottle cable put on.

Made a slight difference, was less willing to stall, but still stalled now and again.

4. Changed airfilter as the K&N panel filter was looking a bit grubby. Fitted Jetex one.

No better

5. While changing airfilter noticed oil in metering head and a bit in airbox. Fully striiped down inlet tract as far as the throttle body and thoroughly cleaned it out.

No better

6. Had CO set up at a garage to check wasn't out.

No better

7. Changed plugs

No better

8. Set idle properly by warming car up, disconnecting ISV and setting idle to 1000rpm.

Little better, now only stalls when it is quite cold. On a warm day, it's ok.

The only thing left that I haven't tried is the WUR. I've got one off ebay, again for around a tenner, but not got round to fitting it yet. I strongly suspect that this is the culprit.

It's been harder than normal on mine too as the head is gas flowed and everything is ported and polished so OEM settings for CO etc don't really apply. Need to get it properly set up at Stealth or summat but it's quite a trek for me.

Be interested to know how you go on.

[sc]

while i mine was similar to yours and just generally sounded like a bag o sh!te when started.
seems a hell of a lot better know
Cleaned out the metering head, vacum hoses throttle boy and isv with carb cleaner, (after this it will feel like its not going to start again it does eventually)
checked for air leaks and discovered a hole in one of the intake hose, agian great improvemnet by fixing this.