Sick Golf - help

[rickardo]

Right then this is the deal.

I have owned 1999 1.8 GTI non turbo (28,00 miles) for about six months and it has always had an anoying flat spot/mis fire. Which only happened now and them but recently has been more now than then.  It comes and goes spiradically, restricts power, acceleration and revs even when flat out.

So far I have tried new air filter, cleaned MAF sensor (twice) with IPA fluid, new coolant temp sensor, and recently a half day stint at a stealers for a fault diagnosis.  All of which have done sweet FA.

After a 750 mile round trip to brighton and back doing 80mph flat out I am losing both patience and confidence with what I though was going to be trouble free VW motoring.

Is a new MAF the only option available or has anyone got any last suggestions before I torch the twit.

If not - FOR SALE: ONE VW GOLF, GOOD RUNNER ONLY WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, CHARCOAL GREY INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, FOUR GOOD MELTED TYRES.

cheers

[Terminator]

Definitely sounds like a faulty MAF sensor. Doesn't always show up on VAGCOM though. Other possible causes could be faulty coil packs or dodgy relay 109.

[kniterider]

could deffo be maf prob, no coil packs on 1.8 20v non turb model, only a multi coil pack which distributes power to each plug, could be a prob but others have found a faulty dirty MfA sensor?

[rac_gti]

Rickardo..
Right erm how can i start .....
Right here goes last week i was racing a lupo sport both of us were close but in the end my car 1.8 20v non turbo same as your had lost power and it won't let me floor it. The engine was running rough!  OOPS  
but it sound a bit similar to your
So i took the car to vw dealer at looker M,bro last tues .. they have found the probs by vagcom was the emission was low and emission connector to the cat exhaust knackered ! that wot i been told..  

And i am a very lucky bloke that my warranty run out on first week of march .. so the car been repaired under warranty !

Got the car back yesterday and run sweet ! Hope that help ?

[golfvr6]

I think you mean the oxygen sensor or otherwise known as lamda probe.
Deffo worth checking, get the emissions checked.

[antgti]

i would say check sparg plugs,

Zetec engined fords are common for this and give the same hesitation and misfire feel,

may be worth a try,

[richy]

Hi all,
I posted the following in the garage section a wee while ago, and didn't get much response.  Do you think it could be a similar problem to that described above?  Taking it in to VW this week...

I got me a 1999 mk4 1.8 GTI (non turbo) in December, and it doesn't like starting when the engine is warm.  

It starts beautifully every time from cold even when it's freezing weather, but if I stop the engine for a few minutes (to go and get petrol for example) it has trouble starting again.  Sometimes it will seem to half get going and kind of cough along at about 400 revs, until I put my foot on the gas.  Sometimes it doesn't want to start at-all unless I put my foot on the accelerator.  However, I'll always get it to start eventually.  

Because I have to put my foot on the accelerator to get it to start, some unburnt fuel gets through the exhaust, causing popping noises - I'm a bit worried about this damaging the cat.  

Anyone got any advice/ suggestions.  I'm taking it into a vw garage in a couple of weeks anyway (as the central locking is a bit dodgy and its still under the vw used-car warranty).  Is there anything specific you guys think I should tell them about this starting problem??  I want to sound knowledgable so they don't screw me over!!

[nrgizerbunny]

sounds like a mass flow sensor problem to me.

although before you plump for one of those, its worthwhile checking the plugs and specifically the gap and seating. I personally steer clear of the plugs where you have to set the gap I go for the bosh ones with the gap already set, worth a try but i would go MAF

have a nice day

sanj