nightmare...

[BlazinGTI]

i had very similar problems and it was the crankshaft sensor! but it only seems to be a problem on the p reg AGG engines.

have a look on other threads in the mk3 section theres plenty info about it. have a look also, its behind the oil filter, look for any breaks orwear and tear marks. pretty straight forward to change but you might need to drop the front engine mount out!

[mumbles]

ye, cheers mate. just been out looking at it before you posted. looks pretty hard to get at...  why can these jobs never be easy.... got a new one on the way.

mine is R registered but will have a look anyway. cheers

[mumbles]

replaced number 30 relay. no change.

[thai-wronghorse]

167 it is up next then lol

[Pete Taylor]

Check the vac hoses dude, better still.. but a metre of new vac hose and replace them, cheap as chips and a common fault

[mumbles]

cheers mate, already checked them. they all seem to be ok.

[mumbles]

so replaced the crankshaft sensor and no change to car. bit of a job as I had to remove front engine mount although didn't have to remove oil filter (which I thought I might have to)

so to date I have:

put in new air filter,
#30 relay (#167 is on the way but i'm pretty sure it works as it gets hot when car is left to run),
checked vac hoses,
cleaned throttle body,
crankshaft sensor,
full engine oil change,
chacked and replaced some wiring and connectors,
replaced dizzy cap and leads,
new coil,
new plugs....

think thats all so far. fortunately my dad used to own a garage so we can do most of the work ourselves, so at least managing to save money from that.

any other ideas??

cheers

[difficultrogue]

  Dude you ain having much fun there!!!!!!!!!!"£$%

This has already been said, But you really need to plug the golf in to a fault code reader - saved me loads of dough in the past! Good luck with the motor!

[mumbles]

  yeah..... VAGCOM is on the list of next steps. got a new water temp sensor on the way then its vagcom time...

problem is getting one to use, closest garage that has one is about 15 miles away and theres no way my car would make it in one piece or on the same day I left the house  looking into getting a diagnostic system but pretty expensive from what I can see for a good one.... any advice otherwise is welcome 

having said that i don't regret any of the time or money I've spent on the car.... it aint been as well looked after by previous owners as I would have liked and a lot of the work should have been done ages ago (things like plugs and leads.. etc) obviously want to be able to use it but I'm managing without it at the moment.

After all the work i've done on it then it should run great when i get it sorted and I've learned loads about engines and working on cars, so not the best situation but has its silver lining and got to stay positive. 

[mumbles]

YAY!!!!!         

It works!!!!

changed the water temp sensor (2 minute job) and the car runs great again!!! 

thanks to all for your help!