Starting Issues

[danj3000]

Morning all,

Need your expert opinion please. I'm having issues starting with my '88 8v GTI and have gone through a quick process of elimination but as i'm so busy with work, its proving hard to find the time!
Basically the symptoms are as follows:

/ Issues starting from cold, the starter motor turns over no problem, the engine just isn't catching.
/ When the engines up to temperature, then the engine starts no problem.
/ I have replaced the spark plugs with new but this hasn't helped - the old plugs were very black so the engine was obviously being over fueled.
/ The problem has only just arisen in the last week and quite suddenly!
/ I am now starting to think the engine may not be breathing properly - i've checked and cleaned the air filter.
/ When the car is running it feels slightly flat and not quite as responsive as before.

If anyone has any ideas then that would be fantastic. 

[danj3000]

I've had someone suggest it could be the coolent temperature sensor for the ecu, could this be the case?!

[rubjonny]

yes it could well be, check the flange on the front of the head. depending on the age of the car its either a 2 pin white sensor threaded into an alloy housing, or a 2 pin blue sensor thats a push fit and secured with a clip.

[danj3000]

Thanks Runjonny, it is a 2 bin blue sensor that is a push fit and clipped on. Is this something I can grab from gsf or is it VW dealer jobby?!

[oakgreengolf]

Try this !!!!!!!!!!!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMUGjlV5HU

[danj3000]

Thats cured thanks!  Pretty much sums up what i've been thinking about the none starting though!!

[Agreeable Slick]

I'm going for the timing being out.

Get someone to crank it whilst you rotate the dizzy. (or take it to a garage and get a timing probe on it)

[danj3000]

I'm 99% sure its not the timing. I'm going to attempt to take apart the MAF tomorrow and use contact cleaner on it and see if that helps matters. I've read on here that some people have run their golf with the MAF unplugged, obviously this is not a good thing but when I disconnect the MAF the engine will not run at all - does this mean anything?!

[Agreeable Slick]

OK.

But just a word of advice. My 16v was running sweet as a nut one day. Went to it the next day, wouldn't start. Went through all the stuff you are probably going to, and eventually i went to the dizzy, twisted around whilst cranking. Started. Got it re-set at stealth. Was fine ever after.

[danj3000]

Thanks for the advice Slick, I think it may be a good bet for me to go through the steps laid out on this site - http://fuelie.tripod.com/tuneup.htm#The%20Basics

Hopefully that should get it sorted. I'll let you all know how I get on as it is rather frustrating to say the least!