Advice on mk2 8v gti 91'

[mk28vfreak]

Hi guys and gals,
could do with some help, i have just recently bought a mk2 8v GTI 91' and there are a few niggles i would like to sort out.  

First thing is engine very tappy when cold but goes when warm, is this just the cam followers need replacing?  

Second thing is the idle speed. It seems to quite often stick at about 1400rpm but by tapping the throttle it goes back down to where it should be, about 900rpm.

Third thing is it is a bit jerky when you pull away and also when you take your foot off of the accelerator.  Very annoying when trying to drive slowly in traffic.

The fourth and final thing is when changing down through the gears with no throttle it tends to backfire quite a bit.

I have given it a full service, plugs, leads, air/fuel filter, dizzy cap, rotor arm, hoping that would solve a couple of the problems, but unfortunately not.

would really appreciate some advice.

Thanks in Advance

[richandhazel]

Noisy tappets are quite common on start up. I believe you can improve them by using an oil additive/flush to clean them up, although I haven't done it myself. If that doesn't work you can replace them at a cost of around ?6.50 each, have a look at this info:-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/richandhazel1/Hydraulic_tappet_information/ESIS.htm

Your other 3 problems sound like they may be associated with each other. Firstly, I'd check for vaccuum leaks/perished vacuum hoses etc.

[Sam Manning]

I have exactly the same problem as you...now my car has started to misfire on start up first thing in the morning...I have changed the temp sender that controls the choke....leads ..plugs....dizzy cap.....clean the ISV.....front engine mount and still no luck...Im thinking of taking mine to a main VAG and taking a hit for the price they will charge to just look at it!!!

[mk28vfreak]

Ouch thats gonna hurt!  Let me know the outcome if you dont mind

[Sam Manning]

Right after 2 months of racking my brain as to what is wrong I have found the problem.....by fluke last night. I started squeezing the main air intake hose from the air flow meter to the throttle body and noticed a change in revs..i.e the car was almost stalling...On closer inspection I felt a big tear in the hose between the rigged section which cant be noticed unless the hose is squeezed. Taped the section up and this morning the car ran fine. My advise to you is to check all of your air hoses very carefully

[Lee]

Hello ive got a mate who works at a vw main dealer garage. Never take your car there he changes belts by slipping a screw driver between the belts and pulleys then they charge you extra by saying that every bolt is stuck. I cant say what else thay do to the cars its criminal.

[mk28vfreak]

Hi Everyone thanks for all your posts.

Further investigations have lead me to discover a missing vacuum hose, 'or at least i think it is missing'.  On the side that faces you on the throttle body there are 2 holes for vacuum pipes to be attached, the one on the right has a vacuum hose attached but the one on the left only has the rubber fixing with no clear pipe inserted in to it, and also on the back of the throttle body there is another empty rubber vacuum hose fixing.  

I have done a bit of investigating and i believe that there should be some vacuum hoses going off to the charcoal filter, but i have a digifant 2 and can find no charcoal filter, i think it should be under the air filter box, but it isnt???

Any Ideas