Wet start problem

[the_rhino_uk]

Hi all (again)!

My Mk2 GTi (8v) has "problems" staring when ever its wet!

Seems to be ok if I use her on a day to day basis but if I leave her un-driven for more than a day and it rains then it really doesn't wanna fire when I start her.

Starter motor turns over fine, and spins for a while and then it coughs and eventually fires.

Thing is once it has started if I touch the accelarator pedal then the revs will dip and if I dont lift off sometimes dies.

I leave it a bit to warm up but even then the first 5-10mins of driving means that when I push down on the pedal its dips and goes.

After a while she is ok (when its warm and dry I would imagen).

Any tips / tricks on what I can do to stop this? Any suggestions would be great

Thanks!

[Judderi]

I had this problem on a totaly different engine but my suggestions might help. It turned out that the locator teeth on the botton timing pulley had snapped and when you pressed the accelerator it would slip causing the timing to be out. So it maybee worth you getting the timing checked.

[the_rhino_uk]

Yeah, but the problem goes away when I drive for a while (Im guessing when it drys) so wouldn't the timing always be out regardless if its wet or dry?

[Gambit]

id say its just damp. give the dizzy cap a good dry out and spray som WD40 in round in and the plug leads on both ends

[the_rhino_uk]

Ok where abouts should I spray the WD40 'cos I did cover those areas in the spray but maybe I need to be more specific?

I reckon its the damp too 'cos its fine on cold / dry days and it fires fine at work as I park it in an underground car park.

Where abouts exactally shall I spray, do I need to take the HT leads off the plugs and spray there?

[Gambit]

did you take the dizzy cap off and dry it and give it a good clean out?

u wanna be spraying anywhere u get an electrical connection

[the_rhino_uk]

Not yet, but when I bought it the bloke I bought it off said that it had just had a new cap and leads (which I confrimed with the garage he used and they all look new as well).

Didn't think it would need doing if its just been replaced, or doesn't it matter?

What about replacing things, no need to swap the leads /  plugs or such like (I may be heading out looking for that belt so I was thinking while I am out there)...

[Gambit]

just check the condition of the plug leads. make sure they aint cracked/split etc

8v plugs are pretty reasonably priced. so if they look old n knackered might just be worth gettin a new set

as for the cap itself. if its new id still give it a little blast of WD in it & around it to keep the damp out

[the_rhino_uk]

Roger wilko, will do!

What about sraying the plugs, do I just spray the leads where they connect to the leads OR take off the leads and spray the top of the plugs and then re-attach?

(thanks for the advise by the way)

[Gambit]

just give both plug heads & lead connectors a good dry/clean then a light dusting of WD40