Justin - I'm only down in Uxbridge, so I don't mind helping you out, in fact I could try and find the fault with mine, drop me a mail if you need further help.
Resevoirfrogs - A filter panel shouldn't make the slightest bit of difference. I friend of mine had a 2001 Cupra that was playing up. Took it to AMD who diagnosed it as the MAS because of a aftermarket filter. They said the oil had damaged the element. I can see where they are coming from with a hot wire MAS, IF the filter was over-oiled. K&Ns should be pre-oil and shouldn't find it's way to the MAS. He had Coil On Plugs on that model, one was faulty.
Intermittent faults are the most difficult to trace simply because they can only happen days, if not weeks apart. This is what happened to mine, probably 10 months ago. If would cut out all of a sudden once in a blue moon. Wait 2 minutes or so and then fire up and been fine for 2 or 3 weeks. Now you can't drive it more than 5 minutes. Don't waste your money on Diagnostic test, if your haven't found a code on the first one, you're unlikely to find one at all. Cleaning out throttle bodies, fuel injection cleaner etc is also a waste of time. If the car cuts out, and I mean one second it's fine (driving or idling), the next it's dead, it's electrical, normally a sensor. If it's more of a case when you pull up to a junction and it slowly dies and starts back up ok, that's another issue, something to do with your idle speed, throttle position sensor or clutch switch (this tells the ECU you're likely going to be idling shortly as you've just disengaged the clutch).
adyh - A laptop isn't a problem, what's the VAG-COM? Does it show all fault codes? Newer cars will have to be able to display Emissions and Emission Codes for the MOT, so you're be able to buy a tester from Halfrauds or a like. The trouble is, that's all they're legally bound to show, so the other fault codes can only be read by a VAG Card. I assume the Mk3 shows all codes?
I work on MX-5s as my business (
www.performance5.com), but may be I should offer a service to Golfs, seeing as there's quite a few problems, and it's cost people money on parts that clearly don't need replacing!!! Where can I obtain a Factory Service Manual from?
Thanks
Phil
