misfire from cold and tapping when cold til engine warmed up

[monzablue16v]

hi guys
Little question, mk2 gti 1.8 16v golf got in to start today and started on the button but...  it misfires for about 5-10 seconds and takes a light touch on the throttle to idle sweetly once going it sits at 950rpm-1000rpm and behaves itself afterwards is it an early sign that I should be changing something? it also taps when cold but this seems to go once warm new careful golf owner! zooooom

[free]

sounds like a good service might help

[VR6_ROB]

my car does that now and again but lasts about 2-3minutes
then it sorts itself out and wont do it again for a few weeks

[Judderi]

Sounds exacltly like mine. I think the tapping noise is the hydraulic tappets. As for the misfire i dont know, mine does this too but doesent realy bother me as it stops when you press the acelerator. Just like yours mine drives great once going.

[monzablue16v]

I just did an oil change on car at the weekend flushed using engine flush then used good mineral oil and some Lucas oil stabiliser, new sump plug and copper washer from VW tappet noise was there before and is still there thought that might have cured it, definitley runs better now, spark plugs are the scariest thing to change cos if i cock it up i got to take so much stuff off to get at it! seems like a common thing but it sounds like it's firing on 1 cylinder and I don't like it
Any ideas what might be a good change on the service side? dissy cap and rotor arm?
 cheers guys n gals

[Gambit]

take off the ISV and clean it out properly with thinners or petrol. these get mucked up and when cold starting in the morning they can stick a bit and not operate properly. but cures itself once they get a bit of heat into them

also, is your noise definity metallic tappet noise? i sometimes get a noise which sounds like chit chit constantly but mine is the bottom timing belt cover rubbing on the alternator pulley!!

[monzablue16v]

yeah it sounds like tappets to me dunno much bout valvers used to have a mini which is a bit different! alternator is shafted neway water pump pulley is wonky! just waiting for a water pump pulley from VW, the guy i bought it from must have not even had a toolkit and has just not fixed stuff  spanner shy monkey!!!

[monzablue16v]

with the isv is it easily fixable or am I likely to break it! I've seen how much they are to buy and don't wnat to break it!! also do i need any parts to rebuild like gaskets or o rings?

[Judderi]

There is not allot you can do with the isv other than soak it in brake cleaner to disolve all the gunk inside. I wouldent pay the full price for one. Have a look on ebay, theres always some going cheap.

[monzablue16v]

I'll give it a go aand keep my eyes peeled  for one on ebay
cheers
scott