Problems starting - coughing and dying when running...

[shaolindan]

Hi chaps,

I've had an problem with the Golf for some time on and off. It is a '90 GTi 8v digi. 6 months ago it started occasionally spluttering and coughing or hiccuping. This would occasionally lead to a loss of power and stalling.
Took it to the garage, who is a long term independent VW garage (my first mk1 in '94 had this garage's sticker in the window!). They checked the dizzy, plugs, alternator etc and said that was all fine but the halfords silver battery wasn't keeping charge. So I returned the battery for another - this seemed to fix the problem. However 3 months later it started again, the garage said the battery was the weak link again (although the air mass meter is running lean and the screw wont adjust!).
So this time I swapped the battery from a Halfords silver 44 Amp to a Bosch Silver 60 Amp.
The problem was solved but then has started again. This time the car won't start - at least it will but 1-2 seconds later splutters and dies. Doesn't matter how many times you try.

However, take the battery out and charge it. Problem fixed. I have put a meter over the car, alternator seems good. There is very little drain with the ignition (cat 1 alarm on). So I was thinking it might be the ignition coil? The battery needs to be on full juice - coil on its last legs???

The other thought is the blue temp sender. I thought I might change both.

Firstly - Do I go to GSF for these? If not where would you recommend?

Secondly - any other thoughts on what might be causing this? Would it be worth getting a new AMF?

Thanks chaps.

Dan

[shaolindan]

Thanks.

No really.

[clipperjay]

TBF you have common problems that are all in the maintence section plus if you use the search function on key words it would make your life easier fella.
We help you to help yourself matey
My opinion you have a short somewhere draining the battery.
The way we would take this on is to stick a amps meter not volts on the battery terminals, check how many amps are being used then start pulling fuses out to see if there are any major differences in battery drain once you have found something then trace it back to whatever is earthing out or faulty?
Its not something we can just pull an answer out of our arses for you!
Failing that go to an eletrical auto mechanic he will diagnoise right away for a price!
As for the drain seems to be happening ignition off as you yourself have said with alternator running its enough voltage there to the battery.
Double the earth to gear box which has been covered many times and clean up any ones on the block and bonnet!
You can always just upgrade the wireing from a corrado its thicker and better quality!
Hope that satisfys you're thurst for knowledge that could have been found on search functions using key terms

Battery drain
Stuttering
Alternator
ignition coil
Earthing
Alternator 14.4V
 

[shaolindan]

Jay, I had searched and written in the forum before. But thank you for your very helpful response.

The more reading I have done on the interweb agrees with everything you have said.

I'm going to replace the coil and maybe the blue temp sender today. Will GSF parts be OK for this? (I have a memory of people saying the blue temp sender from gsf was ropey..)

After that I will go through your diagnosis profile in full. The idea of metering while taking out fuses seems to be a great technique, so I'll give that a wizz. I'm not a car mechanic or sparky but will give it a go.

TBF you have common problems that are all in the maintence section plus if you use the search function on key words it would make your life easier fella.
We help you to help yourself matey
My opinion you have a short somewhere draining the battery.
The way we would take this on is to stick a amps meter not volts on the battery terminals, check how many amps are being used then start pulling fuses out to see if there are any major differences in battery drain once you have found something then trace it back to whatever is earthing out or faulty?
Its not something we can just pull an answer out of our arses for you!
Failing that go to an eletrical auto mechanic he will diagnoise right away for a price!
As for the drain seems to be happening ignition off as you yourself have said with alternator running its enough voltage there to the battery.
Double the earth to gear box which has been covered many times and clean up any ones on the block and bonnet!
You can always just upgrade the wireing from a corrado its thicker and better quality!
Hope that satisfys you're thurst for knowledge that could have been found on search functions using key terms

Battery drain
Stuttering
Alternator
ignition coil
Earthing
Alternator 14.4V
 

[clipperjay]

There you go I even did an advance search function to only include MK maintence and dub rides MK2 Garage etc..

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?action=search;advanced

You have two hands and a brain like me half a one, but still you can logically use them!

Seems I can't copy paste anymore on search function dam it!
You get the idea of what I just did though right? uncheck all then select whats relevant
Try ECP they have 25% off with easter promo EASTER25
I just bought two brake hoses a fiver each from £16.00 each I get 40% shoo don't tell anyone 

Elvi's thread is good!
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=174652.0

[The Mighty Elvi]

As per my thread ^ , it was the voltage regulator that was the problem.  Bushes were very worn. Put a new one in and everything was normal.

As I had no battery warning light coming on and all the electrical stuff worked - hence the process of elimination I went through to find out why my car was like yours.

As per Jay, take of all the earth straps and give them a good clean - replace any that are flimsy. remove and clean up the connections to the alternator, coil and battery terminals.

[shaolindan]

As per my thread ^ , it was the voltage regulator that was the problem.  Bushes were very worn. Put a new one in and everything was normal.

As I had no battery warning light coming on and all the electrical stuff worked - hence the process of elimination I went through to find out why my car was like yours.

As per Jay, take of all the earth straps and give them a good clean - replace any that are flimsy. remove and clean up the connections to the alternator, coil and battery terminals.

Do you have the part number for the voltage regulator?

[The Mighty Elvi]

I think its 91030

[shaolindan]

Righto. I have an ignition coil and a voltage regulator in the post from ECP with 25% off.

Thanks chaps.

Fingers crossed.

[Mr Blue]

Would have thought it was a fuel issue at first. Does it even get fuel?