why the f**k dosn't my car work?? Help!

[the.little.fox]

Hey guys,

I've just up-graded my old gti to a mark 2 1991 gti. It is a fine beast in many ways. However.... It is seriously lumpy when it starts, occasionaly cuts out before its been running for 5mins, backfires a treat when changing down the gears and has no power whatsoever below 2000rpm. It also runs a bit too hot.

I've changed the plugs, leads, dist cap, rotor arm, battery which although needed doing has not helped.

It's got a kent cam. Could this cause the starting problem?

It runs fine when warm, although the starting problem seems to have nothing to do with warm or cold. I turned it off earlier for half hour, then it wouldn't re start.

Please help!

the.little.fox.  xx

[BobbyT]

if the cam profile is a bit too hard core it could cause slow running problems, thats why rally cars have to keep blipping the throttle

[bjsj]

your cam is at fault for no low down power, take it to a rolling road to tune the other probs

[Mr Blue]

sounds like a typical digifant engine.

check your timing and air/fuel mix

[...joe]

i'd say it just needs setting up well. a lumpy cam will make the idle rough but wouldn't stop it starting. i'vce got a piper 285 which is pretty frickin lairy.

on digifants the usual suspects are bad earths and electrical rather than mechanical. has it got a vernier pulley on it? if the cam is pretty wild it would need one to get the timing anywhere near decent. then get it timed properly, if its still acting up, systematiclly go round the connectors on your isv, fuel rail, blue temp sensor etc, checking them, also check the runnber bung that your crank case breather plugs into on the rocker cover as these can split and this effects the isv's input. i had a poor starting digifant with similar problems and it turned out to be the blue temp sensor. its amazing how important that bloody thing is!!!