Author Topic: Jetta sounds like tractor, engine very unsettled and hardly any acceleration.  (Read 3280 times)

Offline danny_p

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check function of fuel pumps -   if you can see a good health flow of fuel to the return line.
air flow meter, things like that

sounds liek it's running ok when it's on warm up enrichment but as engine warms and it comes of enrichment it not getting enough fuel,  also air leacks downstream of the AFM
all the VW's have gone bar 1.

Offline CanisLupus

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Quick update.

That it ran good the other day for a minute or two on cold start up might have been a conincedence, as starting it up yesterday the symptoms started right away. Car does not have a problem starting, starts first time, everytime.

In case it is a headgasket problem I drove it up to my grandads last light with my mum behind me, at dusk so she could tell me how excessive the smoke is. During the whole journey around 8 miles, she said 0 smoke, nothing at all.

Driving up was not a pleasure, as before lack of power, stepping on the throttle more than 1/4 down the car would start shaking aaround, engine sound changing to the more tractory sound, tock....tock...tock..tock,tocktock. Keeping the speed constant (30ish mph) 2k rev it was drivable without the vibrations and noise, going up hill sounds come back.

Does somehow seem like a lack of fuel, or mixture issues. CHecked the timing again that is ok, as is the ignition timing which is spot on at 2.5k, on the diamond, blkue snsor disconnected.

Will be up my grandads on wednesday to check things like maf, injector seating, fuel delivery. Fuel pump primes like normal and the pump in the boot hums, so pumps seem to be working fine. FUel filter was changed around 2 years ago.


Can somebody say, that this could still be a headgasket or head issue? No smoke on the whole journey last night, but I find there is a lot of white smoke pouring out when I am idling after turning it on, for at least 20-30 minutes later, like on the video. Compression results on the other hand were amazing, but I have read that that doesn't rule it out. Cant see any water in oil, no oil in water, no bummbles in expansion tank either.

Will write again wednesday If I find anything.

Thanks again guys. 


Offline CanisLupus

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Right problem is sorted...and I look like a right dickhead for not noticing earlier.

Cut matters short, turns out it was a faulty spark lead. Spark lead for cylinder 2 infact. In the beginning I did test it, seemed fine, even the ohm readings were ok, and still are even confirming the cable is naff....weird.

Noticed yesterday when taking the spark plugs out yet again, noticed spark in cylinder 2 had a black glazing over the electrode...hmm carbon...fuel...leaned over sniffing around and then suddenly in 1 spot I could smell fuel...

So yh...all this, because of a lead...look like a right pleb LOL

New set ordered and new sparks, should be back on the road soon.


Anyway thanks all for the help, at least I know my compression is great and many other things are working fine.