Help !! Mk4 golf won't start / sloppy idle

[Bennmk3]

Hello all
This is the second time I've had this issue
I drove down to the shops , went in came out and started up , the car idled for 2-3 minutes then cut out and wouldn't start again . When it did start it idled at around 400-550 Rpm and there was no throttle response and the it just cut out again??

The first time this happend I tried starting and stuff , but then once I opened the petrol cap it fired up and was fine for a couple weeks until now
Any ideas ? Desperate
Thanks ben

[jamie16v]

have you scanned for codes?.

[Bennmk3]

have you scanned for codes?.

Yeah I've scanned no codes / faults in the system

[jamie16v]

strange... i remember something happened years ago to my grandads skoda favorit. simular symptoms. opened the fuel cap and all worked well.. it turned out to be a vacuum in the fuel tank because the cap had caused a seal or something, it was a carburetted system.. your car would have a fuel pump in tank so not sure if you`d have the same effect.
i dont know what to suggest, next time it happens see if opening the fuel cap does the trick. if not try unplugging the maf and see if it runs better. if it runs better with the maf unplugged it points towards a faulty maf.

[Bennmk3]

strange... i remember something happened years ago to my grandads skoda favorit. simular symptoms. opened the fuel cap and all worked well.. it turned out to be a vacuum in the fuel tank because the cap had caused a seal or something, it was a carburetted system.. your car would have a fuel pump in tank so not sure if you`d have the same effect.
i dont know what to suggest, next time it happens see if opening the fuel cap does the trick. if not try unplugging the maf and see if it runs better. if it runs better with the maf unplugged it points towards a faulty maf.

Checked all of the vacuum side of things today and no blockages , checked air intake side and no blockages and still no codes. Disconnected fuel lines from the rail and cranked but no fuel came out
Going to replace the filter as a first step
Any other ideas .. Pump relays ?

[jamie16v]

Pump relays ?

worth a try.... lift your rear bench and turn the ignition on and see if you can hear it priming. it normally primes as soon as you open the drivers door on a mk4.

[Bennmk3]

Pump relays ?

worth a try.... lift your rear bench and turn the ignition on and see if you can hear it priming. it normally primes as soon as you open the drivers door on a mk4.

Right all I've done is remove the throttle valve and clean a little , flush through the air intake to the throttle valve , sort of knock the fuel filter a bit and now the at starts and runs fine - Confused !

I'm near certain that the problem will re occur again so ill change the fuel filter and pump relay just incase , though yesterday the pump was not priming but now is