New member needs help please, my 16 valve has no oomph!

[speedynz]

Well if its an ABF i will know it well.
Not sure what will be in it to be honest, if i've got an engine code then i could investigate.
Did you say the car isn't fitted with a catalyser?

Just had a look for engine code, lots of Japanese writing but couldn't find ABF, where will it say it if it's there?

Yes car has a cat, many instructions in engine bay (in English!) not to overfill engine oil as damage to cat may occur.

Keep it coming Audiman, you're a lifeline right now.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Probably is an ABF, should be in the service book.
Have you had anything checked on the car?
emissions ? timing ?

[speedynz]

Probably is an ABF, should be in the service book.
Have you had anything checked on the car?
emissions ? timing ?

Audiman (what's your name?) Firstly what does ABF denote?

The car is going into a local expert (who's no expert at all but the best I have) next week for a checkover. It's also going to the VW dealer to check for fault codes.

We have no requirement in New Zealand to meet any emissions standards (except trailing visible smoke for 10 seconds constantly) so we have no emissions measuring equipment.

The car has only travelled 17,000 miles, it has 9 main agent stamps in the service book and drives, looks and feels like a new vehicle. It has no running faults whatsoever, it's very smooth, starts on the button, idles at 800rpm and runs 94-100 degree oil temp (I think the engine works hard up hills due to the power deficit and on a very long uphill slog will run at 100 degrees in 12 degree ambient temp). My feeling is that the car has a Japanese market ECU or some other Jap market modification and that all is well with it, they may just be lower powered over there (I did drive 4 others, all imports from Japan and they all felt the same). I am wary of chasing a problem that does not exist but will try the obvious and may try to locate a secondhand Euro market ECU. Beyond this I am open to suggestions.

Should any of the aforementioned fixes not remedy the power deficit then the car will have to be sold as running a 100bhp, 1400kg Golf GTI is akin to running no GTI at all.

Thanks Audiman, Len and others, please keep it coming and save me from a life of fabulous but frail French fancies!

[AudiA8Quattro]

ABF denotes the engine code.
I've got to go out in a minute so can't go into detail.
A quick suggestion as for emissions, try removing a spark plug, see what colour it is, and report back!

[speedynz]

ABF denotes the engine code.
I've got to go out in a minute so can't go into detail.
A quick suggestion as for emissions, try removing a spark plug, see what colour it is, and report back!

Will do.

12 hour time difference so be patient please.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Are you it is a 16v?
The 8v engines produced for the US market had a similar sort of inlet manifold.
Can you post a pic?

[speedynz]

[img]

Are you it is a 16v?
The 8v engines produced for the US market had a similar sort of inlet manifold.
Can you post a pic?

OK, if the piccys will upload then here they are. In case they don't then here's a description.

The plugs are a little black but very good otherwise (forgot to check the brand).

Exhaust is very, very clean, when I wipe it with my finger it virtually doesn't leave a mark, I can clearly see the metal so there is no soot build up.

The car has a huge catalyst, (suitcase size) half way along the car.

The engine is a 16valve, unless the stamp on the inlet manifold is lying to me.

OK, sorry, no pictures, when I click on "insert image" nothing happens. If you really need a photo then let me know and I'll persevere.

Does the description help?

[Dom Mk3]

if it's a japanese import, is it not expecting 101 RON fuel anyway? a european ecu would probably be worth it (assuming the immobiliser doesn't live in the ecu, not sure if it did in the 1997 models)...

[AudiA8Quattro]

[img]

Are you it is a 16v?
The 8v engines produced for the US market had a similar sort of inlet manifold.
Can you post a pic?

OK, if the piccys will upload then here they are. In case they don't then here's a description.

The plugs are a little black but very good otherwise (forgot to check the brand).

Exhaust is very, very clean, when I wipe it with my finger it virtually doesn't leave a mark, I can clearly see the metal so there is no soot build up.

The car has a huge catalyst, (suitcase size) half way along the car.

The engine is a 16valve, unless the stamp on the inlet manifold is lying to me.

OK, sorry, no pictures, when I click on "insert image" nothing happens. If you really need a photo then let me know and I'll persevere.

Does the description help?

Ok, what sort of MPG do you get ??

[speedynz]

[img]

Are you it is a 16v?
The 8v engines produced for the US market had a similar sort of inlet manifold.
Can you post a pic?

OK, if the piccys will upload then here they are. In case they don't then here's a description.

The plugs are a little black but very good otherwise (forgot to check the brand).

Exhaust is very, very clean, when I wipe it with my finger it virtually doesn't leave a mark, I can clearly see the metal so there is no soot build up.

The car has a huge catalyst, (suitcase size) half way along the car.

The engine is a 16valve, unless the stamp on the inlet manifold is lying to me.

OK, sorry, no pictures, when I click on "insert image" nothing happens. If you really need a photo then let me know and I'll persevere.

Does the description help?

Ok, what sort of MPG do you get ??

28mpg in town, light traffic, no sideways.

37mpg on a run, no motorway, 60mph speedlimit, mild tomfoolery.

The querie posed concerning 101ron Japanese fuel may well be relevant.

VW Wolfsburg have forwarded my 'market specific' querie to the relevant department who will advise me of any Japanese market modifications.

The Euro spec ECU is still looking like a possibility.