Just got a 16v but having an engine problem, UPDATED

[Mk2George]

Hi guys, just bought a 16v mk2 and collected it last night. Set off and everything seemed ok but by the time my mate and I got to our first service station we noticed the exhaust had started blowing a lot but didnt think much more of it. The valver didnt seem to have much poke to it but I put that down to the exhaust being blown and the engine not getting much back pressure from it, anyway, nearly at the end of our journey and the engine starts to `shudder` (as if it wasnt firing but the forward motion of the car is keeping it going) as im cruising at 70 and the power loss becomes such that I have to slow and eventually stop. After 10 minutes she works again but is very low on power so I have to crawl along the hard shoulder and pull off the next exit. We set off again and then the centre section detaches and starts scraping along the ground but the car is still going. About 500 yards from home she gives up the ghost and we have to push her the rest of the way.

Now my big question is that is the fun and games with the power loss etc all to do with the exhaust as surely it would still run even with no back box? Someone has advised me to check the oil pressure (the oil was 102 degrees btw) and now im worried that the block is worn and that ive bought a sh!tter.

Is there anything you knowledgable 16v owners can advise me to check or do or once I put on a new exhaust should normal service resume?

Please, any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks 

[bobbymk11]

the exhaust would not stop or give u less power...and sure as hell would not make ur car come to a stop....doesnt sound to healthy...if i was you id of turned back and took car back to previous owner and kicked his balls took my money back and go look for another car....
id get it taken to garage and get them to have a good look at it...could be someting simple(i hope so)...or something quite serious...like bottom end away....all fixable but not cheap unless ur mechanic ur self ...cos parts not to expensive for mk2 valvers...but labour cost can kill you....
i wouldnt even attempt to start it...get looked at asap...exhaust is least of ur worrys bud.....

p.s. hope its a easy fix...

[Mk2George]

Cheers for the reply bobby. I got the car for next to nothing and its a run-off 92 Oak green 16v so id like to try and get her running, taking it back isnt really an option so Im hoping someone might have some answers as to why it would do that in the first place, anyone had/have experience of this?

Engine temp = normal
Nothing dripping out of it ....

Maybe the oil is the wrong grade, too thin??

Gonna brave the cold and have a little poke around for the sake of it   :embarassed:

[Mk2George]

Well, oil just below min but thats not going to stop it ..... still looking for any suggestions. Im curious what the housing with all of the pipes coming from it that run along the front of the engine are, best guess is injectors? Tis a different world to my 8v 

[Leon R]

I thought i had everything go wrong on mine but yours is something I haven't come across!

Firstly what are the symptoms now when you try to crank the engine? Does it start/crank but not fire/fire up and cut out etc?

As a brief check for any valver with a problem:

Check your airfilter isn't blocked up
Check your airfilter doesn't have any oil on it - if it does remove the black intake trunk that goes on top of the airbox and see how much oil there is on the plate. Valvers can suffer from breathing problems due to being overfilled with oil or blocked crank breather pipes.
Check your dizzy cap and arm aren't worn
Check the hall sender plug is on the dizzy and not snapped off
Take off the scuttle tray on the drivers' corner and look at the ECU. Remove the plug and see the pins aren't corroded on the ECU and the plug connection.

The lack of power is something new, I think its to do with air going in or coming out so as you will need to get the exhaust fixed anyway that would be something to rule out. But i doubt the back pressure is so little that the car shouldn't run.

PM me if you need more detail in what to check.

[OakeyDoak16v]

Sounds like a can of worms mate. You should post something in the garage section, probably get more success there.
That said i would be interested to know what the problem is myself. It's probably something simple, usually is

[DarnPB]

As with all the above but check your fuel filter as well. The last guy may have run it on empty before selling it, thus sucking all the crap from the bottom of the tank.

[rubjonny]

I'd start by checking the ignition system, new cap, arm and plugs, followed by a thorough check of the leads.  Sounds to me like it was only firing on 3 near the end!

As for fueling issues, one thing to check is the bolt on the fuel inlet to the fuel metering head.  16vs from new came with a special bolt with a filter inside, to catch and small debris from the manufactuing procvess.  This should have been removed at the first service interval, but there have been many cases where they had been left in place, eventually causing isses when they become clogged up.  Bin the bolt and fit a normal one, or rip out the filter if its possible to?

[Mk2George]

Thanks for all the replies chaps, much appreciated. Ive had the injectors out and discovered 2 things, firstly 2 of the 4 injectors have no rubber seal on them (!) there are 2 per injector and 2 of the bottom ones are just not there. Secondly after getting a fax of the injection system from my local VW dealer I see that there are meant to be clips that hold the injectors in and mine doesnt have these?

I was told by the VW parts guy that it didnt show a part number for them on his ETKA system and so they wont  be on the car anyway? True or false, seems a bit odd that the injectors should only be held in place with rubber seals

Oh it starts up and idles wonderfully leon, just when you put any load on the engine it dies

Bought a new centre sec today so theres my afternoon tomorrow taken up Great fun

The old girl .....

[jase555]

i would most deffo check that the fuel pump and lift pump are putting out what they should. my mk3 had a very similar problem and it turned out to be the mamin pump under the chassis. only £120 genuine. get a garage to meter the flow at tick over then at high revs with the car under load.

good luck.

jase