Help for a newbie - Mk3 Gti 2.0litre 16v

[HayleyS]

Hello. New to the forum and just reading this really helpful thread, as I too have just bought my first Golf GTi Mk3, 2.0 16v, and sounds as though im having the exact same problem.

So far have done the following...

Replaced everything that this gent has said, including the Coil and its connector block. Havent resorted to renewing the dizzy yet. Thought id give the ECU relay idea a try.

Question - cant figure out how to get the fuse board to drop down. Can anyone help?
We can see that there are numbers on the relays themselves, which one is the ECU relay?

Its getting ever so slightly annoying now, as im out enjoying the drive in my new pride and joy, but then go to stick my foot down and the ride becomes no longer enjoyable. Not very funny!!
Any help would be much appreciated guys. 

[monkeyalan]

according to haynes manual, once fuse  panel off, you carefully prise the trim panel from the lower drivers side facia.

hope this helps, gonna have to do it myself at some point.
 

[HayleyS]

The other half says that once he has removed the cover, he pulled the bottom panel away easily enough. He noticed that there is a white lever arm which he un-clipped but couldnt move the panel. Any ideas?
Im not gonna have a go at it myself for fear of causing more probs than its worth, being a bird an all that.

[monkeyalan]

doesn't say much else. i'm getting the info from a section about removing the facia as it doesn't say how to change relays anywhere, just "unplug the old relay and replace", yeah very helpful..cheers!.

anyway, it does say something about removing all the retaining screws but i don't know if that only means if your taking the dash out.

[HayleyS]

Dont worry, i'll get my crystal ball out now and see I can can work out what the manuel means. lol
Thanks for trying though. Bit of a nightmare this taking apart business init!! 

[HayleyS]

Well, bit of good news on the judder front.

Went and raided Sparesworld this morning and got this little lot - STP Injector Cleaner, Nitrox Injector Cleaner Octane Boost and Rocket Boost de-coaker.

After putting it all through the car, took it out for a gentle drive then a blast up the by-pass and it ran brilliantly, no nasty juddering to hold the car back. Been out in it all day and its been great. Still not running 100%, feeling a little lumpy, but now I dont feel like im going to bring my last meal back everytime I hit 3000rpm. Its going in for a crypton tune later this week so that should help it to run a little smoother.
I still recon everything we've replaced on it was a good idea, but anyone who experiences the same problem id definately recomend give this stuff a try.
I'll keep you posted as to whether the car remains to run well, but so far so good!! 

[Len]

Crikey Hayley you must have done a load of reading to dig this one out!!!

My first post!! LOL

Anyway - yea the fuseboard is a bit of a contortionists nightmare, but easy enuff when ya know where to look.
Relays are numbered in a Haynes manual.

If your problem is anything like mine then the Relays is THE fix!

[HayleyS]

You'd better beleive it. I've been diggin out posts r.e this subject from everywhere. Its been a nightmare. If the tune doesnt sort it out completely then I think we are going to have a go at changing that relay. Cant do any harm hey!!
But over all, im a far happier person today than I have been since I bought the car. Nothing worse than buying a new car that you cant have fun in. 

[Len]

Felt the same as you - my car was becoming undriveable! And of course couldnt sell it, coz it was doing it all the time.
But it was instant change for me! as soon as i put that relay in - WOW!!! totally different car!
And it was only about £8  -  i had spent hundreds up til then!

[HayleyS]

If its that cheep, I may phone around some of the suppliers tomorrow and see if they have any in stock. German Sweedish French may have them. I'll speak to the other half nicely and ask him to do it for me. He's been an angel to be fair. He's done so much to try and get it right for me and until now nothings worked. He told me to burn it last week.  Thats how p'd off he was getting with it. I'll have to be extra nice to him for a bit I think, just incase it needs any more doing to it.