multitude of problems in my new GTI 16v

[TED]

Hi there

im new to the forum and mk3's!!Quite handy on japanese cars but have no experiance with others.

Ive got a mk3 gti anniversary 16v, from the day after i bought it ive been having a few little niggles that ive sorted but now ive got 3 pretty biggish probs.....

My main prob is a persistant misfire on load, it occurs between 3k-4k revs ive read all the threads i can find on here about misfires as a result I have so far replaced, plugs, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm. Ive also cleaned the afm and checked anything and everything else. I dont want to fork out for a dizzy if its not gunna be that either, im just really stuck as to what it is???

A second problem i have is I think my power steering pump may be going out.....It only really happens in the rain but when im slow manouvering the wheel is disgustingly heavy, it also occasionaly happens when at speed, for example travelling at 40 mph steering feels fine then mind bend it will instantly stiffen up and take you by surprise, its really not very fun! Also sometimes when im slow manouvering and obviously steering there is a belt that squeals like a right biatch, im presuming thats the power steering belt? Just wanna know if that sounds like a power steering pump/belt issues to any one? Also the steering really creaks when very slow manouvering...


And finally my newest prob is once ive been driving the car for a few minutes and i become staionary i.e idle there is a loud noise coming from the alternator area, as soon as you rev the engine it disaapears, im thinking it might be alternator, OR it could be all part of the power steering belt prob?


Sorry for the long 1st post! Im yet to fully enjoy my GTI and I want to get these probs sorted asap, any help however small will be much appreciated

edit - nearly forgot to mention when i turn the ignition on, in the screen for the mileage it says "in 02" im not sure if that is a warning message???

Thanks,
Ted

[Wayne]

"in 02" is service due, not sure on the rest of it to be honest but your noise sounds like a alternator bearing.

[TED]

yes an alternator bearing would make sense for the type of noise it is, I take it thats a new alternator required for that

[Wayne]

Yes would be a new alternator but might be worth checking your cam belt tensioner as well.

[TED]

thanks alot, ill get that checked now

[Horney]

Power steering just sound slike the belt is pooped or just loose. Replace it anyway and you should be fine on that one.

You sure at idle it's not the exhaust heat sheild rattling, dead common.

Can't help with your missfire though I'm afraid.

nick

[madhouse]

Hi there

im new to the forum and mk3's!!Quite handy on japanese cars but have no experiance with others.

Ive got a mk3 gti anniversary 16v, from the day after i bought it ive been having a few little niggles that ive sorted but now ive got 3 pretty biggish probs.....

My main prob is a persistant misfire on load, it occurs between 3k-4k revs ive read all the threads i can find on here about misfires as a result I have so far replaced, plugs, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm. Ive also cleaned the afm and checked anything and everything else. I dont want to fork out for a dizzy if its not gunna be that either, im just really stuck as to what it is???

A second problem i have is I think my power steering pump may be going out.....It only really happens in the rain but when im slow manouvering the wheel is disgustingly heavy, it also occasionaly happens when at speed, for example travelling at 40 mph steering feels fine then mind bend it will instantly stiffen up and take you by surprise, its really not very fun! Also sometimes when im slow manouvering and obviously steering there is a belt that squeals like a right biatch, im presuming thats the power steering belt? Just wanna know if that sounds like a power steering pump/belt issues to any one? Also the steering really creaks when very slow manouvering...


And finally my newest prob is once ive been driving the car for a few minutes and i become staionary i.e idle there is a loud noise coming from the alternator area, as soon as you rev the engine it disaapears, im thinking it might be alternator, OR it could be all part of the power steering belt prob?


Sorry for the long 1st post! Im yet to fully enjoy my GTI and I want to get these probs sorted asap, any help however small will be much appreciated

edit - nearly forgot to mention when i turn the ignition on, in the screen for the mileage it says "in 02" im not sure if that is a warning message???

Thanks,
Ted

The noise could well be the power steering pump, have you checked the fluid level?? Or the pump could be knackered.
As has been said the IN02 is indeed a service reminder and can be reset yourself...how?...I don't know   But its a case of holding buttons and switching the ignition on and off or something, sure someone will reply soon.

There's a few posts on mid range misfires if you have a nosey around the Mk3 forum.

 

[TED]

ill check out the heat shield, but when i got my head under the bonnet it defeinitly sounded like it was coming from the alternator, ill get out and check it though

is changing the power steering belt a simple job?

[madhouse]

Yes would be a new alternator but might be worth checking your cam belt tensioner as well.

Good point! Could try a bit of good old WD40 on the alternator and see if it shuts it up? If there's the slightest hint of the tensioner giving up then get it sorted pronto - that goes ping and there will be a few tears and empty wallets   

[Horney]

Yeah should be, it may or may not have a cover. If so whip it off, slacken the adjuster, drop the belt off, new belt on, tighten, do up adjuster. Same as an Aux belt really but the adjuster has more bolts to loosen it.

Sounds like it your alternator then. Good tip, use a long socket extension bar and place the square end on the alternator and then your ear on the cupped end. Then do the same on the PAS pump, cam cover etc and you should be able to tell for sure which is making the noise.

Nick