Engine annoyance

[rayray086]

Oh man, that sounds disturbingly like what I had. It turned out to be the crank angle sensor on mine. When cold, it would start well and run fine, but once warmed up, misfires and even stalling occurs.



My old one had the insulation cracking most probably from the intense heat it's exposed to, being located very close to the engine and transmission.


This wire connects to the engine block between the sump and distributor, and routes around the oil filter. Access to the connection at the engine block is difficult as it is blocked by the front transmission mount. Check that wire to see if it's exposing any bare wires. Fingers crossed that it's not that problem as it's bloody hard to find a decent one around, and buying a new one from VW is $400, no ****ing joke.

If you can't start the car when cold, check the spark plugs. It can be fouled due to the screwed up sensor sending bad signals to the ECU. Wire brush them clean and try again - if it still doesn't start when cold, it might just be your coil or distributor or whatever else in the ignition system.

[bboyskidz]

geez that sucks... i'm hoping it isn't that then.... i don't really have $400 right now.

It starts ok but then it kind of doesn't know what to do with the idle speed. I can give it a stab on the accelerator and then it seems to work fine for a bit, but then it will do that funny thing with the gauges as I am driving along...

It has been doing this odd thing sometimes on startup, I turn the key, everything literally blinks (i'm talking milliseconds) and then it makes a grinding sound as if the starter motor doesn't connect to the engine or something... I wouldn't really think that this has anything to do with it.

I think i'm just going to drop it to my local vw mechanic (shameless plug - Lance from Euro Centre @ Tuggerah if anyone is on the coast) tomorrow morning and get him to have a look at it.
it's time like these that i really wish I had a money tree...