Engine annoyance

[bboyskidz]

I say annoyance because that is what it is...
It isn't a major issue, but it is annoyance - although I'm thinking it could become a major issue if the car stops going all of a sudden...

I've uploaded some short videos to youtube to show the issue...

This one is stationery, i'm not touching anything, not even the accelerator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLYWNNCnquA

This one is driving on a straight in a 70 zone, i'm holding everything perfectly still (ignore the music)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYt9cOxUgRM

I'm at a loss as to what is actually causing this to happen but i'm worried it might die if I don't fix it now...
Can anyone help?

[99gti]

My guess is that there is a short on both of them because they are dropping in sync... Have you tried to follow the wiring loom back?

[rayray086]

Is it actually idling rough and misfiring when the RPMs dip on the tacho? Or is the engine running fine but it's just the gauges acting up? I can't hear much of the engine so I can't tell.

[The_Hawk]

Looks like a short somewhere. Since the fuel and temp don't seem to be dropping off it seems to be limited to the speedo/tacho... thats a plus

[bboyskidz]

ok so its really starting to annoy me now.

I thought it could be something to do with the engine speed thingo that goes into the transmission - but i've got no idea...

When I am sitting still on idle:
the engine cuts out/misfires and it has even died completely before... it seems like the engine doesn't know where it is supposed to idle at - is the idle speed controlled by the ECU or something else electric?

When I am driving:
The guages do what they do in the video and sometimes the engine misfires quite dramatically - it jerks a bit when this happens... the thing is, neither of these two things (the guages dropping off or the engine cutting out) happen at the same time.

I've got absolutely no idea when it comes to the mechanics of things... If I can't fix it in the next 24 hours I might see if I can get a morning off work and drop it in to Golf_Loon some time this week - although I don't know how far I will get...

Thanks in advance to everyone!!!

[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...