Low end noise under load - CL MK3 1.8L

[beausuf]

Hey guys,

My Mk3 is making a pretty weird noise under load some times, it's a similar noise as to what you would hear if you were in too high of a gear at low rpm - eg: taking a corner at 20km/h in fourth and the car sounds like it wants to stall. Accept it will do this when you put your foot down in most gears (mainly when the engine is cold) for most part of the rpm range. If you climb to speed at a gentle pace it's completely fine. Any one have any ideas as to what it could be?

Thanks guys,
Beau

[cliftronix]

Would you call it a ticking/pinging sound? Like someone is hitting little hammers in your cylinders?

Could be pinging under load, try a higher octane fuel or retarding your timing slightly if your engine has a distributor (i only know vr6's lol).

[beausuf]

Pretty much just described it to a tee.

I have a feeling it may be spark/timing related. I'm planning on doing a decent service on it very soon, fluids/filters/plugs/leads/timing so I'm hoping that will clear it up. I wish I read this before I went to the petrol station and filled up on 91 lol. Will run it near on dry and try 98.

If any one has any other suggestions please let me know!

Thanks,
Beau

[stefcio007]

I wish I read this before I went to the petrol station and filled up on 91 lol. Will run it near on dry and try 98.

I even had slight knocking running on 95, always run on 98 now as the previous owner did.

[dubin]

It'll be timing. I did a new cap and rotor button, cleaned the Throttle body, sealed a leaky boot. Fixed it right up...

[h100vw]

Pretty much just described it to a tee.

I have a feeling it may be spark/timing related. I'm planning on doing a decent service on it very soon, fluids/filters/plugs/leads/timing so I'm hoping that will clear it up. I wish I read this before I went to the petrol station and filled up on 91 lol. Will run it near on dry and try 98.

If any one has any other suggestions please let me know!

Thanks,
Beau

You cant run 91 is these Euro exotica mate, it's not a Toyota. Needs 95 at least.

Gavin

[beausuf]

Serviced the golf on the weekend and did the fuel filter while I was at it, ran the tank close to dry and filled up on 98 and the noise is completely gone. I've got some new spark plugs to put in on my next day off but the service and fuel seemed to fix it. Thanks for the help guys!

[stefcio007]

Good to hear!