MK3 16v Stuttering....

[Jobs12]

Hello,
New to this forum thing, but thought I would try it to cure 2 problems on 2 cars.
Bought the wife a 16v MK3 1997 as a replacement to a written off Clio, and it is the best purchase we made apart from one problem.
I have read through existing threads and found other people have had similar problems but hers never cuts out which it seems a lot of them do.
The engine stutters normally once, occasionally 2/3 times on every journey, no matter how long the journey is. The stuttering can last for 10 seconds to 2 minutes, but the engine doesn't cut out or stall.
Since we have had it (Dec 06) it has been to an independant VW/Audi specialist who plugged it in and have replaced coolant temp sender and then lambda sensor, and now since having a Toad immobiliser fitted they can't access the engine management (fighting Toad as we speak!)
Car has also had new dizzy cap, leads and plugs and I think coil pack, and have been told by a friend of a friend that these have a pre-pump on the fuel pump (lift pump) that are renowned for playing up.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[VR5_Lee]

Hello Job12,

I've got a Mk3 97 1.6 GL / CL (Can't remember)
One day I hit a BIG puddle and it started a few problems with the car.

1. Highlighted distrubuter / timing problem - the timing was so far out that there were holes in the dist cap through sparking!
Replaced Plugs, Dist. cap, new HT leads, new coil lead, new rotor arm, and ignition timing set (£36 at the ********).
[It turned out to be a Sagem distributor - very rare apparently, and not in the 'worth a lot of money' way]

2. SLUTTERING! Present before I drove through the lake.
I had previously thought this could be from 3 areas,
a, Ignition timing - Think this has been ruled out by replacing parts as mentioned above.
b, Air / Fuel regulator (two screws, sits in the air inlet pipe between filter and inlet, 1.5" X 1")
c, Timing belt - this will be a last option - but I'm sure it's spluttered ever since we last had it changed.

I'll be doing 'b' this weekend and 'c' probably never.

Does it happen mainly when the engine is labouring?
i.e. when you set off in second gear? or change up too quickly?

Cheers
Lee

[Jobs12]

Hello Lee,

Thanks for the response - good to know I am not alone on this.

Good to hear thoughts on source of problem, as it seems the stuttering on her car was a different experience to most threads I had found on this site.

I spoke with the friend of my mechanic who does a lot on VW's last night and he said to check 3 areas, which is my mission for this weekend:

1) This lift pump (pre-fuel pump) that he mentioned to me last week, which is accessible from inspection hatch in boot - about £30 from German/Swedish. Not sure how you tell if it knackered but for £30 it is worth replacing, especially as he says they were a common fault?

2) Ignition switch - Apparently he says these are renowned for playing up - wouldn't know where to begin but sounds like I am going to have ignition wiring out to rectify the immobiliser problem as Toad aren't budging as it is not their fault - of course how stupid of me!

3) Fuel filter blockage - seems obvious, and from reading some threads it doesn't seem to have an effect but worth a try for £10!

Sounds like we will both be busy at the weekend - I will try the air/fuel regulator, thanks for that and timing as a last resort!

The stuttering literally happens at any time when the accelerator is pressed, not necessarily under strain or labouring. The wife drives fairly modestly anyway, so can change at 2000 rpm from 3rd to 4th and it happens or it can be when I am driving 5-6000 from 2nd to 3rd, and at other times in between. It never happens when pulling away in second at roundabout/junction or if you change too quickly - is this what affects yours?

I will let you know how I get on at the weekend.

Cheers,



James

[VR5_Lee]

Judging by the last sentence it sounds like they might be different issues (the latter being tru of mine - struggles @ low revs) OR mine could be in the early stages of your problem.

What might be worth mentioning is when I had the ignition timing done it changed from a to b:
a, Reach 4.500 revs and engine would be limitted (shut down injectors to prevent over revving!)
b, can freely run up to red-line with no limitting - Great!

...sorry to confuse more but it would appear the ignition timing is linked to some protection system???
Also. According to the dealers - My eng.man.sys. is too old to diagnose certain things, this 'misfire' (as they called it) is one of them.

So,
If you stick with the fuel route and I go down electrical - I'll pop back after the weekend and update...
Cheers
Lee

[Jobs12]

Hi Lee,

I had a look at the car at the weekend and haven't been able to get online since last week.

Although the dizzy cap and rotor arm were newly fitted before I bought the car, it seems this may be the root of my problems. New cap fitted on Monday and no problems to date.

A guy who prepares my race car has singled it out as electrical and not fuel due to the intermittency of the fault.

I will let you know if anything else transpires but hopefully problem cured - I hope you had luck with yours!

Just an oil leak at the valley gasket on my 2.8 V6 Audi to sort and I can rest!!


Jobs