Vw Golf Mk3 1.6 CL . . . Cutting out irratically & losing power

I have a '98 MK3 1.6 CL on 113,000 miles with a few minor problems...

When started from cold, the car idles strangely and the revs drop right down to a point it cuts out. I have to rev it to keep it from stalling. Also cutting out when approaching junctions and roundabouts.

White smoke comes out from time to time and the car is chuggy when it does this. I looked underneath the oil filler cap and noticed the dreaded mayo on the underside of the cap, however, the car hasnt been run properly for 5 months so possibly condensation is to blame for this? Also seems to be drinking more fuel then it did, or possibly the price of fuel these days :zx11:


Any one any suggestions please?

just keeping me eye on this, as I'm having much the same problem. My 1.4 was a complete tw*t to start and when it eventually "roared" into life, it ticked over ok until it came off the cold start after a minute or so. It then dropped down to about 850rpm and idled lumpily. Revving up from then on was accompanied with a stutter and general lack of nads...not done a compression check yet as I'm banking on it being a dodgy sensor/throttle positioner issue...mine's scrap if the gaskets gone

seems like we're all in the same boat. i just got a 1998 1.6 CL and it's doing the same thing. It's fine when driving, but it's running lumpily at lights and when static, though this is just occasional and it's fine when driving normally and there's no loss of power.

Could it be a problem with the choke? It's slow to get going in the morning but seems to run fine after starting it a couple of times.

Any help would be greatly appreciated here too!:(

Had a similar experience but not always from cold. Lumpy idle and cutting out from idle. Turned out to be the rubber block mounting between carb and inlet manifold. This somehow split and was leaking air. You can check it by just pushing on the air cleaner when the motor is idling. If you hear it sucking air when you push from one side, and the motor dies, try re-starting and then pull the opposite way on the air cleaner. The motor then idles smoothly. That's the giveaway. Remove carb and replace that block mount. Problem solved.

cheers for that. i'll give it a go and see what happens. :)

Hi folks - first time poster (female) so hoping you can help in non technical speak ! I have a 1998 1.6 SE VW Golf - having same sort of problems with lumpy idling and cutting out on initial start up and at junctions etc. If I put the air con on this seems to level out the idling - but not completely. Read various posts but all seem to deviate off in one way or another - eg mine doesn't cut out at speed & no-one has mentioned air con helping. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Cheers.

The aircon speeds up the idle automatically when switched on. If your car idles fine with the aircon switched on, it could be that your normal idle setting is just set a little too slow. There is a screw at the back of the carburettor to speed it up. Its a simple job.

If that doesn't help, then you need to check for air leakage - it could be a perished hose or the carburettor mounting allowing air to leak in.

I've had the same problem, but only since I fitted my induction kit..my mechanic mate said it was due to ice crystals forming around the carb because of the cold air passing over it.. That's why it tends to go away when the engine has warmed up a bit

ok, to add to the lumpy idling and cutting out when stationary, i've just developed noisy power steering and loss of power if i turn the wheel when stationary.

i'm guessing there's some connection with the battery here but i'm not entirely sure if it's also connected to the idling problem or something new altogether! i have a basic technical knowledge, but nothing too sound so i'm charging the battery and hoping for the best.:(

anyone any better ideas?

This help a little? :

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...09&postcount=5