Help needed

[scott-mk3]

Hey,

The problem has just started and I dont know what it could be.Tried a few things but no luck.

I go to start it and it starts and revs but then the revs just die and the car cuts out and the oil light flashes.Its on a mark 3 1.8 and its had a new rotor arm,distributor cap,oil filter,oil change,plugs etc changed.

Even trying to keep the revs high while starting doesnt do any good as the revs then just die again.

Any help out there? Iv got a video of what happens if its of any help.Here it is:

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...rent=fault.flv

The fouth time it starts when i put the key to the first clik and allow the light on the far left to go out.However this only worked on some tries and didnt always resolve it.

scott.

[Fettler]

Probs not much help but after watching your video, my view is an electrical fault.

[Eshrules]

Hey,

The problem has just started and I dont know what it could be.Tried a few things but no luck.

I go to start it and it starts and revs but then the revs just die and the car cuts out and the oil light flashes.Its on a mark 3 1.8 and its had a new rotor arm,distributor cap,oil filter,oil change,plugs etc changed.

Even trying to keep the revs high while starting doesnt do any good as the revs then just die again.

Any help out there? Iv got a video of what happens if its of any help.Here it is:

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...rent=fault.flv

The fouth time it starts when i put the key to the first clik and allow the light on the far left to go out.However this only worked on some tries and didnt always resolve it.

scott.

i presume being a mk3, it does not have a diagnostic port? from what you've described, the first few things id check would be :

throttle body - over time, these can become clogged up, sometimes a simple clean of this can resolve the issue. although you say you try to keep revs high, i presume you mean giving it all the gas, be careful doing this as you could risk flooding your engine.

Fuel filter - again, over time these can become clogged up, they arent an expensive part, so to replace it would not do any harm, make sure you get someone who knows what their doing to do it though, being a petrol, im unsure how you would go about doing this.

Fuel Pump - these become increasingly ineffcient as the car gets older, it is a fact of life, so this could also be responsible. im sure there is a way to check to see if fuel is passing through the fuel lines, i will look into this and see what i can find.

carb/idle control valve - this bit im not too sure about, im unsure when carbs were discontinued and im unsure if yours would have an idle control valve (i suspect it should) however, a faulty idle control valve normally means the idle is erratic or the car stalls itself, the engine is usually able to at least turn over.

i would recommend checking the first 2, as these are the easiest and cheapest fixes. there may be a techie about who can offer further detail

[Eshrules]

Probs not much help but after watching your video, my view is an electrical fault.

an electrical fault where?

[scott-mk3]

eshrules thanks for the detailed help alot for me to go and try.I will ry cleaning the throtle body as thats easy to access.Im going to go pop down and get a fuel filter aswell as when i did a serice on the car that was the only filter i didnt cange.

I dont mind doing it myself and will just clamp off the fuel lines going into it while working on it.

The mark 3 does have a port for diagnostic software although i was trying to sort it without having to go to a main dealer for their time and charges. I have however started to ask about if there is anyone in my area who has the software and wouldnt mind giving me a hand.

On topic of the carb/idle control valve i have read alot of people who have had problems with this on their mark 3's however it mainly seems to be the car cutting out when they are actually driving where as mine the problem lies when trying to start it. Its fine once its started but after you saying about being careful flooding with fuel it has been noticed that if it is tried to much to be started then unburnt fuel ends up coming out the exhaust.

I shall go and try a few of the things mentioned and see if i have any luck.
Again though thanks for the help

[Eshrules]

whereabouts are you? my geography skills are terrible, i have vagcom and a mini code reader. ill read codes for a pint

[Col]

How old is it ?

Reason being;

Older ones had an idle control valve

Newer ones controlled the idle from the throttleplate.


I'd do all the above and also suspect the coil output and look at;

water temp sender (ecu might think the engine is warm when it isn't)

crank positon sensor (this went dud on our MK3 2.0 GTI and caused starting probs)


As above get it read for faults or buy a lead and do it yourself to be exact. Otherwise you could end up spending the cost of a lead and some !

Good luck

[Eshrules]

How old is it ?

Reason being;

Older ones had an idle control valve

Newer ones controlled the idle from the throttleplate.


I'd do all the above and also suspect the coil output and look at;

water temp sender (ecu might think the engine is warm when it isn't)

crank positon sensor (this went dud on our MK3 2.0 GTI and caused starting probs)


As above get it read for faults or buy a lead and do it yourself to be exact. Otherwise you could end up spending the cost of a lead and some !

Good luck

good thinking i wasnt sure about the idle control valve etc... i would have thought with the temp sender though, there might be an indication on the dash? such as the temp gauge being erratic?

to the OP.... if you need a vagcom cable, i have one in stock, seeings your a member you can have it at cost, PM me if you would like it if you're local to any user with it, im sure they will help you out

[Sam]

whereabouts are you? my geography skills are terrible, i have vagcom and a mini code reader. ill read codes for a pint

Ayrshire = Scotland = miles away

[Eshrules]

Ayrshire = Scotland = miles away

aah... i thought it was in scotland, but knowing my luck id of said and been wrong there must be someone who lives in scotland with vagcom...