Golf Newbie. Need some help from you guys!

**Mundon** · 03-07-2007,09:27 PM

Hi guys,

I have just bought my first mk4 shape golf. In the past I have owned 1 mk2 and about 6 mk3's. Have since gone onto beemers and now have returned to the golf.

It is a mk4 golf with only 26k on the clock. Car is a 1.6 S but I have found a couple of niggly problems which Im hoping you guys can help with.

1) The idles hunt very slightly. At idle the revs fluctuate only by about 50rpm between about 750 and 800. I don't notice any loss of power when driving but sometimes a slight hesitation in 2nd gear.
I have tried disconnecting the MAF and driving and this seems to make the idle hunt even more, and power loss is even more evident ? can you guys give any advice on what I should check ??

2) The temperature guage sometimes works, but more often doesnt work at all, reporting 0c. I have searched the forum and people say it is likely to be a coolant temperature sensor. I am prepared to replace this but do not know where in the engine it is located. again any clues ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

**Eshrules** · 03-07-2007,11:02 PM

your first fault could well be the idle control valve....

second, the coolant temp sensor, as you look at the engine block, to the right, under the rocker cover, you will find a small plug, do not attempt to remove this though until your car has cooled, otherwise you will scald yourself!

i took a pic the other week when i replaced mine, let me try and find it for you

**Mundon** · 04-07-2007,10:25 AM

Hi mate,

Thanks for the info. A picture would be great. When you post it I will go buy a sensor and do the job.

I also would like to locate the ICV, so I can give it a good clean. Can you point me to that ?

**Mundon** · 05-07-2007,02:32 PM

any clues guys?

**Col** · 05-07-2007,02:37 PM

Not the idle control valve but the throttle body probably needs a clean and then electronically re-aligning.

Do a search on here as this was gone through in some detail only a week or so ago. It is a problem that also effected later MK3's so you may already know about this.

**Mundon** · 05-07-2007,09:00 PM

thanks for the info bigcol , I think I will do a search but if i cant find anything i will book it into a VW Specialists place.

Drove the car today and it certainly was hesitating in 2nd

angel18082005 · 06-07-2007,12:13 AM

i have a mk4 golf 1.6 se S reg 1999. and i have had exactly the same problem since i have had the car.

i went to the dealer with the problem that the idle would noticeably hunt and that it very ocassionaly wont start when hot unless i put the accelerator down.

they changed the temp sender and the lambeda probe and it has minimised the problem but not stopped it.

it still does both but the starting fault is less frequent and the idle hunt is better but not stopped and i find it is sluggish in pulling off in 1st gear.

iv been told by the dealer it isnt reading any other faults and that some models of car hunt more than others.
i have to admit i have heard of alot of 1.6 petrol golf mk4s that do this.

**Mundon** · 06-07-2007,02:09 PM

angel,
totally agree. I will be taking it to a VW specialists on the weekend to put it onto a diagnostics machine ... probably will be a waste of money though as Im pretty sure nothing will come up !!!

going to clean the throttle body, and the ICV if I can find it.

**Col** · 06-07-2007,05:12 PM

Cleaning may not be enough on it's own.

You'll probably need to get the throttle body electonically aligned; see the vagcom link below for details of who may be able to do it local to you.