Any advice appreciated-MK IV Golf problems!

[Pantalaimon]

Hi all, just wanting some advice really. Despite apparent lenght of post, this is not really a gripe!!

I bought a 99/T Mk IV Golf 3dr 1.4S from a VW dealer in May of this year. The car was purchased with an extended warranty, as even though it it over 4 years old it had just over 40k on the clock when I bought it. It was repaired under warranty in July due to a major internal oil leak, where my cam covers and a gasket had to be replaced (quite a big job-dealership were excellent, gave me a spanking new '04 FSi Golf as a courtesy car and delivered mine back to me when the job was done). Over the last couple of weeks, my car hasn't been starting properly. It turns over fine, but fails to actually kick in until you've tried a couple of times. The general ride quality is poor-lots of "rough" feeling to the drive and a frequent tendency to lose power suddenly in second and bunny hop once it sorts itself out. It then has a bizarre and extremely disturbing habit of cutting out-this has not happened in idle, but rather whilst motoring at reasonable speed, then decelerating down to change to 1st or second. The most alarming incident was last Friday, when the car cut out at 45 mph approaching a three lane motorway roundabout at rush hour-not amusing. The car failed to start until the third attempt after it had cut out.

I am covered by VW Assistance, and a technician duly came out the following day. Techy guy again very nice (although his first question was "do you just take the car to the shops once a week or do you drive it often? Mechanics seem to assume that being a young woman, I only ever take my car to tescos on Saturdays! I explained a drive over 50 miles a day, every day, so no, it isn't lack of use, yes I know how to check levels and hey presto I do know where the bonnet catch is! ). No electrical fault was found, battery, alternator etc are in peachy condition. Only fault detected was a cracked valve on the purge cannister, although he said this wouldn't really explain the problems with starting or cutting out.

The Purge Cannister Valve has been fixed at a different (now my nearest) VW dealer yesterday under warranty-again I have to say that the dealership were very good. However, the mechanic then took my car for a quick road test to see if this has solved the symptoms. In his own words "It drives a bit rough, definitely not right". Major discussion between myself and the tech guys who were all very decent. They have all agreed that purge cannister valve wouldn't be responsible for the stuff I've had going wrong. General concensus from VW mechanics as of today is that my problem is one of the following:

EITHER: Timing belt-fault likely to have been caused by engine deconstruction for the oil leak in July

OR: Fuel injector problem-most likely apparently. Neither makes the car immediately unsafe to drive, but could lead to serious issues in future, so advice would be to get this looked at ASAP. So I am going to have to pay up front for the investigation work to be done to find the fault, and just hope that it is a warrantable repair, for which I can claim back my money after it's sorted. I have also driven the car with my spare key, just in case it was the transponder in the key unit causing the problem (which it isn't).

I have read a lot about various Mk IV Golf owners reporting engines cutting out, ignition coil problems, HT Lead failures and the like, but no fuel injection related problems. Please can you offer some insight as to the types of symptom I am experiencing, and if any fellow Golf drivers have had similar probs? If so, what have been the main common faults causing these types of problem, and why "when everything in life should be as reliable as a Volkswagen" do I feel the need to utter a short prayer when having to start my car or slow it down? I love my motor, it's a great little car (had to settle for a gutless engine though, as insurance too prohibitive on GTi or V5 versions)
Sorry about length of post! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[stuart]

Hi

What I have done is faxed over your post to a collegue of mine who is a VW specialist, to get his commemts, so as soon as I get a reply from him I will let you know.

Common faults on most VW's are Air Flow sensors & Ignition Coils.

As soon as I get a reply from him I will get back to you.

Stuart

P.s There are quite a few women out there good with cars, not all men think women are no good were cars are concerned, that includes me

Stu

[Pantalaimon]

Stuart,

Thanks very much for your reply! Very kind of you to forward this on to a real live VW man!! I look forward to seeing if he has any advice to impart-your help is very much appreciated.

I have spent a few hours today looking at a variety of VW sites and reading comments about similar probs that golf owners have had-I seem to be among an alarming number of golf drivers who have had similar experiences, so your interest in my post may help other Dubbers to!

By the way, nice to find a forum site that doesn't disagree with Red Hat Linux, Mozilla or Opera-well done!!!!!

Charl

[stuart]

Stuart,

Thanks very much for your reply! Very kind of you to forward this on to a real live VW man!! I look forward to seeing if he has any advice to impart-your help is very much appreciated.

I have spent a few hours today looking at a variety of VW sites and reading comments about similar probs that golf owners have had-I seem to be among an alarming number of golf drivers who have had similar experiences, so your interest in my post may help other Dubbers to!

By the way, nice to find a forum site that doesn't disagree with Red Hat Linux, Mozilla or Opera-well done!!!!!

Charl

Thanks for your comments on the site, as I only use Windows, I had no idea what it would look like on other formats, so it's good to know it works I would like this to become a good source of information for owners, but need a few more members to participate, so please tell anyone you know.

I have spoken to my man, who has not had chance yet to look at your post in detail, but based on a few short bit's I told him, he said it could be the Throttle body, as he has changed a few of these in the past.

He is going to look at your post in full and see if he can give me/you any pointers to the fault, but finds the comment about the timing belt a bit odd.

I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks

Stuart

[stuart]

Hi

Right, He has read your message, and agrees you seem to know what you are talking about where cars are concerned, which I think maybe part of the trouble, most mechanics seem to think women know nothing about cars which is why you got the comment about timing belt, but not us!

MEN AYE!

He seems to think as yesterday, the "throttle body", or possibly the "engine speed sensor", but the latter should show up a fault code when plugged into the diagnostic socket. Although he was confused by what they mean by "internal oil leaks".

Another possibility, since it has all happened since the work on your car, they have put it back together correct?

Hope this gives you some idea what to approch the dealer with, let hope it gets sorted soon.

Stuart

[Pantalaimon]

Stuart,

you are a complete and utter star. Phoned the garage this avo after I got a notification email from you. Dealer sounded very confused and said my car didn't have an engine speed sensor, and did I mean an air mass sensor? No, sez I, had I meant that I would have said it. Mechanic v confused and puts me on hold..........

5 minutes later, he comes back and said that he didn't know what I meant and where did I get that from. "Internet", I said." Wonderful thing the internet, full of people complaining about Mk IV Golfs, strangely." I mentioned the throttle body as well, and he said he would ring VW Technical Support and call me back.

No call back yet. Maybe he rang them and they put him on hold......

Just driven my car back from work in rush hour through Newcastle and then up 20 miles of A road. Car didn't start first time, but didn't play up. Yet......

[stuart]

What a way to confuse a bloke a women who knows what she wants

Glad to be of help, that's what I want this site to be, a source of help and advise, lets just hope they can get you sorted soon

I used to work for Volkswagen, so unless they have changed, they are still waiting for VW to call them back.

Cheers

Stu

[Pantalaimon]

Hello Stuart!

I've had an email today from Neil Birkett -editor at VW driver magazine. He's read my post-is this the guy you passed it to, or someone else?! He wants me to send the thread of my post to him-seeing as it's your forum, do you mind if i do this? i've put the text from his email below:

HI Charlotte

I read with interest your recent posting on the VWM forum about problems
with your Mk 4

I can¹t promise an instant solution, but if you could email me the text of
your thread so far, plus any additional information which may have come to
light since, I will be happy to try this out with some of my technical
contacts

Here on Volkswagen Driver magazine (see www.autometrix.co.uk ) we are much
closer to the main dealer network and I have a few contacts among service
advisers who may be able to help

I look forward to hearing from you


regards

Neil Birkitt
Editor, Volkswagen Driver magazine


I have to say that my car hasn't really improved at all since the purge cannister valve was replaced. I am saving up the pennies to send it to the dealer for some investigation work (which I'll claim back if they find a problem). As the Northumberland weather is on the turn from chilly to arctic, I feel I should get it sorted before too long-which is rubbish, cos i could be spending the money on other things like beer or Xmas pressies!

I took my car out last Saturday to follow my local hunt, which involves a lot of driving, up and down awkward back roads. It cut out four times while the engine was warm and was very reluctant to re-start, and then refused to start at all from warm after a brief stop of about 5 minutes! Disaster-all the people in ancient Defenders, Hi-Lux's and Scooby Legacys thought this was highly amusing!!!! However, in VW's favour, there is a mark III GTi that follows the hunt every Saturday, and puts some "off-road" vehicles to absolute shame! Combination of skilled driver and well maintained car, I think, although I can't see how fat tyres and a low ground clearance allow him to drive over rutted fields and through 4 feet of mud!!!!

Let me know if it's ok to pass on the thread.

Charlotte

[stuart]

Hi Charlotte

I have no objection to you passing on details from this thread, on the understanding that this site, myself or my contacts will not get involved in any legal matters or legal action, should it go that far

Thanks

Stuart

Ps Hope your problem gets resolved very soon.

[stuart]

Hi Charlotte

Any news on getting your car sorted out yet? Hope the "PRESS" have some better sucess in speaking to them.

Stuart