02 golf 1.6 misfiring,pinking,hesitating

[really wants an RS6]

Got a customer with a 2002 1.6 16 valve golf, When you drive it, it pinks under acceleration, misfires and hesitates. The only thing I have done at the moment is plug in the fault code reader and there are no fault codes logged. I don,t see how the ignition timing could be wrong, but it does feel as if it is running lean, what could cause that and not log a code? If anyone can help with this problem me and my customer will be very grateful.

[love_my_golf]

hi i have a golf 1.6se 16valve yr 2000, its doing a similar thing, occasiionally when sat in traffics i.e. not moving the EPC light comes on my dash and the car cuts out when it is started back up it drives like a slug going about 5mph with my foot to the floor, then judders soon after and gets a little power back. to get it driving back to normal i need to turn off the ignition for a few minutes.
i have taken my car to a mechanic and also had it hooked up to vag-com but no fault codes are being found.
any thoughts or ideas would be great!