Golf MK1 1.6 GTI Firing order.

Hi,

Picked up my MK1 GTi yesterday and whilst inspecting the engine bay and photos of the same engine online, I've noticed that the HT leads don't look like they're in the correct order?

It's a little lumpy idling, so maybe that's why?

Here's mine



Is this how it should be?

I'm buying new HT leads and plugs soon.

What if this is the correct order, and I put them in the order I've seen online, would it naff up my engine?

Thanks.

Firing order 1,3,4,2

From your picture No 3 plug lead is where No 1 plug lead should be, try moving them all round one socket clockwise and see if that helps, eg No 1 lead at 12 o'clock, No 3 at 3 o'clock etc……

I'll give it a go in the morning.

when I tried removing a HT lead today it was very hard to take off, all four was to be honest. I honestly thought the HT leads for these engines was at a 90' angle from the dizzy? Could be wrong though

Looks like distributor timing is out ..
With crank and cam in the the right timing position the rotar arm should be on no1 which is about where no3 is at the moment so id guess the distributor needs turning because the cap only fits properly one way and if the leads were wrong she wouldnt start
As for the leads they can be straight or 90 degree type it depends on the make you buy

How do I turn the distributor around? Do I undo that bolt underneath it and twist it around? Do I do this when the engine is running ?

Yeah there is a bolt at the bottom with a u shape clamp…best you mark the dizzy and the engine first so you know where it originally was.
Slacken the bottom bolt slightly so you can just move the dizzy and start her up.
When you move the dizzy you will hear the engine change
By moving the dizzy you are advancing or retarding the timing..

If i was you id buy myself an Haynes Manual as this would help you with not only how to fix your car but most importantly how it works which in turn will help you work out whats wrong in the beginning..
They are so handy for settings and specs … Worth every penny

Cool, I'll get my new leads and plugs tomorrow and do it after I've fitted them… The car was shaky when idling, is that due to poor timing? Thanks

Before you throw your money at new plugs and leads, get a bit of wet and dry paper and gently clean the dizzy cap contacts and rotar arm and the ht leads.
They might be ok and just need a quick clean

If the car is running only do ONE thing at a time, if you change the leads, dissy cap,rotor arm and move the dissy around and it does not work again you have more things to look at instead of one.

The dissy/timing could also be out if some ones has changed the cam belt and not put the intermediate shaft/cog in the right place as thats what turns the rotor arm.
As already mentioned mark/scratch a line on the dissy shaft near the clamp so if it goes wrong you can put it back to where is was, when you change the timing do it while its running and the idle speed will also change either lower or higher.
I would check all the engine timing marks first there is 3 on the cambelt, 1 in the dissy cap and 1 on the flywheel. There is lots of info on the web about these marks.
A timing light might be an idea if the car is not MOT/taxed but I found advancing the timing till it started to pinking under load when driving then back it off a little so it stopped but you need a empty road to do this as you have to keep stopping, turning the dissy, driving down the road, stopping etc….

Best advice is get your self a Haynes manual as it shows you all this.

Double post !!

to start with yes the order currently is 1243, so thats not gonna work right

ideally turn the engien to TDC then note where the rotor arm is pointing, put lead #1 there. the alternative is change the firing order on cap to 1342 and then try starting the car, if no start or poor idle move them all round 1 and try again, rinse and repeat there are only 4 possible combinations

you cant guess where #1 should go based on the location the dizzy is at, as the timing could be out with leads moved to suit, int shaft marks could be out etc. best bet is put the engine at TDC and look at where the rotor arm is

Is #1 the closest to the cambelt or the dizzy? Then does it go round clockwise or anti clockwise?

no 1 cyinder is near the cam belt and the rotor arm spins clockwise.