need some help please

ive got a 1.8 golf cabriolet automatic…
for a few weeks now the car has been starting really bad in the mornings (i put this down to cold bad weather)
the choke has not been kicking in in the mornings, so was useing the accelerator to keep the car going till it finally kicks in after 10 minutes then the car would be ok for the rest of the day.. but when its first started it sounds like its running on 3…

but the last week has been a nightmare.. been doing the same with the accelerator to keep it going in the mornings but when it would finally kick in i would take my kids to school no probs, but then a few days ago  half way there the car will chug for a bit then just cut out in the middle of the road and again today !!

got the car back twice as its done this but it also drains the battery, had to recharge it twice…


brought leads and plugs yesterday and had them fitted, charged the battery and this morning its still doing the same. the car starts and still sounds like its firing on 3 (excuse the expression but sounds like a scooby lol) but cut out at  my kids school.. so the car is still there at the moment till i can get it back..

any suggestions please as im pulling my hair out on this one and im no mechanic  :dontknow:

oh forgot to add that the whole road is filled with black smoke when started in the mornings, and also the car suffers from really bad pre ignition

Hi,
   Firstly check you have no leaks from vacuum pipes, servo pipe etc, and the carb flange that sits in between the carb and inlet manifold.
Once you checked them, get back to me and i'll see if i can help you further fella
Pete :wink:

i cant do anything at the moment untill the car is back at mine, which wont be till later this evening, i will let u know

and love sounds better than fella (im female lol)

cheers mate !!

Sorry pettle  :wink:
Pete

Are you not selling this? and for a Renault :roll:
Pete

i advertised it for sale ages ago, but decided to keep it untill recently, but now it seems ive gotta keep it again and get it sorted before i can try and sell it again

The Pierburg 2E2 carb (usually fitted to 1800) can be very troublesome if not maintained regularly. The vacuum hoses/system are central to ensuring the cold start works correctly and these often become split and perished in the engine heat and knocked off by clumsy mechanics. It's worth replacing all the vacuum hose every 3-4 years, as it's so cheap yet vital. I've almost got my 2e2 on my ?65 1.8 mk2 auto running correctly (was dirty, vacuum hoses etc missing when I got it) through perseverance and about ?20. Check out this link for good advice on 2e2 problems http://www.clubgti.com/FORUM/showthread.php?t=36156

Also you need to consider the condition of your ignition system, dodgy HT leads are susceptible to the cold and a worn one could be causing your misfire. Pre-ignition can be down to poor carb condition (build of carbon on inside), bad fuel mix or even low/dodgy coolant. When do you get pre-ignition and what are the symptoms.

Cheers

cherrydrop wrote ;
oh forgot to add that the whole road is filled with black smoke when started in the mornings, and also the car suffers from really bad pre ignition
 your carb mount and hoses may need changing ( easy job ) but black smoke doesnt sound too healthy, does it use a lot of water ? have you had a look in the rocker cover yet ? if there is greyish sludge in there chances are your head gasket has gone. but the only time i have had black smoke coming out the exhaust is when my piston rings had gone, or maybe a problem with the valves. my 1.8 auto cabby had greyish smoke coming out and the sludge in the rockercover and wouldnt start, had to skim the head and do a headgasket change, with all the parts, new gasket, new mounting flange, filters other parts and skimming head cost me about ?200
what part of the country are you in ? as i am sure you will be local to someone on here that could have a look for you, without paying stupid money for a garage

Black smoke is usually a sign of over fueling/too rich maybe linked to faulty autochoke - you mention it occurs on cold starts. Worn piston rings/valve seals etc usually means oil being burnt which should give blue smoke.

Cheers