1.8 GTI won't idle

Any one got any thoughts on the below.

Car started and ran fine a couple of weeks back. Taxed it this morning with the plan to take it out for the first time this year and it won't run.

Fires okay but immediately spins up to around 3k rpm and then dies. Can just about keep it running if I juggle the accelerator but not really.

I did take the HT leads and the air pipes between the metering head and manifold off in between for some minor cleaning, but have checked and resealed them.

Any ideas on what to try?

Did you get this sorted buddy?? 

Nope - cleaned plugs, rubbed down rotar arm, check all vac hoses but no luck.

Think it might be starting and dying in a slightly less mis-firey fashion now.

I've exhausted my mechanical knowledge…particularly given nothing changed inbetween it working and not working.

My mechanic thinks he might be able to come out and take a look on Friday or Saturday morning but failing that or it requiring anything, not looking positive for Sunday. Sad!

If all else fails if it could be a fuel/fuelling issue. How old is the fuel in the tank? Also modern fuel has a higher level of ethanol than when our car were made. It isn't good for older rubber fuel pipes - can cause them to degrade, which in my case caused the lift pump to clog up with black gunge which I assume was remains of the rubber fuel hose sitting in the tank.
Good luck

Yes - I did wonder that so chucked another 5 litres in it from a can but to no avail. I guess it could be partially blocked but it fires up perfectly every time and then dies...i would have thought if it was fuel flow, starting at all would be an issues...at least occasionally?

dumb question….

did you put the plug leads back on in the right order??
very easily done to get them wrong….  

also, did you reconnect the air pipe underneath the big pipe from the air filter to the throttle??? Solid one, comes from round the back by the manifold…
it's hidden and can get forgotten quite easily…. or it can get pushed in too far and then restrict air flow…..

All sorted - apparently you need to have all the injectors in the manifold and not rattling around on top...who knew?