Engine problems

Hi All MK1 GTI owners

I have a MK1 GTI which was working sweet as a nut until I snapped my Achilles tendon a while back.  I used this time for a complete rebuild of body and engine.  It was a German Campaign bought by an Army officer, Helios Blue with a genuine full leather interior (in excellent condition including frot and rear door cards, very rare I'm led to believe).  I am the third owner and it is now depressing me!!!
 
It starts first time every time but once warm cuts out.  We have monitored the fuel return and it gives 2 pints in 30 seconds (as Haynes Manual states) then once warm next to no fuel returns and the emissions go sky high.  It has a new metering head, injectors, fuel pump etc.

  Can anyone please help with this problem?

  Cheers

    Graham

Change the warm up regulator for a known good one.

Check out ChrisB's problem - exactly the same symptoms

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1322&highlight=

Graham
           

then once warm next to no fuel returns

Do i take this means that the fuel stops when warm ? If so you possibly have tank breathing problems , check your fuel tank breathing system including the one way valve located in the rear arch . The tank should be under slight pressure to assist the pump but is regulated by the breather valve if this is faulty you get a partial vacuum and no fuel , car stops leave it for a bit pressure drops car starts again … Worth a try before you delve to deep ……Cheers …..

Hi

Thanks for the replies so far.
Return flow is spot on when cold, engine gets to operating temperature fine, ignition system is new and fine it is only when it gets to running temperature that it starts to go wrong ie emissions go sky high and floods.  Restarts when warm by booting it but when taking foot off it floods again.  

We have carried out all the suggestions in the post we were refered to.

Help

Cheers

Graham

MMMMMMMHHH

Looks like you are having fun ! Try this web site , print it out and read all it may give you a usefull lead …


Domain parking page

Cheers……..

Oh and keep posting till you solve it , its a learning curve for us all

Cheers……..

As Rich mentioned this sounded very similar to the problems I had with my Campaign.

I know I always say this, but you can save yourself a LOT of head scratching and guesswork with a fuel pressure test gauge. Its the only way to eliminate / diagnose whether certain components like the warm up reg are working as they should.

One of the Gunson colortune "windowed" spark plugs may give you a clue as to whats going on if you watch it just as the engine starts to die. Should indicate if the mixture is too lean / too rich (although just reread your post and you seem to know its running rich when it dies?).

If you haven't replaced the coil, HT leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm then maybe now is a good time to do that - it ain't expensive and rules a few other possible problems out.

- Check that the injectors are delivering a decent spray pattern and correct quantitiy of fuel (see Prowlers guide).

- Check the aux air valve is working correctly

- Make sure the Thermotime switch and cold start injector work as expected (no dribbling from the injector after initial 8 sec run).

To me it sounds like the warm up fuel pressure reg on the front of the engine. Either connect up a pressure gauge and check against the specs in the Haynes or swap it out for a KNOWN good one and see if that cures it. You can also disconnect the eleccy connector from the warm up reg as this slows down its operation as the bimetallic strip inside takes longer to heat up. If you unplug it and the car runs for longer before dying then I'd say the reg is deffo suspect.

If its the warm up reg then GSF are the cheapest I found for new. Brand new replacement Bosch item for ?130 inc VAT and delivery, and no exchange reg needs to be sent back.

I guess you have checked the filler neck is sound and no crud in the system? Doesn't do any harm to dump a bottle of the redex injector cleaner in the tank either to clean things out.

Let us know what you find and good luck - fuel problems can be a right pain in the butt to diagnose - you have my sympathy!

Chris

Meant to ask - how soon does the car cut out after starting?

With my warm up reg issue the car used to die after about 5 mins just as the top rad hose started to get warm and the temp gauge needle moved off the bottom of the range.

Any news !!!

Could it be that the 5th "cold start" injector isn't switching itself off?