mk1 16v wont start

after building my mk1 golf, ive done all of the electrics and put the engine in etc. went to start the car and its turning over but just not starting, its getting spark, and very little fuel, its giving one small spray through the injector when you first turn the key and thats all. theres definitly fuel going into the metering head and the fuel pump is working, but im thinking its possibly the flap in the metering head not working properly, can anyone suggest anything or is there a way to tell if the metering head is working, or what should be happening with it as i try to start the car

can anyone help me or suggest anything, the car is a mk1 16v running a 2.0 9A engine, Kjet so ive been told

Unclip the airbox, put your hand under and manually operate the flap, whilst an injector is out sonyouncan see that when the flap is raised then more fuel is being let in?

Also tweak the ignition timing whilst trying to start it, rotating slowly forwards and backwards may catch a fire that way. Firing to all 4?

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/uploads/pdf/Testinjectors.pdf

CabbyBrad ive tried that and still nothing, im thinking my metering head is faulty as i didnt realise how sensitive they are, im going to switch it with my spare one to see if that changes anything

i have my fuel pump buzzing and so is my isv, fuel going into metering head but just not reaching the injectors (or very little reaching anyways)

how do you adjust your metering head flap so that it doesnt stick, mine squeeks when lifting, im guessing this isnt ideal?

I had this problem with a 16v conversion and where the main fuel line bolts to the metering head the bolt has a built in filter, this was clogged up and causing the problem.

I had the same problem brad but luckily cuz I took it to crazy quiffs they found out it was the metering head straight away, changed it for another n it work fine

chipster2407 said

I had the same problem brad but luckily cuz I took it to crazy quiffs they found out it was the metering head straight away, changed it for another n it work fine

i had a spare metering head lyring around in my garage, last night i put it on as a last resort and it worked  8)

its running rough but its so good to hear the engine noise for the first time.

when giving it a bit of throttle the engine splutters and doesnt like it, is this the ignition timing or something else?

also if anyones reading this and knows about 16v's, i know there are issues with the manifold touching the steering rack boot, well mines doing this and pretty bad, smoking and burning the boot, ive got the majority of the exhaust heatwrapped and a layer of heatwrap around the boot but its still a bit scary how hot the manifold is getting and being so close to the boot

any help?

Plate it was mine that set on fire lol. Or cut it off but mot failure.

Firing on all 4 cylinders? Tweek timing slightly when ribbon see if it gets any better.

its running rough but its so good to hear the engine noise for the first time.

when giving it a bit of throttle the engine splutters and doesnt like it, is this the ignition timing or something else?

Have u checked all the vacuum pipes? This seems so wierd cuz all the problems ur havin is what I had lol, mine wasnt running very well not long ago, after a quick look ova it turned out to be a vacuum pipe had come off, also have u put new plugs and leads on it?

Also with the steering rack boot I had this problem and I asked on the gti forum n some basically showed me what they did n they basically got a can of something( I used a big can of red bull) cut the top and bottom off it
And the cut it down the middle, then put aluminium tape over it then wrapped it round the boot and put slits in the can and then put the ties u use on the heat wrap through the slits and that keeps it in place, I did this and havnt had a problem since, this is if you havnt got the patients to do what cabby rad have done , it might depend on wat exhaust u have also

Hope that helps

sweet thanks for the reply guys,

il double check the vacuum pipes tommorow but as far as i know they are all in place, i do need some T pieces for the pipes to splitt he ones for the over run cutt off valve etc as ive just ran them from the other outlet on the valve and ran one directly to the ecu, so maybe thats why its not running right too.

i have put new spark plugs on but just used the old leads, as for the heatshield that sounds like a good idea, il give that one a try and see if that improves it at all. thanks, oh do you have a link to the thread you followed for the 'can shield'?

Heat wrap smokes a lot brad tbh may have been better with aluminium tape around boot instead of heat wrap as they the opposite to each other.

I'd also check for air leaks too sounding of it.

Here mate that's mine
http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=115672

Here u go brad http://www.clubgti.com…ing-boot-for-16v-manifold

Hi, had exactly the same issue with my mk1 16v.  If you take the fuel distributor part off the top of the metering head (the block on the top with all the fuel lines held on with three torx screws) and lift it up you will see a shaft which you should be able to press in with your finger. You can remove this and oil\grease this up which my fix your problem. Mine was seized solid!