Author Topic: 1.6 non-turbo has mean rough idle (Read 4394 times)

Larrymonarrez · « **on:** February 27, 2008, 02:48:18 am »

I bought a 1986 Golf from the original owner about a week ago and I'm trying to learn as much as I can about diesels now. The car runs great, good power on highway, good mileage, minimal smoke ... like a dream car really ... until I get to a stop sign. The car vibrates like crazy!!! the dash is visibly vibrating. And now it seems to be idling faster, too!

How can I stop it from doing that? It has 60K miles on it and is completely stock. I changed the oil and filter, air filter, and drained the water from the gas filter and water separator. I will change the fuel filter as soon as it arrives.

The guy I bought it from said it had been sitting for about a year. Could it be bad fuel? It had about a quarter of a tank and I filled it up when I drove it home.

I also noticed that the glow plug light occasionally flickers.

Help, please.

Larry

1969 VW Squareback (Sunday car)
1972 VW Campmobile (in progress)
1979 VW Bus (in progress)
1986 VW Golf (1.6 Diesel)

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2008, 03:45:29 pm »

if it runs good it sounds to me like bad motor mount(s)

i'm pretty sure the GP light blinks when there is water in the separator...

burn_your_money · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:16:50 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

i'm pretty sure the GP light blinks when there is water in the separator...

That's correct. Try draining it but be careful that you don't break it. I usually just bypass it. It's below the car by the rear passenger side tire. It could just be that your idle is too low. Bad motor mounts are also a good suggestion.

Does pulling the CS cable have any effect on it?

How many air bubbles are in the fuel lines?

dieselsnowmobile · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:53:50 pm »

Could also be the injectors too, I got a set of rebuilt injectors and two of them were bad, and the car ran great down the road, but idled crappy. Luckily, they replaced them under warranty.

denroldiesel · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2008, 08:57:44 am »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

if it runs good it sounds to me like bad motor mount(s)

i'm pretty sure the GP light blinks when there is water in the separator...

Hi...what is a "GP" light please? We don't have these in the UK.

zukgod1 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2008, 10:26:48 am »

Quote from: "denroldiesel"

Quote from: "jtanguay"
if it runs good it sounds to me like bad motor mount(s)

i'm pretty sure the GP light blinks when there is water in the separator...

Hi...what is a "GP" light please? We don't have these in the UK.

"GP" stands for "Glow Plugs" it lights up when you turn on the key then turns off when the glow plugs are ready, the light flashes if there is water in the fuel/water separator, it's back in front of the rear tire on the passenger side under the car of course.

denroldiesel · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2008, 12:16:42 pm »

Quote from: "zukgod1"

Quote from: "denroldiesel"
Quote from: "jtanguay"
if it runs good it sounds to me like bad motor mount(s)

i'm pretty sure the GP light blinks when there is water in the separator...

Hi...what is a "GP" light please? We don't have these in the UK.

"GP" stands for "Glow Plugs" it lights up when you turn on the key then turns off when the glow plugs are ready, the light flashes if there is water in the fuel/water separator, it's back in front of the rear tire on the passenger side under the car of course.

Thanks for advice..we have the yellow glow plug light but I have yet to see a water sensor here in the UK. Not sure if the newer VWs have them either...North America gets a better spec than we do here.