Author Topic: poor idle behavior on a 1.6 NA. (Read 4513 times)

ohc · « **on:** February 16, 2009, 01:37:26 pm »

Ok, so a recent acquisition of a 82 jetta 1.6 NA and i've encountered some odd behavior.

She starts up well and seems to run well until it gets a little warmer. Then when I come to a stop or just come down from a high RPM it settles into a very rough idle and will often die. At the rough idle the throttle is often non-responsive. Sometimes after like 30 seconds of pumping the gas pedal it will come back to life. The behavior doesn't seem to change based on the position of the cold start lever. If it does die it behaves normally on restart and then fades the next time it returns to idle. I set the idle screw higher and that didn't seem to help.

I posted a video, you can hear it drop into a rough idle from a bit of a rev. Then driving as i leave the alley it bogs down for a bit then comes back to life very nicely. You can see the shake of the very rough idle. Some of the noise is the camera banging against the dash.

http://gallery.me.com/oren_hc#100083

I've had many electrical issues so far but this feels fuel related, probably?
New fuel filter with a 50/50 ATF diesel mix and check for air at the injectors, are the directions my research has pointed me but i wanted to solicit some advice first.

Thanks for any ideas.

CODE4LS1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2009, 10:51:55 pm »

Sounds like the IP may be sucking in air somewhere. I'd check all the hoses both at the fuel tank and in the engine bay going from the hard lines to the IP. Good luck!

Dakotakid · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2009, 09:00:25 am »

And replace all those copper washers at the pump and fuel pump banjo junctions.
Wow! You can still buy Mk. I's which look that good down there in Tex.

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2009, 01:23:56 pm »

when you steer yours makes the same BUNNGGG sound mine does!!!! Is that the strut "bearing" being bad? the big rubber thing it sits in.

jtanguay · « **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2009, 09:48:23 am »

Quote from: "Smokey Eddy"

when you steer yours makes the same BUNNGGG sound mine does!!!! Is that the strut "bearing" being bad? the big rubber thing it sits in.

yep thats what it does. the spring will build up tension from the turning... if it gets bad enough, the spring can actually break. (had that happen to me as well :lol:)

ohc · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2009, 10:22:17 pm »

I really appreciate the posts. This is my second vw and 1st mk1 and diesel so bring then advice.

Yesterday I figured out the reason my glowplugs weren't coming on had mostly to do with their being wired to a fog light switch on the dash. Oh, and low setting on my windshield wipers turns just the headlights on. Lots of fun.

And was shopping for two years before i found one i liked. I haven't seen very many mk1's in these parts.