So, a little while back, my Rabbit started lurching at low-rpm when giving just a bit of throttle. It is an '82 1.6 NA. Did some searching and found some people with similar experience after a gov mod. Problem is, I don't have a mod. Here's what I can tell you:
1. The lurching is such that if I'm only slightly depressing the throttle, in any gear, it bucks like a bronco. If I go WOT, the lurching stops. If I take my foot off the throttle, the lurching continues a bit, lessening as it goes, until it's back to normal and comes to a stop. Happens in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, for sure.
2. I have done no mods to my motor. It has relatively new OEM Bosch injectors and nozzles, a new clutch, and all hoses lines seem to be in good order.
3. It is burning oil for sure (if that has anything to do with it). I lose a quart or more in-between re-fuels. There's a slight bit of seepage, I think, but oil loss is definitely from burning.
4. The only thing I have done to the motor is turn in the fuel screw a little bit. Doesn't overheat ever. Runs brilliantly on the freeway and at 35mph+ around town.
5. Starts up every time like a champ. Only smoke is at WOT and it's black (or dark dark grey)
6. Replaced a transmission mount. There's a bit of a rattle on cold start, but it goes away quick (like a few seconds of running or as soon as I engage a gear). Basically, if I put it in gear and move even a foot, and then back to neutral and idle, the rattle/shake is gone.
7. Lurching happens both as I accelerate, or when I try to cruise at low speed. For instance, pulling away from a stop, if I'm just casually accelerating, it reaches a point in the power curve where it lurches once (a big one) and then we're smooth as I get over that point in the rpm range. Or, if I'm in slow traffic on the freeway, just trying to cruise along at around at a low but appropriate speed for a given gear, it buck like crazy until I either accelerate or let off.
What else can I tell you? What other info might help identify the issue? Is it mount related? Is the burning oil (which I need to fix -- bad o-rings?) a sign of some greater internal problem that would cause this? I tried turning the fuel down, but it didn't really help. It's idling a little fast, but not so bad. I think I turned the idle up a bit to get rid of a little bit of the shake.
Thoughts?
Thanks.