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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: zozie on January 24, 2009, 07:31:37 am

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: zozie on January 24, 2009, 07:31:37 am

I'm trying to figure out if this is normal or not. When I let the car sit for over 24 hours, it will start then it will keep skipping beats for about 10-20 secs, then it goes away. It's always fine if sits only overnight. Maybe I got a fuel leak?

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=dJg5vBEif58

The sound quality is bad but this is what it does.
The thermometer was showing -23 at 8am when I recorded this which is pretty darn cold tho. I last drove it on thursday.

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: burn_your_money on January 24, 2009, 08:20:50 am

It didn't sound like your motor was cranking over very quickly. You should check the voltage drop between the starter and the battery on both the + and - side.

For a mk1 without the fast idle at -23 I think that sounds like a pretty normal engine. You could try switching to Rotella t SB if you aren't already running it

IM sent

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: zozie on January 24, 2009, 08:25:14 am

Thanx. I'm just trying to figure out if there is a leak in the system cause the "skipping" only lasts a few seconds then it goes away.....

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: 8v-of-fury on January 24, 2009, 08:52:28 am

I think the skipping you are feeling is due to.. how should i put it.. Incomplete combustion, due to the engine not being quite at the right temp to ignite the diesel fuel. I have an engine on a stand in an unheated garage, with the fuel lines right off the pump in to diesel fuel and no bubbles are getting through and it also does this "surging" type of thing.

As Burn_Your_Money said.. if it only does it at startup, then its prob just a warming up issue.. and also maybe your battery is losing some charge.. maybe the gp's are not getting enough juice to adequately warm the engine? I dunno just throwin' it out there.

Clean car! LOVE IT :lol:

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: zozie on January 24, 2009, 08:57:44 am

Well I just put a fresh BIIIIG Bosch battery in so......
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=D166BYEofiw
This is how she cranks now :D

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: burn_your_money on January 24, 2009, 09:30:50 am

That's better :D

Now the question is why did the old battery go bad. You should check your grounds, alternator and all the charging/starting wires

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: jtanguay on January 24, 2009, 12:22:47 pm

its amazing what a battery can do for cold starting  :wink:

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: Rabbit TD on January 25, 2009, 08:35:17 pm

Quote from: "jtanguay"

its amazing what a battery can do for cold starting  :wink:

Yes, I wouldn't go less than 750 CCA.

Title: Mk1 skipping a few beats after start
Post by: farkman on January 25, 2009, 09:59:37 pm

Considering it was -23 and had 15W-40 oil, you should be thankful the ol' girl started. A fresh, more powerful battery makes a huge difference. I had a stock 650 CCA battery last winter which wouldn't start the motor below -15. That was with 0W-30 Syntec. To prevent a repeat this winter I got a 875 CCA battery from crappy tire. Managed to start it in -21 but the car has a weird idle at those temps until it warms up.

For God's sake, do that poor engine a favor and get some synthetic oil in it.