Wrong notch headgasket cause poor running?

[arb]

If by idle control you mean the cold start lever, then yes, it is "pushed in" and it never worked anyway so I've never moved it. haha

Yeah, that's it. But, did you check the actual arm on the back side of the IP to see it was all the way to the timing belt ? The cable can come loose so your lever is in a partial pulled position.

[vwnut84]

I actually did visually check the lever to make sure I had not bumped it cause that has bitten me in the ass before haha.

[vwnut84]

Ok, so last night I brought it in, set the timing to .86, started it and let it run again. Still seems to be running the same.

So the car is running fine EXCEPT for; harder starting when cold, but fine when hot, and the engine is just louder then it used to be, I can only describe this as having more of a knock to it, like a harsher diesel sound, if that makes any sense at all haha.

So at this point I think I am going to order up a 2 notcher, and throw it in there this weekend, because the only thing different at this point is the different HG, so i figure I'll start at square one.

One thing I did find out is that the cold start on the pump actually does work. I moved it with the dial indicator in place and was pleasantly suprised, I think my cable is just siezed. Never bothered to mess with it cause I never really needed it. bonus! haha

[vwnut84]

Ok so I get my new gasket and bolts ready, take off the valve cover, and set the engine back up at TDC.  So as I am turning the crank my friend is watching the notch on the flywheel and he goes "hey there was another notch I think". At this point I poke my head over and low and behold there is ANOTHER notch about 7-8 degrees BTDC almost identical to the correct TDC mark. HAHA! Reset timing to the correct TDC and now the car is perfect again.

I KNEW it sounded like a timing problem. It's funny, whenever I have a problem like this it's always something really really dumb haha.


 Thanks for all of the responses! )

[vwnut84]

of course  

[Rabbit TD]

of course  

I'm glad you got it straightened out after finding that other mark, I can't imagine how you ever got it started before living in New York with no working cold start lever as you can't always use the heater.