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PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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Martin
Anonymous Poster
mvorbrodt@gmail.com
Mar 12, 2009, 6:14 AM
Post #1 of 7
(1531 views)
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PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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Hi All! Hope you can help me diagnose my '04 VW GTI 1.8T.
Symptomes: Car stalls when stopped suddenly. Stalls when AC is turned on AND I use other electronics like rolling the windows up etc. Sometimes jerks when I start accelerating from a complete stop... its like it looses power and comes back, make the car jump.
So I took it to a mechanic, and they told me that they couldn't find any electrical issues, but found that fule preasure was low in 2 cylinders. They did the fuel system cleanup / tuneup. That seamed to fixed it for a day, but it stalled on me this morning when I was slowing down at a stop sign and I was trying to was the windshield. Just died. Also, when that happens, everything resets in the car... clock, milage, etc. But comes right back up. Fortunatelly I was able to start the car right away, and not piss off too many frivers behind me... which wasn't the case 3 days ago, when it stalled on a red light and it took me 5 minutes to turn it on.
PLEASE HELP!!!
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mychevys10
User
Mar 12, 2009, 6:18 AM
Post #2 of 7
(1530 views)
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Re: PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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I had the same problem with my 93 Toyota. It ended up being a lose connection to the battery terminal. Make sure you check these connections to make sure they are tight.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 12, 2009, 6:53 AM
Post #3 of 7
(1525 views)
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Re: PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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Yes - Sounds just like losing a solid connection between battery and the rest of the car. It can be intermittent from ok then nothing! Don't forget ground side connections also and ones from engine to body,
T
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Martin
Anonymous Poster
mvorbrodt@gmail.com
Mar 12, 2009, 7:03 AM
Post #4 of 7
(1519 views)
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Re: PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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So where are the other cables and connections i can check? the battery hookup is ok. i replaced the battery few months ago and gave the connectors good cleaning with a bronze brush.
is it something i can do myself? or do i need a specialist to check the cabling?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 12, 2009, 8:06 AM
Post #5 of 7
(1516 views)
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Re: PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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I apologize for not knowing the "German" type vehicles all that well but all the principles apply. Is the battery under the back seat like some did?
No matter really: Cables must be good at the battery. Most would use "top post" type and there are nice brushes just for those. Cable ends need to be in good shape and achieve a nice tight grip when done there. Leave neg disconnected while working on anything that might be "hot" or 12v empowered. You can get a "memory" saver so settings are not lost while removing battery cables or any of the connections.
Pos cable should go (the large gauge if a little one comes off of it) directly to the starter's solenoid where it needs to be known good also. Don't remove that (usually on starter motor) while battery is connected - leave ground cable off while working and put on last!
Neg cable should concentrate going directly to engine block at a strong bolt or something. Needs be known good there too.
The neg cable may also go right from battery with a smaller cable to the body metal or there are several throughout the car between what will be the common ground of the engine to the body. There will be ones (sometimes bare braided straps) adding ground to metal here and there throughout as well.
So know that firewall and dashboard metal (unseen) is grounded as well and there are direct fasteners to body ground or added straps as needed by its design. It's ok to use small alligator clip jumper wire to known grounded items (metal) from known metal grounds as a test if something is out and that makes it work it should be noted.
Note: The starter is the big draw on the battery. That's why it gets the direct and lion's share of the large gauge wires. All the lights and other things don't use diddle compared to the starter but you need spark, your computer, fuel pump - all ducks in line for it to run of course.
So follow those battery cables till you see them reach their destinations. If there are burned spots on insulation they could need replacing. IMO newer wire isn't as tolerant as some older heavy copper that was once common thru the car for bending and vibrations over time.
You'll find something I think that plain looks like it can use cleaning up unless some recent work or strange thing happened unknown at this point.
Good luck - you'll get it. I'm near certain this is the issue you have causing all the trouble,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Mar 12, 2009, 11:53 AM
Post #6 of 7
(1509 views)
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Re: PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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id bet its the engine to frame, also might be a loose alt connection,
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Martin
Anonymous Poster
mvorbrodt@gmail.com
Mar 16, 2009, 6:53 AM
Post #7 of 7
(1496 views)
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Re: PLEASE HELP ME DIAGNOSE MY VW GTI
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So I had the car at tire kingdom mechanics the whole last week, and they couldn't find one thing wrong with it. Well, they did the fuel injector cleaning, cuz the car reported low fiew preasure. But nothing electrical.
After that car ran fine for a day, then stalled again. I brought it back to the shop, and they still couldn't find one thing wrong with it.
Is the someone in FL (Pompano Beach) who can help??? I'll pay.
BTW, this only happens at low RPMs. Highway speed car runs like a champ.
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