VW Golf problem

Author
Discussion

jerwatt

Original Poster:

22,830 posts

207 months

Sunday 25th January 2009
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A friend's Mk 3 (I think, 10 years old) VW Golf is having problems. Intermittently when he brakes and shifts from 4th to 2nd the engine stalls with loss of power steering etc. Obviously pretty dangerous. Anyone know what the problem could be and how much it'd cost roughly?

amaftau

305 posts

189 months

Sunday 25th January 2009
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should cost between 285-299 quid to fix.

Aur

29 posts

189 months

Monday 26th January 2009
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My MKII had similiar issues. Replaced Idle Stablization Valve and changed a temp sensor.

oakgreeng60

9 posts

189 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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Hi Jerwatt

It could be the throttle body fouled up with carbon deposit,quite common on the 2.0l engines.My wifes 2.0L cabrio,had the same problem.Tried various fixes until it was found.
Try giving it a clean then a smear of grease to keep all the crud out.Hope that helps.Cheers.

Edited by oakgreeng60 on Monday 9th February 19:58

istoo

2,365 posts

208 months

Monday 9th February 2009
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ah soemthing i half know about...

the ISV (idle stabilisation valve) can get sticky real easy to clean. Does it do it on idle, ie start car and leave, does the idle wander at all?
these are a small solenoid between the air box and the Throttle body, basically get gunked up and stick giving the stalling or wandering idle.

Not 100% sure on the mk3 but here is how do do it on the audis, believe its pretty similar even at this age.
http://20v.org/engprob.htm#isv

other one to try is the throttle body, the butterfly(s) can get gunked up and stick. at lower revs causing a stall. again a fairly easy fix.
The cause is the crankcase breather deposits excess gunk back into the air tract just before the Throttle Body. over the years it makes an oily film of yumminess. Unclip the hose to the throttle body, transverse engine should be easier, get some carb cleaner, big spray tin thing from a car store and a toothbrush/ cloth and clean.

Cleaned these as a matter of course on my older quattros. if its not that its worth doing all the same.

Other questions, does it do it all the time, ie wandering idle, just sticky at low revs, intermitant bad running? Spluttering etc?

ISV/ TB clean will be the cost of a tin of carb cleaner, £5 and about 30 mins, even i can manage this, so it must be easy.

Edited by istoo on Monday 9th February 20:22