Golf GTI Turbo........problems

[Muswell_Charlie]

My wife's 2001 Golf GTI (1.8T) keeps suffering from poor idle and significant (almost dangerous)power loss - the engine warning light comes on and research leads me to think it's the ignition coil.

The car has been in the garage twice but this problem not been diagnosed (despite me being charged to have the system reset).... so how can i get this repair done at a minimum cost and why oh why do 'authorised' VW garages keep failing to find a problem when I can find it on the internet in a few hours.

Depressing really....

[wildeep]

You should have a separate coil on top of each plug, these are known to be problematic on the 20v engines and were recalled. Could also be the temperature sensor on the top rad hose. Either way, any main stealer should have been able to tell you what the problem is from their diagnostic equipment.

[edc]

MAF is another common failure with similar symptoms and often not picked up by diagnostic machine. There is a simple test you can run. You should be able to find it on something like www.seatcupra.net/forums or www.uk-mkivs.net/forum/uk_home.asp which runs along the lines of is unplugging the MAF and comparing performance. It's a try at your own risk and never for an extended period kind of thing.

[Muswell_Charlie]

Thanks for the help

[adrianr]

Invest in a diagnostic lead and a copy of Vag-Com from www.ross-tech.com .

This will allow you to read the fault codes yourself... once you know what it is reporting you'll probably find Google or owners club BBS will find you a fix.

AdrianR

[zcacogp]

PM me if you are having problems - I have a very competent friend who is in business in Automotive Diagnostics. Based in Hampshire, I garuntee you that he will diagnose (and probably fix) the problem.


Oli.

[pentoman]

Spark Plug replacement common requirement for this sort of behaviour on these, I belive.. Sounds a little hard to believe I know...