Simple maintenance gone wrong - 8v Mk2 Golf
Discussion
Decided to replace the valve cover gasket on my runaround (mk2 1.6 8v Golf) as it was making a mess. Seemed to go a-ok, but when I started it up afterwards its only running on 3 cylinders. Seems to be the one nearest the cambelt end. No untoward noises evident, plug is wet with fuel... Im a bit confused, as the only thing I did at all related to the ignition side of things was remove the plug leads to the 2 cylinders on the cambelt side.
Any suggestions for things to try before i take it apart again
Frustrating when every time I try and learn a new bit of looking after a car i do something wrong - no friends interested in the hands on side of things or in the trade to help makes it quite difficult
Any suggestions for things to try before i take it apart again
Frustrating when every time I try and learn a new bit of looking after a car i do something wrong - no friends interested in the hands on side of things or in the trade to help makes it quite difficult
I'm assuming that you only removed the leads at the plug end too, and haven't touched the distributor end of things?
Remove each lead one at a time, and give it a good clean and squirt with the WD40. Dry the excess off, check for any signs of damage or kinking in the leads, and refit.
If the car still does not fire on all 4, do the same at the dizzy end (to make sure), and also remove the cap and ensure that your cap and rotor arm are in good condition (not wet or worn).
The leads are the most expensive part of the system, and therefore rule out all other possible faults before buying some new leads. I'm not sure how much they are (probably expensive), but you can get a tool that connects between the plug and lead that flashes when you turn the engine over. If you can't get one of them, you might have to just go for a set of leads.
Only other thing to check, is the earth strap for the engine. I can't remember where they are on the golfs, but you're looking for a flat metal braided strap roughly 1" wide bolted somewhere on the engine or box, and also to the bodyshell of the car.
Hope this gets you somewhere.
Remove each lead one at a time, and give it a good clean and squirt with the WD40. Dry the excess off, check for any signs of damage or kinking in the leads, and refit.
If the car still does not fire on all 4, do the same at the dizzy end (to make sure), and also remove the cap and ensure that your cap and rotor arm are in good condition (not wet or worn).
The leads are the most expensive part of the system, and therefore rule out all other possible faults before buying some new leads. I'm not sure how much they are (probably expensive), but you can get a tool that connects between the plug and lead that flashes when you turn the engine over. If you can't get one of them, you might have to just go for a set of leads.
Only other thing to check, is the earth strap for the engine. I can't remember where they are on the golfs, but you're looking for a flat metal braided strap roughly 1" wide bolted somewhere on the engine or box, and also to the bodyshell of the car.
Hope this gets you somewhere.
I tried it with some borrowed leads this morning and it fired properly on all 4, so went out and bought some new leads (as you said - quite expensive for ht leads at £30). Running properly now 
I suppose thats what you get for trying to do half a job - id noticed a very slight occasional misfire before and i guess that was the telltale.
I suppose thats what you get for trying to do half a job - id noticed a very slight occasional misfire before and i guess that was the telltale.
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff