16V Idle Problems

[M50]

The car in question: 1989 Jetta GTX w/ 189,xxxkms

Last night I didn't plug the car in because my timer is broken and my oil pan heater can be on for no more then 5 hours. So this morning I go out and fire the car up. It doesn't go on the first few cranks but then fires up and I let it warm up for ~15 min. At this point the car is idling totally normal, a little bit high because the defroster is on but thats normal. When I left for school the idle starts jumping like crazy, Between 800 - 1600 rpms. I have the dash light/headlights on and the defroster on 3. When I drop either the lights or the defroster the idle seems to smooth out a bit, still erratic though. Then around Bow and 37th the idle gets really rough and the dying starts. The car ended up dying at pretty much every stop, which sure isn't good in the middle of rush hour traffic If I didn't keep the gas on and the idle around 1500 the car would just shut off. I just turned around and came home because I was scared it would **** out on me in the middle of traffic and not start back up.

All this on top of the loud squealing coming from both my spedo cable and my blower fan Anyone have any ideas whats up?

[GINCH]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

Hmmm. Not too sure Jordan! Has it ever done that before? Maybe try some gasline antifreeze? Though I would guess that its ISV related. I know they can be cleaned so that might be a start! Sorry to hear man. She never did that to me.

edit. Other than the squeeling coming from the speedo cable. Nothing a good smack on the top of the dash didn't fix!

[M50]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

No man, the cars been great so far this winter. Mind you it hasn't been this cold yet!

[M50]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

edit. Other than the squeeling coming from the speedo cable. Nothing a good smack on the top of the dash didn't fix!

Yea, not to worried about that, just a regular mk2 thing!

[M50]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

I guess I should also mention that the car felt really hesitant in the lower rpms up until about 3500.

[albertaTDI]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

My 8V does the same thing, I think it is the ISV but have not dug in to find out...

[tm.88]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

i am almost posotive its ur MAF, my previous 2 bmws, older one a 92 and one a 95 had the same thing, when they go ur car will stall unless as ur slowing down u toss it in N and keep the engine idle up with ur gas pedal....hopefully its not a grand to replace like my part cost me....get one from a junker

[DeanerF]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

I was gonna say MAF too.. and to just take it apart and clean it etc.

but its still a CIS car I believe ?
Most likely the ISV. I would also try cleaning the airflow sensor as well. they can get gummed up a bit and it might need a cleaning.

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

look for a torn intake boot.

[Kor]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

My rabbit would do that when it got really really wet, it was an electrical problem maybe, I could never diagnose it. It only happened when water got up into the engine bay and soaked the engine, this would only happen in an extreme snow or rain storm if I was driving for a long time, came home and parked the car in a warm spot over night, then it would do that and eventually die until it dried out. Then when it was dry, it would be fine again.

Anyway the headlights/defroster bit is what made me think, electrical problem, and it has been snowy and super cold too lately so maybe water has gotten into somewhere. I really hope I'm wrong though.

[Tuna]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

I THINK you can unplug your ISV which will remove it from the equation, if that's the problem then your idle should smooth out a little. I think under certain circumstances they can get stuck, give it a little tap.

I could be way wrong so someone call me on it if I'm out to lunch.

[Kordain]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

jsut to throw more complication into the filed, my last car (not VW) did the same thing and it was the crank sensor for the timing system.

[M50]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

*UPDATE*

I am really confused right now

Yesterday after I got home I pulled the car into the garage and plugged the pan heater in for a good 4 hours. I checked all my vacuum lines, checked for loose connections and added some gasline antifreeze. After I let it warm up for 4 hours I started it up and took it out for a good hard 30min drive. The car warmed up to temperature fine and never once gave me a problem, idled smooth at 900-1000rpms. This morning the car ran awesome after being plugged in for the night, no problems.

[JustALilBit]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

Thats VW for ya
I was going to type something along the same line as what Kor said.
My Dads 1990 Lincoln Continental does the same thing... Only when its raining or snowing heavily though

[Kor]

Re: 16V Idle Problems

I still think it could be moisture/electrical then, welcome to the world of electrical gremlins.