I would start by making sure your fuel distributor & plate are not sticking.
Next start looking for air leaks after the fuel distributor. This will cause
hard starts and after 10mins or so when the cold start system shutsoff it
will run too lean have less power & stall. Good places to look are in the
tube from the air filter, any vacuum or PCV lines going to the intake &
also the seals around your fuel injectors. They are well known for drying
out & causing air leaks.


"Mark Amero" > wrote in message
news:5i4Ie.181376$tt5.138217@edtnps90...
> Hello Everyone,
> Please reply as soon as you can. I've just purchased an 83 vw rabbit
> cabbrio
> 1.7L auto. I have become VERY frustrated with this car. When I bought it
> the
> person said it might need the fuel pump replaced and perhaps a cold start
> valve.
>
> The car is very difficult to start. Once it does start, it runs not to bad
> but misses a little. If you take it out for a drive it progressively
> losses
> a lot of power like it is missing. Perhaps not firing properly, not enough
> fuel or maybe something else. It will eventually loose enough power that
> if
> you go up a small hill if will stall. If you back of on the gas pedal it
> will smooth out a little, but when under load if you push the pedal it
> really looses power. Once it stalls it will crank but again it's very
> difficult to start. I have not replaced the fuel pump yet because it seems
> like there is lots of pressure getting to the injectors and the cold start
> valve. I have tested the cold start valve by hooking it directly to a
> battery. It seems to work and does not leek. I have replaced it with
> another
> one anyway. I've replaced the fuel filter. It does not seem like there is
> any significant power getting to the cold start valve or even the
> thermotime
> switch. What is causing the hard starts? Why does it run pretty good for
> the
> first 10 mins but after it losses power. Is it the cold start valve, lack
> of
> voltage, low fuel pressure or something else. I am so confused. It's been
> 3
> days now and I need this car to run. This was supposed to replace another
> car that died. I don't need two dead cars. URGENT. Please reply everyone.
> Thanks
>
> Mark
>
>
>