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Scirocco won't run with warm engine



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 21st 09, 01:51 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
nutso fasst[_2_]
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Posts: 6
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

Hi all. Got a problem that started suddenly. 81 Scirocco starts and
runs fine so long as engine compartment is cool. Warm things up,
either by running or by sun on the hood (or on the engine with hood
up) and the engine will suddenly seem like it's running on one
cylinder..."chug..chug..chug..", jerking like crazy. Doesn't seem to
make much difference how far the gas pedal is down. Sometimes it will
catch and run smoothly for a short distance, then the problem starts
again. And sometimes the engine will just die.

Not useful to only be able to drive 2 miles in the morning. Does
anyone have a clue what could be wrong?

thx,
nf
Ads
  #2  
Old October 21st 09, 12:49 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
dave AKA vwdoc1[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,024
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

fuel
ignition
compression

something is not right! Components need to be tested!

Check for vacuum leaks, especially the large intake manifold boot.
Check the fuel pressure might be a control pressure regulator problem.

What color is the exhaust = black, and does it smell rich?

What have you done to the engine lately? Installed new spark plugs, BOSCH
distributor rotor and cap?
Before or after this problem showed up?


"nutso fasst" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all. Got a problem that started suddenly. 81 Scirocco starts and
> runs fine so long as engine compartment is cool. Warm things up,
> either by running or by sun on the hood (or on the engine with hood
> up) and the engine will suddenly seem like it's running on one
> cylinder..."chug..chug..chug..", jerking like crazy. Doesn't seem to
> make much difference how far the gas pedal is down. Sometimes it will
> catch and run smoothly for a short distance, then the problem starts
> again. And sometimes the engine will just die.
>
> Not useful to only be able to drive 2 miles in the morning. Does
> anyone have a clue what could be wrong?
>
> thx,
> nf



  #3  
Old October 21st 09, 01:54 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
PeterD
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Posts: 874
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:49:12 -0500, "dave AKA vwdoc1"
> wrote:

>fuel
>ignition
>compression
>
>something is not right! Components need to be tested!
>
>Check for vacuum leaks, especially the large intake manifold boot.
>Check the fuel pressure might be a control pressure regulator problem.
>
>What color is the exhaust = black, and does it smell rich?
>
>What have you done to the engine lately? Installed new spark plugs, BOSCH
>distributor rotor and cap?
>Before or after this problem showed up?
>
>
>"nutso fasst" > wrote in message
...
>> Hi all. Got a problem that started suddenly. 81 Scirocco starts and
>> runs fine so long as engine compartment is cool. Warm things up,
>> either by running or by sun on the hood (or on the engine with hood
>> up) and the engine will suddenly seem like it's running on one
>> cylinder..."chug..chug..chug..", jerking like crazy. Doesn't seem to
>> make much difference how far the gas pedal is down. Sometimes it will
>> catch and run smoothly for a short distance, then the problem starts
>> again. And sometimes the engine will just die.
>>
>> Not useful to only be able to drive 2 miles in the morning. Does
>> anyone have a clue what could be wrong?
>>
>> thx,
>> nf

>


Long shot: check the plug wires... Possibly when they get warm they
'sag' and are arcing against something cutting out a cylinder.
  #4  
Old October 21st 09, 03:46 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
SFC
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 148
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine


"nutso fasst" > schreef in bericht
...
> Hi all. Got a problem that started suddenly. 81 Scirocco starts and
> runs fine so long as engine compartment is cool. Warm things up,
> either by running or by sun on the hood (or on the engine with hood
> up) and the engine will suddenly seem like it's running on one
> cylinder..."chug..chug..chug..", jerking like crazy. Doesn't seem to
> make much difference how far the gas pedal is down. Sometimes it will
> catch and run smoothly for a short distance, then the problem starts
> again. And sometimes the engine will just die.
>
> Not useful to only be able to drive 2 miles in the morning. Does
> anyone have a clue what could be wrong?
>
> thx,
> nf


All what the others say and also check hall sensor in distr.

SFC


  #5  
Old October 21st 09, 08:27 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
nutso fasst[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

On Oct 21, 7:46*am, "SFC" > wrote:

> All what the others say and also check hall sensor in distr.


Thanks very much to all who replied. I should have noted that vacuum
hoses, boots, plugs/wires, dist cap/rotor, FI O-rings, O2 sensor, and
air filter were all replaced recently. Exhaust, even with engine
chugging, looked clean. Note that when the engine went into chug mode,
the tach bounced down on zero.

At some point in the past I had re-connected a broken wire in the
connector to the distributor. But I had not considered the hall
sensor, and don't really know how to test it.

This morning the engine started and warmed thoroughly without issue.
But I didn't drive the car immediately. I shut down and removed the
connector to the distributor. The contacts looked a bit corroded. Not
having a tiny file to go after them with, I inserted/removed the
connector repeatedly to try and ensure contact. I then removed the
distributor cap and removed a bit of oil film from what I think is the
hall sensor with a piece of paper. Then I drove the car.

At first all seemed well, but then the problem returned. Not not as
bad before, though. I was able to limp into the driveway. With engine
still chugging, I lifted the hood. After a few moments the engine
started running smoothly again.

Again I removed/inserted the connector a few times and the engine
started right up. I let it run for a while with hood down, then drove
around the block. No problem.

It remains to be seen if this problem is really fixed. But unless
there's a lot of coincidence going on here, it seems to be related to
the sensor and/or the connector.

nf

  #6  
Old October 22nd 09, 12:53 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
Nate Nagel[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,686
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

nutso fasst wrote:
> On Oct 21, 7:46 am, "SFC" > wrote:
>
>> All what the others say and also check hall sensor in distr.

>
> Thanks very much to all who replied. I should have noted that vacuum
> hoses, boots, plugs/wires, dist cap/rotor, FI O-rings, O2 sensor, and
> air filter were all replaced recently. Exhaust, even with engine
> chugging, looked clean. Note that when the engine went into chug mode,
> the tach bounced down on zero.
>
> At some point in the past I had re-connected a broken wire in the
> connector to the distributor. But I had not considered the hall
> sensor, and don't really know how to test it.
>
> This morning the engine started and warmed thoroughly without issue.
> But I didn't drive the car immediately. I shut down and removed the
> connector to the distributor. The contacts looked a bit corroded. Not
> having a tiny file to go after them with, I inserted/removed the
> connector repeatedly to try and ensure contact. I then removed the
> distributor cap and removed a bit of oil film from what I think is the
> hall sensor with a piece of paper. Then I drove the car.
>
> At first all seemed well, but then the problem returned. Not not as
> bad before, though. I was able to limp into the driveway. With engine
> still chugging, I lifted the hood. After a few moments the engine
> started running smoothly again.
>
> Again I removed/inserted the connector a few times and the engine
> started right up. I let it run for a while with hood down, then drove
> around the block. No problem.
>
> It remains to be seen if this problem is really fixed. But unless
> there's a lot of coincidence going on here, it seems to be related to
> the sensor and/or the connector.
>
> nf
>


if the tach drops to zero I think you definitely have an ignition
related issue so if you haven't found it you are on the right track anyway

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel
  #7  
Old October 22nd 09, 02:26 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
nutso fasst[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

On Oct 21, 4:53*pm, Nate Nagel > wrote:
> if the tach drops to zero I think you definitely have an ignition
> related issue so if you haven't found it you are on the right track anyway


I'm going to have to keep digging. The car sat in the sun for a few
hours this afternoon and the problem returned.

I had another heat-related problem a few years ago. The starter would
not turn when the motor was hot. Mechanic could not find the problem,
but I did: the wire to the solenoid had cracked insulation and the
wire inside was corroded. I ran 12 gauge wire from the firewall to the
solenoid and all was well.

nf
  #8  
Old October 22nd 09, 03:08 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
beav
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

On Oct 20, 6:51 pm, nutso fasst > wrote:
> Hi all. Got a problem that started suddenly. 81 Scirocco starts and
> runs fine so long as engine compartment is cool. Warm things up,
> either by running or by sun on the hood (or on the engine with hood
> up) and the engine will suddenly seem like it's running on one
> cylinder..."chug..chug..chug..", jerking like crazy. Doesn't seem to
> make much difference how far the gas pedal is down. Sometimes it will
> catch and run smoothly for a short distance, then the problem starts
> again. And sometimes the engine will just die.
>
> Not useful to only be able to drive 2 miles in the morning. Does
> anyone have a clue what could be wrong?
>
> thx,
> nf


I've had a similar problem, which may not have any relation to your
problem, but is an easy check. The symptoms were identical and random.
Check the group of ground wires that attach to the head using a rear
valve cover bolt as the mounting point (drivers side). Pull gently on
each wire to see if any are broke. They usually break when the front
motor mount goes bad and allows the engine to move more than it should
and strain the wires. Easy fix too.
  #9  
Old October 22nd 09, 08:35 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
nutso fasst[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

On Oct 21, 7:08*pm, beav > wrote:
> On Oct 20, 6:51 pm, nutso fasst > wrote:


> I've had a similar problem, which may not have any relation to your
> problem, but is an easy check. The symptoms were identical and random.
> Check the group of ground wires that attach to the head using a rear
> valve cover bolt as the mounting point (drivers side).


On the '81 the only ground wires are attached to the EFI manifold, not
the valve cover. They're in good shape. But thanks for the suggestion!

nf
  #10  
Old October 24th 09, 01:41 AM posted to rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
nutso fasst[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6
Default Scirocco won't run with warm engine

I've not been able to find the culprit. I've only got a couple of
weeks before escrow closes and cannot deal with this issue. If anyone
here knows anyone in the Los Angeles area who wants an 81 Scirocco S w/
256K miles, please let me know.

nf
 




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