1.8L CL idle problem

[Golf-Sam]

Hi guys !

i have been having an issue with my idle .. i had a huge vacuum leak for a while and it took time to get the parts so i had to drive the car daily with the leak ... it was the rubber seal that goes between the throttle body and the intake manifold ..
two days before the parts arrived .. the car started idling violently dropping revs to about 400 then picking up to about 1200 .. it keeps on going between them.. the car idles normally in cold start .. it's a nightmare to park ..

new seal arrived from the UK .. just installed it today .. the car idles normally in cold start .. as soon as it warms up .. it idles badly .. now it's gotten a bit better .. smaller interval .. could it be an ECU issue ?
what are the possibilities ?

your help is appreciated ..
Sam

[Pmk]

I've had the exact same problem with my CL, luckily though i had made a DIY one with some tubes and clamps. I had this problem for a while, i tried changinng the pod with the OEM one to help it and various other things. I'd recommend opening up the throttle bottle and giving it a clean with carb cleaner. Hopefully this is the problem if not or yet worse. I left mine and drove it for a while and i ended up having to get a new stepometer because my car drove so slow that i could barely make the uphills. So try those few things out.

Service your car, check those things if not head i would suggest camdenGTI but your not in the area. GL !

[Golf-Sam]

I've had the exact same problem with my CL, luckily though i had made a DIY one with some tubes and clamps. I had this problem for a while, i tried changinng the pod with the OEM one to help it and various other things. I'd recommend opening up the throttle bottle and giving it a clean with carb cleaner. Hopefully this is the problem if not or yet worse. I left mine and drove it for a while and i ended up having to get a new stepometer because my car drove so slow that i could barely make the uphills. So try those few things out.

Service your car, check those things if not head i would suggest camdenGTI but your not in the area. GL !

i will run some carby cleaner through her tomorrow .. and give it a good clean and report back ..
thanks for the info man ..

[Water Boy]

Make sure you give the throttle body a good clean up with some carby clean. Take it off and get into all the gaps and bits n pieces.

Also: If the crank sensor is faulty it should still start then stall when it's warm

[Golf-Sam]

Make sure you give the throttle body a good clean up with some carby clean. Take it off and get into all the gaps and bits n pieces.

Also: If the crank sensor is faulty it should still start then stall when it's warm

i gave a clean without taking it off .. something else started playing up .. now when i turn the ignition on .. a hissing noise comes from the electronic bits by BOSCH that's on the bottom of the throttle body .. like static or something .. car is still idling funny .. crank sensor .. where is it ? also im getting close to needing a time belt changed .. got the kit .. but it came with no seals .. gotta chase them up and hopefully get it done on the weekend .. thanks for the input man

[Water Boy]

i gave a clean without taking it off

So all the dirt and grime goes into the motor.

[Golf-Sam]

fixed up the idle issue .. turns out it was a timing issue that went together with the vacuum leak .. now i had a crack at the timing myself .. I'm not exactly experienced .. there's some backfire issues .. so I'm not driving the car til i get it looked at .. now the exhaust is loud and the exhaust manifold is getting too hot and starting to glow when the engine is running .. could it be clogged up somehow ?
it's suffering serious loss of power .. engine not revving up easily at all .. help ?

[Water Boy]

fixed up the idle issue .. turns out it was a timing issue that went together with the vacuum leak .. now i had a crack at the timing myself .. I'm not exactly experienced .. there's some backfire issues .. so I'm not driving the car til i get it looked at .. now the exhaust is loud and the exhaust manifold is getting too hot and starting to glow when the engine is running .. could it be clogged up somehow ?
it's suffering serious loss of power .. engine not revving up easily at all .. help ?

Mate sounds to me like you are miss firing. So its something to do with spark/ignition.

[Pmk]

Mate sounds to me like you are miss firing. So its something to do with spark/ignition.

if this is the case. Spark plugs. That definitiely fixed my slow not enough pull. or maybe even faulty leads/dizzy

[Golf-Sam]

Havent played with the plugs yet .. sourced them from Autobarn i will be changing them .. however .. what do you guys think about the noise im getting from the Idle Control Valve ? it started after i gave the throttle body a clean with carby cleaner .. it's a hissing noise when i turn the ignition on .. i put my hand on it and it was vibrating .. any ideas ? im guessing that would cause a whole lot of problems ..

---------- Post added at 10:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:42 PM ----------

had a play with the idle control valve .. all seems ok . .
about the exhaust .. i've been researching . . does the cat converter get glowing red normally ? the symptoms seem to match the ones of a blocked cat converter .. it's making noises of flow after i turn the engine off .. engine loses more power over time ..
the car has had a vacuum leak for a while without me knowing .. the engine timing wasn't perfect .. there could have been some fuel escaping .. just a theory ..