HI, I have a 1.3 cl 1988 golf,
recently some symptoms have accord, one of which is, I was driving along and suddenly the engine just dies on me, It would not start again, it sounded like it was not firing so I left it bye the side of the road and returned the next day and it started first time.
Another symptom is especially noticeable at night when I have headlights on, the lights suddenly go really bright and the engine seems to hang back just a little for 2 or 3 seconds before the lights return to their normal brightness and the car drives as normal again.
Today when driving I noticed that the engine held back just a little again, and this time I had no lights on. The symptoms also lasted for 2 or 3 seconds before the power is there again.
An intermittent problem, does anyone have any ideas of what the problem could be?
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have you had this car serviced?? go for the basics first plugs fiters inc fuel, check the battery charging circuit you may have a fuel blockage or ignition problem just to cut out.
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I think the light problem should point you in the correct direction ,it sounds like the charge relay or something in the charge circuit is allowing overvoltage for a short period.I am not sure whether it has a seperate relay or it is built into the alternator.
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The overvoltage condition detailed could be caused by a faulty earth connection causing the alternator to temporarily lose its load. This is not good for the regulator or diodes - check the power unit to chassis and battery to chassis earthing very carefully.
Dismantle the connections, examine the crimped cable lugs, clean up all the metal in the contact areas, coat with vaseline and assemble with spring washers under all nuts - for perfection, add a plated shakeproof (serrated) washer between the lug and the chassis.
659.
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There is something in the back of my mind that says there is an earth strap from the block to bulk head that routinely corrodes and causes significant earth currents to then pass thro the small earth wires in the wiring loom! The consequences can range from melted insulation, burnt out tracks in the pcb on the instrument cluster to signifcant combustion.
659s advice is a very good starting point.
Do it sooner rather than later.
--
pmh (was peter)
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Thank you all for the advice, I will clean the electrical and earth points today and I will keep you posted on the results. I have a long journey this weekend, so I hope it will solve the problem.
Thx ,
Nelson
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I have cleaned the Ht leads connections, the distributor cap connections, the battery connections, alternator connections, and all the earths in the engine compartment and even changed the inline fuel filter..\
After I did all this the car seemed to run ok for a few days, but now the battery light is coming on and the problem seems to be getting worse.
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Just thought I would add that the constant problems I have with the car as well as the ones I have mentiond above are, the engine runs rough, seems to judder even when driving at a constant speed, it doesn't like to idle smoothly either.
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The engine dying is probably due the carb icing, with this, the engine will work OK after being stopped for a few minutes, the heat of the engine melts the ice. Check this next time it occours. If it's icing; you need to make sure the warm air feed pipe from the exhast manifold is present, intact and the rest of the warm air feed system and various carb/air heaters are up to scratch.
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The lights going bright and the charging light comming on suggests there could well be problems with the voltage regulator, which is a part of the alternator. Depending on the make of alternator, sometimes the voltage regulator is available seperatly, with new brushes in a block.
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yeah chances are you can fix the voltage regulator for around £10 , its held on with 2 screws and a easy swap
the battery earth lead is prone to trouble too
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