non-GMC- VW cabrio (Jetta) - diagnosis help [message #74012] |
Tue, 16 February 2010 06:34 |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164 Registered: September 2009 Location: East NC
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The VW forum has lots of knowledge but I'm hoping someone here can provide wisdom, theory and insight. I know there's a few VW Toads (besides Dan's beetle)
Car has no power- how do i tell the difference between a fuel flow problem and a timing problem?
Background:
97 Cabrio has the same 2L ABA non-turbo engine as Jetta's from that period.
I bought this car cheap with a blown head gasket due to a catastrophic coolant leak.
I replaced the gasket and fixed the leak without doing anything else to the head. My thinking was i wanted to see the car run before deciding to invest any more in it.
It runs, it stays cool, the head does not leak, but it has no power. That's the mystery.
I spent a lot of time on valve timing- I am pretty sure i interpreted the little marks correctly.
It starts easy, idles smooth at 1000 RPMs. and seems fairly normal on takeoff but it bogs down when i step on it and struggles to get up to 60 in 5th gear.
I've owned a lot of crappy cars. This feels different- it's feels right in between bad timing and bad fuel flow.
Of course, my troubleshooting leads me first to things i messed with during reassembly. I believe the seller, that the car ran fine until the catastrophic event so I'm not really looking for a new problem. I don't expect a bad fuel filter or weak fuel pump. But anything is possible.
I don't think it's damage to the valves because it seems to have bursts of power at certain RPMs
thanks
emails or PMs welcome - dave@davesilva.com
Dave
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