Problems with my Mk4 Golf 1.6SR

[3sixty]

I've had my 1.6 for 6 months now. I bought it and replaced the "different" exhaust with a standard one. I then found my temp guage was fluctuating and it had a rough idle, as well as not starting well, sometimes taking 3-4 tries to get it to start. During this time it seemed to drink a lot of coolant, I had to fill her up once every few weeks and I was getting around 20MPG on a 1.6!!!

I bought a new fuel filter, air & pollen filter and cleaned the throttle body. This seems to aid the rough idle and the starting problems and the coolant levels, but still the bad MPG was present. I replaced the temp sender, and in doing so topped up the coolant. 3 weeks later, start the car this morning and get the coolant warning light again. I've just been out again and the warning has gone off.... but as always my MPG is bad.

I'm struggling to find what else is wrong with it. I've had a diag on it by an independant, and all he found was the power steering was going. I could replace the MAF, as this is a common fault... but its £85 a pop and it might not cure things. Anyone have any ideas?

[Fourmotion]

3sixty said:

I'm struggling to find what else is wrong with it. I've had a diag on it by an independant, and all he found was the power steering was going. I could replace the MAF, as this is a common fault... but its £85 a pop and it might not cure things. Anyone have any ideas?

Although it is £85, it is nearly always the problem. As you say it is a common fault. If the previous owner had a different exhaust I would also suspect he replaced the air filter with something oily, which would have speeded up the wear on the maf. Try giving it a clean.

Best way to check is to unplug the maf, and see if the car runs the same as when it is plugged in. There should be a noticable difference if it is working properly.

[3sixty]

By unplug... how do you mean? Just the sensor clip at back?

[Fourmotion]

3sixty said:

By unplug... how do you mean? Just the sensor clip at back?

That will be sufficient. As long as it is no longer connected to the electrics, it won't be taking any readings.

[3sixty]

How big a difference should there be? It struggled a bit in first setting off, but after around 3-4mins and engine warmed this stopped. Also a bit of a pause in power around 2,000rpm, but after that was fine. Seemed to be like it was previously.

[neiljohnson]

Sounds like more than one problem here. Lack of power is most likely the MAF and the garage should be able to give a definitive answer about this by reading the live data on a fault code machine. Is it the 16 valve engine? If so head gaskets are common (where the coolants going)to let go best to get it checked at a garage asap (ask for a 'sniffer' test)as if it goes completly these engines tend to tear themselves to pieces, water pumps are common to but you didnt mention coolant leaking onto the floor. Last one i did got so hot it melted the inlet manifold to the head! y plate car ended up a technical write off!