Golf Match 1.4 (53 reg) struggling to stay above 1000 revs when idling [VIDEO]

Freeman

Freeman

Freeman

Soldato
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24 Jul 2004
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Afternoon.

I've recently had a spate of issues with my Golf. First the coils went so I lost power. So they garage replaced the coils and spark plugs.

Then the speedometer started bouncing, got the cables replaced.

Now (about 2 weeks after this all happened) I get the car back and it's not idling properly any more. This issue only started after I got the car back from the garage.

For example last night I started the car, drove for about 100 metres or so and as I geared down to turn a corner the engine cut out leaving me with no power steering or brakes - good fun. As it happened a message along the lines of 'Alternator - See Garage' popped up.

So now if I start the car and leave it to idle, it will struggle to stay above 1000 revs (1000 is normal) and bounces between about 700-1000, sometimes lower.

I have attached a video with the problem.

http://youtu.be/C2qZCu-XYbM (apologies for the screeching fan belt!)

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing it? I'm taking it back to the garage tomorrow in the hope that they'll fix the issue they caused for no charge, however if it does need to be fixed I'd like to try sort it out myself.

Could the alternator cause the engine to idle like that? I don't know much about cars hence the video.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
 
If you're mechanically minded spray some carb cleaner around the intake manifold where it meets the head and any other junction, if revs dip or rise you have a gasket leak.
 
I had a similar problem with my mk1 mx5. I discovered that water had got into the ecu causing the cut out/idle problems. The ecu in mk1 mx5 is in the footwell on passenger side so ecu is vulnerable!:rolleyes:

I don't know where ecu is situated on your golf but it's worth a check if the above checks don't solve your problems.
 
Undeterred said:
I had a similar problem with my mk1 mx5. I discovered that water had got into the ecu causing the cut out/idle problems. The ecu in mk1 mx5 is in the footwell on passenger side so ecu is vulnerable!:rolleyes:

I don't know where ecu is situated on your golf but it's worth a check if the above checks don't solve your problems.
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that. During winter the foot well of the left passanger becomes very wet.

Anyway, it's in the garage now. They phoned to say they couldn't find anything wrong with it...
 
Get VAG COM on it if you have a laptop to scan for fault codes. As mentioned, check/clean throttle body too.

Sounds rough, more like a diesel when revved. Check vacuum hoses too.
 
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