Power uneven & non existant

[Jonah_Fro]

My '99 1.8 20V SE Tolly has developed a horrible power problem.

Yesterday, cruising at 80 on the motorway, the power intermittently dropped in and out. Hard to explain as I'm not really a petrol head, but it feels like a juddering sensation, like i'm randomly hitting the accelerator pedal.

This morning from a cold start, the top speed I could get was 10mph, the car was crawling along, and juddering like on the motorway. Suddenly it woke up and accelerated normally, albeit with the same dips in power.

When the car is having one of these fits, I can press the accelerator pedal to the floor with no gain in power.

Any ideas?

 

[a_very_dark_day]

Check the spark plug leads, and then plugs. Sounds like what happened in my old motor.

Check the leads real close, as I only found mine arching onto the engine in the dark, even tho the leads might look sound.

Other than that, it could be a host of things - see if its a common problem with these engines as they are in loadsa motors.

 

[Sam20v]

could be the good old MMMMMM MAF sensor........
i had a 1.820v that did exactly that....

You wont get an error code on VAG com though....cos it is still technically working....see if you can take it to someone to plug in and then drive and note the readings....there are posts on here somewhere of the readings you would expect from it....
basically a swap/replacement old for new from the dealer was around 80quid i think.

 

[lacky75]

as mention above go for the plug/lead/ coilpck route and make sure ur servicing is upto date, oil /fuel filters etc?