Stuttering Under Acceleration

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
16V wouldn't start the other day so called out the RAC. He managed to get it going after cleaning up the dizzy cap and spraying loads of WD40 on the leads, cap etc. It was stuttering under acceleration and a bit lumpy on idle still so today I put new leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm on. But it hasn't made any difference, it still stutters under acceleration. I don't get it, the RAC man seemed to get it going by clearing out the ignition system, in fact he showed me that there was a spark inside one of the leads by the dizzy cap! But now that I've replaced these parts it's no better?! Well I guess it is better because it now starts at least.... Could it be the coil? What else might need replacing on the ignition system? I guess I could put new plugs in as well.
:blink:
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
Okay so I've done:-

Leads
Dizzy Cap
Rotor Arm

Then I'll try (in this order because I figure it's the cheapest...):-

Clean TB
Plugs
Coil
Dizzy

Thanks - will keep you posted!
 

Wallis22

Active Member
Aug 25, 2007
282
0
Does it hesitate then give full power, or does it feel 'lumpy', never giving full power?
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
Wallis - hello again sir:) - we'll get this sorted eventually :D

Hesitates then gives full power. In fact it's pretty driveable (which is good cos I need it to get to work next couple of days...) just seems to stutter particularly from about 2000-4000 rpm. At high revs it seems okay. And idle isn't too bad really. I'm thinking maybe the coil? just weird that the RAC man showed me the arcing by the dizzy lead from the coil. New coil looks to be about £26 from GSF or £40 from ECP. Already spent £58 on it, well plus another £70 if you include the RAC membership :cry: Hopefully won't be another situation like so many I've read on this forum where people end of replacing about 20 different things before they fix it :blink: !!
 

Wallis22

Active Member
Aug 25, 2007
282
0
plus another £70 if you include the RAC membership :cry:

Tell me about it. I had to join the AA when my car broke down. Then had to 'upgrade' my membership to get it towed when it broke down (Toledo). Then to rub salt in my wounds i had to pay £99 to get my Ibiza towed after an accident because i only have 'breakdown' cover. WTF :blink: I hate breakdown companys now. Lol.

Hopefully won't be another situation like so many I've read on this forum where people end of replacing about 20 different things before they fix it :blink: !!

I know what you mean. I did something like that. Took it to local garages insted of taking to to SEAT in the first place. Wasted £60 and nearly got conned! It's VERY tempting to think "Well i'll replace this and see how it goes." "Ok that didn't work so let's try this..." LOL

Anyway - I think it's the spark plugs mate. Have they been replaced? It could also be a vacuum leak at the throttle body, inlet manifold or associated hoses, but the RAC should have checked this. If not then it's probabaly blocked injector(s) or a fuel injection fault.

If it was me i'd try replacing the spark plugs because they're cheap and easy to fit. If that doesn't fix the problem find a specialist VW garage and ask them to check the car with Vag com. When you phone them make sure they only charge £20 for a scan, then when you get there tell them to let you know if they think it will cost more. Only because i was told it would be £20 for a scan, and when i went to pay they charged me £40 coz they said they had to do 'deep diognostics.' They didn't even find the problem!

Also, if they tell you something else needs doing ignore them unless it's obvious. A VW specailist tried conning me telling me my clutch needed replacing. It's always best to get a 2nd opinion.

Hope you get it sorted mate.
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
I've already run VAGcom on it - got the software on my work laptop :)

No faults logged. I'm gonna try replacing the spark plugs at lunchtime today then maybe the coil. If problem persists then I'll try cleaning out the TB. Also gonna check the relay that thewiizard suggested in his link. I did have a look at all the relays but maybe I missed a dry joint or something. Just weird cos the RAC guy got it going by fiddling with the leads and dizzy cap but replacing them hasn't made any difference......:confused:
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
Crank sensor should show a fault on VAGcom shouldn't it?

It must be an ignition related problem surely since the RAC man got it going by fiddling with the leads and dizzy cap?? That's what I don't get - well if it is something else....

Right I'm off to buy the spark plugs now....

If that don't work I might buy the coil tomorrow. It's endless init?! I could take it to a local garage but everyone on here seems to have been ripped off so it's really putting me off :headhurt:
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
Grrrr....they only had 3 left! Have to pick them up on the way home tonight....
 

Fenix

Full Member
Apr 17, 2005
241
0
Essex
Similar problem on mine turned out to be the throttle body. Replaced it with a second hand one and presto, car running brilliantly.

For the benefit of us who still have this unsolved mystery - what symptoms did your car have? Did it just feel juttery when accellerating or would you lose power when idling? If the car stalled due to loss of power when idling, could you start the engine again first time?

Cheers
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
Well mine idels okay, not 100% but it never stalls and stays around teh 700-800 mark even though it feels a little inconsistent. The main problem is between 2000-4000 rpm where it stutters causing the car to jolt as you go through that part of the rev range. It's pretty much 100% okay up to 2000 rpm and okay above about 4000 rpm. I didn't manage to change teh spark plugs last night but I will try that first thing tomorrow morning. If that don't fix it then I will also try cleaning the throttle body this weekend.

Update to follow.....:blink:
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
Update....

Spark plugs changed - no difference - of course, that's what I expected :think:

Also had a look at the MAF sensor - looks okay to me, nothing to really clean there. I disconnected it and it made no difference - does that mean it works or is b*ggered?!

Anyone got a procedure for cleaning the TB? I probably can't do it until the weekend as its so dark now :( I'm assuming you just unbolt it and then cover it in carb cleaner (bought some the other day)?

Also tried replacing the fuel pump relay but again made no difference. Haven't tried replacing the ECU relay yet so may give that a try also.

It goes on forever doesn't it?? :headhurt: I would have it into the garage but many people have said that they ended up taking theirs to numerous garages with no joy and just added to the expense. But if it goes on much longer I might have to cos I need a more reliable car for my new job :cry:
 

Wallis22

Active Member
Aug 25, 2007
282
0
I can't believe you're having such bad luck with it mate. IMHO i'd take it to SEAT now. I just wish i did that in the first place when my car died. They fixed the problem when others couldn't. It will cost a bit more than a local garage, but you could end up taking it to local garages and they probabaly won't be able to fix it.

Try cleaning the throttle body with carb cleaner but i doubt that will solve the problem now.

If your MAF has gone it should pick that up on Vag com so i think it's ok.

Good luck, and i hope you get it sorted soon.
 

scos

Full Member
Jul 25, 2005
65
0
Okay - cheers dude. I will try cleaning the TB first as it's pretty cheap to do. I'll give Seat a bell and see how much they think it'll be.
 

Dolly_Gti

G60 spooling up.
Aug 15, 2006
1,412
0
china town
mines doing the same, only does it at cold,after 5 mins or so of driving doesnt do it again, so when you figure it out let me know :)
 
Nimbus hosting - Based solely in the UK.