juddering '94 Golf, any thoughts?

Hi all,

Can any mechanical Merlins out there tell me what's gone wrong? :)

My car has started juddering (missing?) quite badly in the last couple of days. Pulling away from a roundabout or going up a hill, and its pretty bad. Hills that I was able to roll up in 5th, now need 3rd, and I'm not a fast driver, this is just gentle driving.

The car: '94 Golf Petrol, 1.8 CL.

The recent history: The catalytic convertor was changed about 5 weeks ago, it had been making a racket. Everything was then fine - until a couple of weeks later, maybe less, the car started juddering! I've been a bit lax on the servicing so I changed the plugs, no difference, and the HT leads (and king lead) and all was well. Another couple of weeks passed and then on Friday I thought I'd better chenge the oil and filter - so I did. No problem - argghh! The juddering is back right after the oil and filter change!

I then changed the air filter this morning, and disconnected the battery for an hour in case the computer was confused. When I tried it the juddering was really bad, from cold, which is unusual, normally it starts when its up to temp.

I had a fiddle under the bonnet and found that gently squeezing an air hose caused the revs to drop dramatically and then stall. There was quite a bit of moisture round the erm...big thing at the back where the air from the air filter goes. After this fiddle the car initially seemed fine, but the problems soon came back.

One other thing: I noticed a weird sound a couple of times, a bit like when you pull away and the brakes have seized, and they sort of "spoing" back out. Well, this sound comes apparently from right under the gear stick - approximate location of the catalytic convertor?

The stress: Me and my Mrs are going on holiday to Dartmoor in the car on Friday ....or that's the plan. So any thoughts on possible cause and remedies very gratefully received.

Cheers.

All the best, Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga Game reviews by Amiga players

That'd be quite fast, 5 weeks to block a CAT. An air leak after the MAF would give you similar grief.

Sorry guys, MAF?

Thanks.

All the best, Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga Game reviews by Amiga players

Mass Air Flow sensor, but that wouldn't give a funny noise

Nope, but the leak might.

From underneath?

the old carburettor polo (1975 ish) had a similar bit, I thought they had moved on !!

On 23-Sep-07 20:20:58, Mrcheerful said

Hi guys, thanks for the help.

I've had the guy at work look at it, and it appears the problem was a split in the rubber around the fuel injection, a sort of rectangular collar about the size of a small slice of bread.

This has apparently caused the exhaust to come loose and that is causing the "sproing" sound on pull aways.

The rubber collar has been replaced, and the juddering has gone. I'll try and get the exhaust tightened up tomorrow and hopefully I'll be sorted.

If any of this sounds daft, please say.

Thanks again.

All the best, Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga Game reviews by Amiga players

Yeah, now the leak is fixed and the noise is still there - hopefully it is just a loose exhaust as described.

All the best, Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga Game reviews by Amiga players