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1988 Golf idle racing problem

One of my co-workers drives 1988 era VW Golf Gasser. He reports that the idle is not behaving with the car reving wildly with no intervention on the throttle. Can any of you point him into what to check. He is avoiding stealerships and wants to fix it himself. Where should he look first. He has replaced the fuel filter, the idle stabilization valve, cleaned the fuel injection system and has looked over several things.

He said it started fine after replacing the filter and the idle stabilization valve and ran fine for a bit and then it went nuts. It wants to run at a high rpm. He has checked the linkage too. Anythoughts where he should go next? Is there a way he can clean the idle stabilization valve (the old one) so he can try that one again as oppposed to his new one?

TIA

Reply to
Leicaman
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Tell him to buy a Bentley service manual. There is none better than a Bentley. Also he should take a look at the VWvortex forums. Excellent source for advice from experts, and for "how-to" info.

Reply to
Papa

Check the vac. line to the brake booster or servo. These sometimes crack causing erratic idle.

SFC

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Reply to
SFC

Is it just at idle or is it actual throttle, if its just idleing high then don't bother reading any further.

If its actual throttle then Tell him to get a good lub spray and soak the throttle lever and springs, I had trouble with my 90 golf going full throttle, and this worked.

Reply to
E

I second this!

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

The coolant temperature sensor is often a culprit and is a cheap fix.

Reply to
Matt B.

Look for vacuum leaks. So examine all hoses!

Check both throttle body plates to make sure they both open freely and close freely.

Check the wiring to the throttle body switches. Sometimes the wires break and also check the switches for proper ON/OFF signaling.

Check the ground wiring to the intake manifold or to the coolant flange at the REAR (over transmission) of the cylinder head. Sometimes they break and cause injection problems.

If it is an electrical problem have them get a Bentley and a digital Volt Ohm Meter (VOM) and test the system at the Engine Control Module (ECM) harness plug. Makes it kinda easy to check components. ;-)

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

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