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88 GTI - Clutch and sunroof questions.

I bought an 88 GTI about two months ago and really like it. There is one annoying problem and one new problem, so I figured I would ask the experts.

First, the clutch has always been odd. The PO said he had a new clutch put in last year and it was always easy to kill since. Well, I think maybe there is more to it than that. Basically, I have driven nothing but sticks for the last ten years. I can rarely pull away from a stop in this car without it bucking like I'm a new driver again. Furthermore, when I go into the parking garage at work, as I am ascending the spiral, even after the clutch pedal is let out, it bucks or surges. If I have a passenger in the car it is even worse making me think it somehow is having a hard time pulling it's weight. What do you guys think?

Next, the other day I cranked the sunroof back (which I do often), but this time, it wouldn't close afterwards. It feels like the cranking is just getting really tight. I realized that if you get it almost closed, the driver side is about 1-2 inches behind the passenger side. Any ideas what part would be needed. I won't be able to tear it apart til the weekend, but if it is an obvious part, I would like to get it before Friday so I can tear it down and fix it in the same weekend.

Overall, I am happy with the GTI. The sunroof needs to be fixed to keep rain out, but the clutch thing I can probably live with until I can afford a dealer to work on it if you guys don't have an idea. Oh, I have the Bentley book, so I should be able to figure out how to remove/install anything you guys think I need. Thanks again.

Reply to
Brad and Julie Vaughn
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How does the engine idle? Does it idle well and seem to rev decently while the car is stopped? I would suspect a cracked intake manifold boot, one of the big ones from the fuel distributor to the throttle body. Crack opens up when engine is moving and leans out mixture = bucking!

later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

Reply to
dave

Wow! I never thought of something like that. It seems to idle OK and rev OK. I had been thinking maybe it was a hotspot on the clutch or something clutch related. But it could be something like that. I will check it out when I get home. I would imagine it would be easy to spot. Thanks.

Brad

Reply to
Brad and Julie Vaughn

While it is idling just move those intake manifold boots around to see if the idle changes.

later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

Reply to
dave

Good suggestion.

Similar sounding problem I had on my '84 Scirocco was an oddly damaged (that's how the shop described it) motor mount. Depending on the load (worse uphill, or with more weight, or harder acceleration) the motor would buck around and it would feel somewhat like it was surging. Not quite what you describe, but it'll only take a minute to check it.

- Bill

Reply to
Bill Leary

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