Re: Recommended manual for 1991 Golf?

haynes manual @ autozone, etc covers just about everything you need for about $12.

I've got the Haynes and Bentley, and find both together quite useful. Bentley is far better written and organised, and has more detail and tips, but is US oriented.

Rob

I think some of the extra info you posted elsewhere may be of use ;)

"From when we bought it, it's been temperamental starting from cold - would often take a few seconds and lots of gas, maybe a couple of attempts too. Then it would cut out when idling (or even revving low) unless warmed by revving reasonably high for a minute or so before setting off. Even then, it was sluggish at gear changes until warm. After warming up it would rev quite high (2000 RPM?) at idle. It was also prone to overheating (though we only took it out maybe five or ten times on short journeys, so it's difficult to know).

The last dying gasp was when there was a *lot* of steam coming out of the bonnet (something I'm not used to as an ex-Beetle nut) and once it cooled down it wouldn't go any more. It starts - the engine turns over fine - but dies when the revs go below 1500 (?) RPM, even if the engine has been warmed up through revving.

Battery is OK (or should be, it's been recharged a few days back). Oil levels checked out a few days ago (though it does need changing). Water level is OK. Fan next to radiator seems to jam (which probably explains the overheating but not the non-starting). Engine has always had a hot smell to it after being driven. There's what looks like an air-hose missing from what I presume to be the the air filter unit down to the front driver side of the under-bonnet (I presume this is an air intake?). There's another air hose below and behind this which is not securely attached at the engine end (I have no idea what this does).

My guesses are as follows:

1. The automatic choke is buggered and needs replacing/tweaking
2. The engine is being starved of air because of the missing air hose
3. The engine is overheating because the fan is jamming and not cooling the water down

I hope that after these three are investigated (2 being easiest, 3 being a case of suck it and see, and 1 being "how and where the hell?") it will start OK. Probably."

Unfortunately my knowledge is more the Injection than carb engined Golf's, check the oil and water and make sure they haven't mixed, you should fine your oil is white and creamy if it has which means unfortunately the head gasket has failed. But as others have said some more info on the car would be advantageous, size, fuel?

I wouldn't recommend the Haynes manaual for the MKII unless you can pick one up secondhand at a car boot, IMO it's badly written and tries to cover too many models, unlike the earlier MKI book. The Bently manual is a better but more expensive option.

--Steve