Misfire/Engine Hesitation

[Knightrider 1]

My 1997 Highline is misfiring from 1500-2200 rpm and won't pull under power. It is somewhat intermitent, always there but degree of grief varies. Tickover is sometimes OK, sometimes misses and hiccups. It seems OK at higher revs but I think that is deceptive - I can't catch people like I used to.

Found plug 4 was arcing (looked in the dark and saw sparking) Today changed all the leads with new standard VW items. No change, still misfiring.

What do you guys reckon? Desperate to come to Owners meeting Saturday but can't drive it there from Sussex like this! Help.

[xyber 1]

Get it on Vagcom mate, could be any number of things

[thegoth 5]

for want of a tenner + vat I'd say ECU supply relay. helped my 16ver when it had the similar symptoms

[Rick_1138 0]

I am having this exact same issue on my 93 MK3 VR6 golf.

its fine at tickover (around 850 rpm) but if i am turning a corner in second doing about 1500rpm, i get a hesitation\shunt from the engine, then its fine, it does this in all gears and only started about a week ago.

Anyone any ideas.

How do i get VAGCOM BTW?

cheers all

[Knightrider 1]

Fixed! Had to be on the high tension side. Changed the ignition leads, no difference, changed all the plugs, no difference. Changed the coilpack for a proper VW OE part - SORTED, back sweet as a nut. It was the coilpack. Expensive though! Leads £78.30, plugs £36.00, coilpack £142.89, so £257.19 all up. I think the leads needed changing anyway as they were 7 years old.

[Rick_1138 0]

mmm, i hope i can get away with just the leads and plugs!

oh where is the tool for plug removal, i am sure i saw it but for the life of me i can't tremember where!

hopefully the credit card wont have to come out and play yet! fingers crossed.

Although my car is a 1993 model and i have heard that i could have either dizzy and leads or a coil pack.

shall have to hunt about and see as i have only had the car about 4 months and she has been fine before this! got folder full of receipts from previous owners so might be something likean OE part now getting past it.

[Knightrider 1]

I am having this exact same issue on my 93 MK3 VR6 golf.

its fine at tickover (around 850 rpm) but if i am turning a corner in second doing about 1500rpm' date=' i get a hesitation\shunt from the engine, then its fine, it does this in all gears and only started about a week ago.

Anyone any ideas.

How do i get VAGCOM BTW?

cheers all

[/quote']

Rick, look down the plug 'oles in as dark as place as possible to see if there is any arcing, little flickers of blue white light. If so leads need changing. It is very probably the coilpack - your symptoms sound just like mine. Hesitatingand missing in the 1500 to 2200 range especially but only really UNDER LOAD. Does it make it a bitch to drive unless you rev it to 3,000 and above? That is what mine was like. On tickover, does it have an occaisional hesitation - you have to listen carefully? Take of the coilpack and inspect it for cracks, mine had a small crack (but under a plastic cover that is attached to it). If so, it's knackered.

[Knightrider 1]

Plug Lead removal tool - mine was on the bonnet stay. It's useless. I disconnected the lead from the coilpack end and pulled gently but firmly directly up the angle of the plug and off they came. Long screw driver to poke them back on and make sure that they are seated properly.

[Rick_1138 0]

ah well, i am off to Inverness to see the GF, long distance relationship and all that!) so will go in by autoparts and get some leads, plugs and order a coil pack from VW if needs be, as changing the plugs and leads couldn'r hurt as i think its been about 5 years since last done!

Are OE ones the way to go ro aftermarket for the leads? cheers

[Knightrider 1]

The knackered coilpack on mine was NOT an OE VW one, It was from BBT Automotive which is why I think it failed - put on by previous owner who had the car 10 years. I don't trust putting non VW items on for electronicy type things.

If your car is 1993 it may not have a coilpack. There are others on the forum better informed than me about that. But even the dizzy will presumably have electronic components that can fail. Might be a lot cheaper than a coilpack.