Weird Starting Problem After Headgasket/cambelt Change

[Guest Bent]

I just bought a 1.9 GTi from 1987 with a leaking head gasket. As the previous owner could tell me anything about it, I decided to change the timing belt and head gasket. I whas running fine though just with some nice fog clouds from the exhaust.

I changend the head an got the head flattend, and reinstalled it. New timingbelt and reconnected everything. (also paintend some things):

 

But now the problem! When I try to start it, it runs fine for about 3-5 seconds and then just stops running, I just can't figure out what could be the problem.

 

I hope someone has some ideas!

 

Thanks,

 

Bent

[jackherer 543]

Have you forgotten to put back a bolt on the side of the inlet manifold by the oil filler by any chance?

[Guest Bent]

Have you forgotten to put back a bolt on the side of the inlet manifold by the oil filler by any chance?

 

Thanks for your quick reply!

 

Is it the bolt on this picture, next to the filling cap? Becouse that one is just fine. Old picture:

 

Any other ideas?

 

Thanks,

 

Bent

Edited February 14, 2008 by Bent

[jackherer 543]

Thats the one I meant.

 

Did you change the inlet manifold gaskets? Sometimes the wrong ones are supplied which block the injectors.

 

Other than that its worth checking all the plugs are firmly connected, especially the AFM, ECU temp sensor and TPS.

[djinuk 2]

check the afm is the right way roung, i put mine on the wrong way yesterday

[welshpug 1,666]

the bolt for the oil filler pot is obscured in the picture above, the bolt you can see is for the throttle cable bracket

[205turbo 32 2 Cars]

Thats the one I meant.

 

Did you change the inlet manifold gaskets? Sometimes the wrong ones are supplied which block the injectors.

 

Other than that its worth checking all the plugs are firmly connected, especially the AFM, ECU temp sensor and TPS.

 

28craig and myself bought a 1.6 gti on saturday that had this very problem, Also worth checking to see if the exhaust gaskets have been fitted correctly

[McDude 33]

Does the XU have a cam position sensor? If so it is acting like you have not reconnected/damaged such a sensor, i.e. it fires up fine because it has a 'big bang' start approach where it just chucks in fuel and spark until it bangs. Once started it moves to a running map where it needs info from the cam.

 

A faulty crankshaft sensor would create the same problem - I know that the XU has one of these, but you weren't working in that area.

[Anthony 1,003]

Does the XU have a cam position sensor? If so it is acting like you have not reconnected/damaged such a sensor, i.e. it fires up fine because it has a 'big bang' start approach where it just chucks in fuel and spark until it bangs. Once started it moves to a running map where it needs info from the cam.

 

A faulty crankshaft sensor would create the same problem - I know that the XU has one of these, but you weren't working in that area.

Actually, 1.9 GTi non-CAT's like the OP has don't have a crank sensor - it's only the Motronic cars (ie 1.9 GTi CAT's) that do. Also, generally speaking a dead crank sensor will result in no fuel or spark, since the ECU has no idea that the engine is turning or any reference for when to inject/spark.

 

Most older XU engines don't have a cam phase sensor either - only some of the newer 16v ones (S16, GTi-6 etc). Generally speaking, if the cam phase sensor is dead then the ECU will just switch to a "safe" mode and ignore that sensor, and illuminate the engine check light.

[carbers205 1]

Is it getting enough fuel?

I seem to recall i changed an h/g once and it needed a few goes to run ok cos of air in the fuel lines

[Guest Bent]

Thanks for al the help guys! I got it sort of running again. The problem whas the pipe that goes from the afm to the inlet manifold, it whas loos . After securing it the engine started and stayed on!

But now it won't idle (stops if you don't trotthle), it shocks under 3000 rpm and it lacks power. I guesse I'll have to start with the ingnition timing? Is this a job I can do properly without any special tools?

Maybey any other adieas what might be wrong?

 

Anyway thanks alot for the help so far!!

 

Bent

[Guest Bent]

Have you forgotten to put back a bolt on the side of the inlet manifold by the oil filler by any chance?

 

This apeared to be the problem after all. It runs like a charm now!! Thanks for all the help so far.

 

This is what de engine look like now:

 

 

http://www.dls9.nl/GTI/

 

:lol:Next job is the exterior and the engine compartment.