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weird rocco happenings (part deux)
You may have already checked this, maybe not. But the ignition swtich (and also
the harness that goes to it, but for a different reason) can get unruly. I had
this happen to me in high school and it dogged me for months. Turns out I was
running too heavy of a keychain and the weight had contributed to an accelrated
failure of the switch.
With regards to the ignition switch harness, when re-installing it, I've
actually ended pushing out one (or more) of the terminals resulting in an
extremely temperamental/faulty connection. Try pressing your finger on the back
of the harness towards you and wiggle the next time this happens.
HTH, Jeff
> ok, so last weekend i did the gunk engine brite all over the engine bay
> treatment, followed by hosing the crap out of the engine bay (with engine
> running), hoping to agitate whatever fault there may be. not a single
> flinch, despite drenching everything with the nozzle set on 'jet'. i did
> some cheezy checks of the idle switch (note: if its stuck open, it makes
> the idle high, not low), and some other under-hood checks. came up empty.
>
> ...and everything was fine all of this week (i drive the rieger 30 mins to
> / from work daily).
>
> then today i got the same cut-out. happened while coasting in gear (again).
> hit gas, nothing. cycled neutral, attempting roll-start - nothing. cycled
> key - voala, back in business. 10 secs later it does it again, this time i
> stop and restart engine - starts again, no problem. it does it once more,
> but this time as im coasting with it floored, it pops back to life out of
> nowhere.
>
> i deduce the following on the rest of the trip home:
> - happens while decelerating - possibly electrical in engine bay caused by
> engine torquing forward, or something electrical that is sensitive to
> deceleration. (problem never happens while on throttle, no matter how much
> throttle - trust me :).
> - comes back after messing with key - possibly something with ignition
> switch.
>
> after pulling into the driveway i turn the engine off, then turn the key
> back to ignition and slowly figit with it towards the off direction. i hear
> a click come from the fuse panel, but the ignition is still on. turn key
> cw again (still in 'on' position), and get another click. i can now cycle
> the key back and forth about 10 degrees and i'm causing 'some' click from
> the fuse panel. i figure this is my problem, so i start the engine again
> and do the same cycling of the key. the clicks continue from the fuse
> panel, but it has no effect on engine idle at all (weird, i thought it was
> the fuel pump relay that was clicking). turn off engine and fiddle with
> key while checking relays. turns out its the load reduction relay. i'll
> admit, im weak on what load reduction is supposed to do, but i can say now
> it has no effect on the idle. question is, could it result in engine cut
> while driving?
>
> any other ideas, please dont hesitate to throw in your $0.02
> Al
>
> Allyn Malventano, ETC(SS), USN
> 87 Rieger Scirocco GTO 2.0 16v (daily driver, 200k, rocco #6)
> 86 Kamei Twin 16V Turbo Scirocco GTX (30% complete, rocco #7)
> 86.5 Occo 16v Trailer (rocco #8)
> 90 Passat GL 16V (the wifes new daily, 200k)
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Allyn" <amalventano@sc.rr.com>
> To: "scirocco list" <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 6:55 PM
> Subject: weird rocco happenings
>
>
>> ok, so im on the way back from kill bill 2 (most excellent, btw).
>>
>> take 26 home, and put the rieger into a 1.1g drift along the exit ramp
>> (right bank).
>> i bask in the sounds of sliding kumho and occasional per-clunks of loose
>> objects finding their way to the driver side of the beast.
>> end of ramp, no power, absolutely none. no warning lights (still in gear,
>> engine still turning). as i am slowing, i figure i caught some water in
>> the
>> fuel suction, but this is unlikely (right turn, not left, and i am at 3/4
>> tank, and i took care of that water problem weeks ago).
>> i coast further, figuring whatever it is will pass. i keep the gas
>> planted.
>> still nothing.
>> hit clutch and let it die. cycle key. start. cranks right up.
>> drive 2 blocks to turn right into neighborhood. hit clutch as i slow for
>> the
>> turn. engine dies. i notice the sound of a relay clicking a couple of
>> times
>> as i cycle the clutch to try and roll-start. my guess is it was the fuel
>> pump relay responding to ignition pulses (an expected action).
>> roll-start successful as i accelerate out of the turn.
>> go couple more blocks, slow for left turn, engine dies again. roll start
>> out
>> of turn - again successful.
>> carefully make last turn to house street. this time i stay on the gas and
>> keep it in gear. no issues, but the engine doesnt 'feel' as happy as it
>> usually is.
>> i carefully keep the gas on as i drop into neutral and e-brake to a stop
>> in
>> the driveway. once stationary, i slowly let off gas to see what the deal
>> is.
>> idle slows to a very slow crawl. its a stumbly idle. firing on all
>> cylinders, no missing at all, but its a slower idle (~600), and its
>> stumbly
>> because of it.
>> pop hood, everything looks good. do the obligatory check of the idle speed
>> set screw - right where i left it. wiggle various connectors, no effect.
>> do
>> quick cursory checks for vacuum leaks - nothing. plug wires look good. no
>> leaks anywhere. wife comes out to see whats up. i chat while doing further
>> inspecting. finally i end up grabbing the throttle body and give it a
>> couple
>> of good blips. after the revs, engine returns to a perfect purring idle. i
>> mess with it more, but cannot get it to return to its crappy idle.
>>
>> notes:
>> - first time it died, i believe i had tach indication, and i believe the
>> fuel pump was running, yet engine did not return to running condition
>> depsite coasting at 4k rpm with ignition still on. despite this, it
>> started
>> just fine after the engine was allowed to stop.
>> - cause is likely linked to what made the idle crappy, but that doesnt
>> make
>> sense.
>> - it appears the fault is causing the low idle speed, and its also causing
>> undershoot of idle if returning from revs, resulting in engine stall.
>>
>> ideas?
>>
>> thx in advance for pondering / suggestions
>> Al
>>
>>
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