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what would cause 1996 vw golf timing to act crazy

by Frieda Zulauf Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The most common causes for slow acceleration in VW Golf are clogged air filter, dirty mass air flow sensor (MAF), clogged fuel filter, fuel pump malfunction, faulty oxygen sensor, dirty throttle body, worn spark plugs and clogged catalytic converter.

Full Answer

What are the signs of a bad timing belt on VW Golf?

They are most commonly found on four cylinder engines. Here are some of the most common signs of a bad timing belt on the Volkswagen Golf: Engine Won’t Start – If your Golf’s timing chain or belt has fallen off completely, broken, or has jumped a few teeth, it is entirely possible that the engine won’t even start.

What happens if your timing chain breaks on a Volkswagen Golf?

If it jumps a tooth, or breaks entirely it can lead to permanent engine damage. It’s important to know the symptoms of a bad timing belt or chain, so this doesn’t happen to your Volkswagen Golf.

What does the timing belt tensioner do on a Volkswagen Golf?

The tensioners job is to keep the right amount of pressure on your Volkswagen Golf’s timing belt or chain. As the belt/chain stretches through normal operation, it would get loose and fall off or jump. The tensioner keeps this from happening by keeping a consistent amount of force on the belt.

Why won't my golf engine start?

How to tell if timing belt is bad?

What happens if the timing belt is moved?

What is a timing belt made of?

Can you use a timing belt on a truck?

Do you have to swap timing belts when replacing tensioner?

Can a bad timing belt cause damage to a Volkswagen Golf?

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What are symptoms of timing is being off?

When any changes are made to the engine of a car, the ignition timing is adjusted accordingly. If not, you could experience several problems with your engine with improper ignition timing like knocking, hard to start, increase fuel usage, overheating, and reduced power.

How does a car act when the timing is off?

2:354:21How To Tell If Your Engine Timing Is Off - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRate if you notice you get the occasional. Misfire. Then that could mean that the timing is startingMoreRate if you notice you get the occasional. Misfire. Then that could mean that the timing is starting to go on the engine. Okay because your cylinders go out of order and you get the occasional misfire

What does incorrect timing sound like?

There is a rattling sound. A lax timing chain, or worse, a broken timing chain with loose parts within the engine, will produce a rattling sound when your car is idling. This rattling sound is typically most prominent while the engine heats up and disappears after some time.

How do you fix timing jumps?

There is no easy way to correct a jumped timing belt. You will need to disassemble a portion of the engine to gain access to the belt tensioner, so you can move the belt back into position. I suggest replacing the belt and tensioners while you have it apart, so you don't have this problem again.

How do you know if your engine has jumped time?

0:292:43SIGNS OF A JUMPED TIMING BELT OR TIMING CHAIN - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSince jumped timing can cause the valves to not close all the way this will also cause an engineMoreSince jumped timing can cause the valves to not close all the way this will also cause an engine misfire driver will notice flashing check engine light which is an indication of a misfire.

How do I know if my timing belt has slipped?

5 Signs and Symptoms of a Failing Timing BeltDropping Oil Pressure. One of the worst things that can happen if your belt fails is for the oil pressure in the engine to drop. ... Misfiring. Misfiring is a common occurrence with failing timing belts. ... Rough Idling. ... Smoke. ... Broken Pistons or Valves.

Does the serpentine belt affect timing?

Loosing the serpentine belt should not affect the engine timing.

What does a loose timing belt sound like?

Generally, a timing belt that goes bad makes a noticeable ticking or clicking timing belt sound that is unusual. When the timing belt starts falling the ticking or clicking sound becomes pretty audible.

What happens when an interference engine jumps time?

In many cases a jumped timing belt will cause some engine damage. A timing belt can also strip teeth off, shred, or break entirely. On an interference engine this will cause engine components such as valves and pistons to collide which is every bit as bad as it sounds.

What causes the timing belt to jump?

Misalignment is one of the main causes of timing belt drive failure. Excessive or uneven tooth wear, belt tracking and tensile failure can all be attributed to misalignment. By checking and aligning your shafts and timing pulleys you can increase the life of your timing belts and save yourself lots of downtime.

How much does it cost to fix a jumped timing?

It takes about 5 hours to put a new head on your vehicle but, again, you have to add time for the timing components and other incidentals. So, at $80 an hour, you're up to roughly $1,000 ($500 for the head and $500 for labor roughly) in a scenario where ONLY the valves were damaged.

What happens if ignition timing is off?

What Is Ignition Timing? Ignition timing is an important process when it comes to running an engine. If the spark plug fires too soon or too late during the compression stroke, damage to the engine can occur over time.

Can you drive a car with bad timing?

Can you drive with a broken timing belt? Your car cannot run with a broken timing belt. By the time the belt snaps, the damage is already done, and you will not be able to drive at all. You will need to have the vehicle towed to an auto repair workshop.

Will you get spark if your timing is off?

No, if your engine has a bad timing belt, or timing belt slips, you could still have sparks. Timing refers to the sequence of which events are happening in an engine combustion cycle. Having bad timing can cause problems like poor engine running.

have they fixed the timing chain issue? - Volkswagen Forum

Hi and apologies if this has been asked and answered before. I am looking at buying a 2011 Golf 1.4 TSI - the 122 bhp version not the GTI. There is a lot of info on the internet about cam chain failures on the TSI engines but I would like to know if VW have addressed this and, if so, when.

Timing belt or chain? | GOLFMK7 - VW GTI MKVII Forum / VW Golf R Forum ...

EA888 3G Unfortunately, it's chain driven, while the small Golf EA211 (1.2/1.4 TSI) and all Diesel (EA288) do come with a toothed belt. It's quite common whisdom, VW/Audi isn't good in making chain drives . . . .

Ask Honest John - Golf timing belt snapped - what do I do?

My VW Golf Mark IV 2003's timing belt has recently snapped (i know, should have been more attentive with the servicing) and we're wondering what to do. Speed was about 20mph at time of incident, stopped soon after. Car's steering locked up. Fails to start/ kick in. Breakdown advice: Belt identified as problem/broken. Thought perhaps not to have affected one row of valves as breakdown ...

Is It a Volkswagen Problem?

As we’ve mentioned, it is quite normal for timing chains to become worn over time, especially in vehicles that see a lot of action. Some contributing factors may include:

How to Stay Proactive

As we mentioned before, it is essential to stay on top of your VW’s routine maintenance tasks in an attempt to prevent timing chain problems. The last thing you want to do is wait until the timing chain snaps, as this could lead to more severe engine damage and higher repair bills, or even an irreparable problem.

GO DEEPER AND FIND THE MYSTERY IN THIS VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

How many times does a vehicle enter the repair facility with the most unusual faults and running behavior? How about when the faults change mid stream and point to a possible deep repair?

The vehicle and customer history

A conscientious customer messaged the facility with information that one of their children purchased a 2010 Golf. The VW began to run poorly soon after it left a used car lot.

Where to start

One simple yet quick test was with a vacuum gauge to ensure the crankcase ventilation system (PCV) was not damaged. The need was to ensure there was no internal vacuum leak. Remember the Jetta article with the damaged diaphragm on the valve cover? Go back and read that article.

Something seems off, what is it?

With VCDS there were a few anomalies with the engine running at idle. A few values are questionable. Three tests were of interest because of live values not close to where they should be. With the upper engine cover removed, the throttle body was definitely cleaned.

Lambda values explained

Negative Lambda values are an indication that the engine is running too rich.

Side note using VCDS

If for any reason a fault is recorded, even in history, live values will be at default because of how engine management attempts to keep the engine running. Any other adaptations such as basic settings will not work, will not engage, will not complete a test and in many cases will set related faults.

So what was found and what was the thinking?

First noticed was the bulky amount of thinned out silicone that was sealing the upper timing cover attached to the cylinder head (page one of the Neanderthals that should never have access to a silicone injection gun).

1. Unbalanced wheels

The leading cause of vibration in VW Golf when driving at high speed is unbalanced wheels, especially when steering wheel wobbles or vibrates. If only front wheels are out of balance, the vibration is typically strongest at the steering wheel. If rear wheels are out of balance, the vibration can be felt throughout the vehicle’s body.

2. Bad wheel alignment

Misaligned wheels can also cause vibration issues in your VW Golf. Wheel alignment is an important and often overlooked aspect of maintenance. Potholes and curbs can easily misalign your wheels, resulting in poor control and excessive wear on your tires.

3. Tire damage

Tire damage is one of the common causes for a wobbling steering wheel or vehicle body vibrations. Visually inspect all the tires on your VW Golf for any cuts, cracks, bulges and uneven wear. But sometimes the damage to the tire is not easily visible, for example when the belt breaks inside the tire, which can even happen to brand new tires.

4. Rim damage

A bent rim can also cause vibrations on your VW Golf. Such damage usually occurs when obstacles such as curbs, speed bumps or deep potholes are driven over too quickly. This leads to vibration especially when driving at high speeds. Balancing the wheels would probably not fix the problem, a bent rim must be replaced.

5. Bad wheel bearing

A defective wheel bearing can be the cause of shaking VW Golf. The most common signs of bad wheel bearing are grinding noise in the cabin when driving straight, a knocking noise when cornering, and the vehicle vibrates. The faster you drive, the louder the grinding noise and stronger the vibration.

6. Loose wheel nuts

Another cause of vibrations in your VW Golf is obvious and simple to diagnose, the wheel lug nuts may have come loose or were not properly tightened when changing tires. This cause can be checked and ruled out with the help of a lug wrench.

7. Bad axle

A worn out or faulty axle component can also result in unwanted vibrations in your VW Golf. An axle is a rod or shaft that rotates the wheels and supports the vehicle’s weight. They are responsible for transmitting power of the engine to the wheels.

Anonymous

there should be a gap on the pulley, put the timing gun on the pulley and the gap should appear in the middle.

Anonymous

you need to confirm back your timing marking of the engine. make sure all the mark is on the dot. even miss 1 notch it run bad.

What's your problem?vw citi golf 1 tem. gauge not working car dont over heat

It is likely the coolant is not reaching operating temperature, please verify the engine thermostat is working.

I replaced my 2006 vw citi golf timing belt,now the car doesn't have any power and uses alot more fuel,could you please help me fix this problem.it is a 1.4 carburator engine

you need to confirm back your timing marking of the engine. make sure all the mark is on the dot. even miss 1 notch it run bad.

1. Clogged air filter

If the air filter is dirty in your VW Golf, it can have a negative effect on the performance of the engine, as less air passes through the dirty filter which suffocates the engine. This ultimately also increases fuel consumption. In the worst case, the engine can stall if the air filter is extremely clogged.

2. Dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor (MAF)

Defective or dirty mass air flow sensor (MAF) in your VW Golf can result in loss of power, uneven engine running, erratic idling, misfires, poor exhaust emission values ​​including black smoke. The mass air flow sensor is part of the engine’s intake system and is located between the air filter box and the throttle valve.

3. Clogged fuel filter

If the fuel filter is clogged in your VW Golf, not enough fuel can get into the engine. This causes loss of power and jerking of the vehicle when accelerating. In worse case scenario, engine cuts out while driving due to insufficient fuel supply.

4. Clogged catalytic converter

The catalytic converter is part of the exhaust system in VW Golf and its main purpose is to convert exhaust gases that are harmful to health and the environment into less harmful byproducts. Over time, toxins accumulate and clog up the catalytic converter, especially if the vehicle has racked up a lot of miles.

5. Faulty oxygen sensor

The oxygen sensor in VW Golf monitors the level of pollutants in the engine’s exhaust gases and reports the data to the control unit that continuously adjusts the air to fuel ratio in the engine.

6. Dirty throttle body

Dirty throttle body can also be the cause of slow acceleration in your VW Golf. The common signs of dirty throttle body are poor engine performance, erratic idle, the engine react poorly to movements of the accelerator pedal, and the engine sputters or stalls.

7. Faulty throttle position sensor (TPS)

The throttle position sensor or TPS is used to determine the opening angle of the throttle valve. The information obtained is sent to the control unit and contributes to the calculation of the amount of fuel required.

Why won't my golf engine start?

Engine Won’t Start – If your Golf’s timing chain or belt has fallen off completely, broken, or has jumped a few teeth, it is entirely possible that the engine won’t even start. You might hear it slapping around as the engine cranks over. If this is the case, the damage is already done.

How to tell if timing belt is bad?

Noise – A good indication that a timing belt has gone bad is going to be noise. There may be a sound of rubber beating against something. It’ll typically be a rough rattling sound, and it is often most noticeable right when you start up your Golf.

What happens if the timing belt is moved?

If the timing belt has moved, that means that the valves will open and close at the wrong time. This will lead to a performance decrease. It’s highly likely that the engine is going to be misfiring as well.

What is a timing belt made of?

Timing belts are made out of rubber and nylon, unlike a timing chain which looks a lot like a bicycle chain. Here’s more on a timing chain vs a timing belt. For all intents and purposes, they create the same symptoms when they go bad.

Can you use a timing belt on a truck?

Timing belts are not that common. You’re much more likely to find a timing chain in cars and trucks than belts. Smaller cars, particularly Japanese made ones, can use timing belts instead of a timing chain. They are most commonly found on four cylinder engines.

Do you have to swap timing belts when replacing tensioner?

If you are going to replace the tensioner, make sure to swap the belt as well. It’s so hard to get to, and timing belts/chains are relatively affordable. It’s just the TIME that it would take you or your mechanic to get to it that’s the problem.

Can a bad timing belt cause damage to a Volkswagen Golf?

It’s important to know the symptoms of a bad timing belt or chain, so this doesn’t happen to your Volkswagen Golf.

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