EGR VALVE!

OK post the year, type and location of vehicle in the Subject line please.
:-)
Is this an '87 Golf like that link of the dist. vac. advance unit? Did the
'87 Golf even have an EGR valve? Is this some CA or non-USA vehicle?
Well I know it is not a 16V since they did not have a vac advance on the
distributor. <g>

Back to the basics:
Check the timing belt alignment. Also check for TDC with the #1 piston in
it's highest position.
Check the firing order of the spark plugs. Rotor rotates in a CW direction.
Check for any cracks in the intake manifold boot and make sure it is clamped
down.
BTW You could do a compression test too. ;-)
Sometimes a "tune-up" does wonders, new plugs & wires, cap, rotor,
fuel+oil+air filters, oil. ;-)
Is the oil level too high, too thin feeling and smell of gas?
What do the electrodes of the spark plugs look like?

A weak spark can cause running problems too. Bad ign. coil or one wired
backwards?

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

On Mar 25, 10:45 am, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:
> OK post the year, type and location of vehicle in the Subject line please.
> :-)
> Is this an '87 Golf like that link of the dist. vac. advance unit? Did the
> '87 Golf even have an EGR valve? Is this some CA or non-USA vehicle?
> Well I know it is not a 16V since they did not have a vac advance on the
> distributor. <g>
>
> Back to the basics:
> Check the timing belt alignment. Also check for TDC with the #1 piston in
> it's highest position.
> Check the firing order of the spark plugs. Rotor rotates in a CW direction.
> Check for any cracks in the intake manifold boot and make sure it is clamped
> down.
> BTW You could do a compression test too. ;-)
> Sometimes a "tune-up" does wonders, new plugs & wires, cap, rotor,
> fuel+oil+air filters, oil. ;-)
> Is the oil level too high, too thin feeling and smell of gas?
> What do the electrodes of the spark plugs look like?
>
> A weak spark can cause running problems too. Bad ign. coil or one wired
> backwards?
>
> later,
> dave
> (One out of many daves)

Well my freind whos been working on cars since he was 6 had one look
at my timing markings, and was like "what the fudge was the mechanic
thinking when he did the timing?". We personally both know the
mechanic so we headed to the shop and asked "why are the timing marks
completely off?" He said that he couldnt get them to line up because
the pully is one from a 2L. He said when he ligned up all the marks
perfectly the car wouldn't start. So therfor he had to guess the
timing.

What about the specifics of this car?

I have corrected some timing belts job incorrectly done at the dealer. So
mistakes can be made! <g>

"the_lower_class_brat" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Well my freind whos been working on cars since he was 6 had one look
> at my timing markings, and was like "what the fudge was the mechanic
> thinking when he did the timing?". We personally both know the
> mechanic so we headed to the shop and asked "why are the timing marks
> completely off?" He said that he couldnt get them to line up because
> the pully is one from a 2L. He said when he ligned up all the marks
> perfectly the car wouldn't start. So therfor he had to guess the
> timing.
>

On Mar 25, 3:27 pm, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:
> What about the specifics of this car?
>
> I have corrected some timing belts job incorrectly done at the dealer. So
> mistakes can be made! <g>
>
> "the_lower_class_brat" > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
>
>
> > Well my freind whos been working on cars since he was 6 had one look
> > at my timing markings, and was like "what the fudge was the mechanic
> > thinking when he did the timing?". We personally both know the
> > mechanic so we headed to the shop and asked "why are the timing marks
> > completely off?" He said that he couldnt get them to line up because
> > the pully is one from a 2L. He said when he ligned up all the marks
> > perfectly the car wouldn't start. So therfor he had to guess the
> > timing.

The car is a 1987 Golf.

Hmmm is the 2l pulley and 1.8l pulley that different, and I assume he is
talking about the Camshaft sprocket/pulley and not the V-Belt pulley on the
front of the crank.
I think the 2l Cam Sprock only adds a front mark that points upward.

Brief Timing Belt Instructions:
1. The Crankshaft should be aligned using the flywheel/driveplate reference
'0' mark (located in transmission viewing hole) and that should be double
checked with the #1 piston at TDC.
2. Then set the Intermediate Shaft alignment (or look at distributor rotor
pointing at notch on dist. body).
3. Finally set or lay the Camshaft Sprocket's notch (back side of sprocket)
at the valve cover surface (spark plug side).
Adjust the tensioner CW to tighten the belt and revolve the engine 720
degrees and recheck your marks.

BTW I don't think that mechanic knows VWs!

>> "the_lower_class_brat" > wrote in
>> message
>>
>> > Well my freind whos been working on cars since he was 6 had one look
>> > at my timing markings, and was like "what the fudge was the mechanic
>> > thinking when he did the timing?". We personally both know the
>> > mechanic so we headed to the shop and asked "why are the timing marks
>> > completely off?" He said that he couldnt get them to line up because
>> > the pully is one from a 2L. He said when he ligned up all the marks
>> > perfectly the car wouldn't start. So therfor he had to guess the
>> > timing.
>
> The car is a 1987 Golf.
>

On Mar 25, 7:04 pm, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:
> Hmmm is the 2l pulley and 1.8l pulley that different, and I assume he is
> talking about the Camshaft sprocket/pulley and not the V-Belt pulley on the
> front of the crank.
> I think the 2l Cam Sprock only adds a front mark that points upward.
>
> Brief Timing Belt Instructions:
> 1. The Crankshaft should be aligned using the flywheel/driveplate reference
> '0' mark (located in transmission viewing hole) and that should be double
> checked with the #1 piston at TDC.
> 2. Then set the Intermediate Shaft alignment (or look at distributor rotor
> pointing at notch on dist. body).
> 3. Finally set or lay the Camshaft Sprocket's notch (back side of sprocket)
> at the valve cover surface (spark plug side).
> Adjust the tensioner CW to tighten the belt and revolve the engine 720
> degrees and recheck your marks.
>
> BTW I don't think that mechanic knows VWs!
>
> >> "the_lower_class_brat" > wrote in
> >> message
>
> >> > Well my freind whos been working on cars since he was 6 had one look
> >> > at my timing markings, and was like "what the fudge was the mechanic
> >> > thinking when he did the timing?". We personally both know the
> >> > mechanic so we headed to the shop and asked "why are the timing marks
> >> > completely off?" He said that he couldnt get them to line up because
> >> > the pully is one from a 2L. He said when he ligned up all the marks
> >> > perfectly the car wouldn't start. So therfor he had to guess the
> >> > timing.
>
> > The car is a 1987 Golf.

Nope! he definately doesn't, but my freind took on look at my markings
and knew they were off, therefor explains the car running like poo.
But anyways Im going to buy the cam pulley tomorrow and hopefully that
will solve the problem. Now it leaves me to the conclusion that the
engine is not in anyway stock. The car has been painted 2 times
already, and its just screaming that some idiot fancied himself a
mechanic and tried doing a swap.

On 25 Mar 2007 17:34:28 -0700, "the_lower_class_brat" >
wrote:


>Nope! he definately doesn't, but my freind took on look at my markings
>and knew they were off, therefor explains the car running like poo.
>But anyways Im going to buy the cam pulley tomorrow and hopefully that
>will solve the problem. Now it leaves me to the conclusion that the
>engine is not in anyway stock. The car has been painted 2 times
>already, and its just screaming that some idiot fancied himself a
>mechanic and tried doing a swap.
>
If the engine starts and runs ( even roughly ) >repeatedly< even though it stalls ,
the timing belt and the enging timing with the cam sprocket/interm. shaft is fine.
The spark timing set by the position of the distributor is a different thing.
The timing can be off alot and keep running , with or without the vacuum advacnce
attached to the distributor.
What " timing markings" are you talking about?
the marks on the cam sproket / crankshaft / intermediate shaft?
or the marks down the hole on the flywheel?

There is no pulley on the cam. You will have a real hard time buying it.

Pulleys attacked to the crank sprocket ( crankshaft ) won't cause your problem.
V-belt powered things...could care less if that pulley is a bit bigger.

A different sized cam sprocket installed is just to nuts. No one would do that !

Why won't you answer any questions about the fuel pressure both Dave and I
ask you about from your first posts ' replaced fuel line ' ?

I am ASSuME-ing that now there are more problems.
The engine could still start with the camshaft timing off a notch or two.
It will run like poo but I think this OP has more problems keeping it
running too.

I agree that the wrong size sprocket is just nuts and there is no pulley on
the camshaft sprocket.......................unless............. ..there is
that supercharger kit installed. I seem to remember one being made for
these engines years ago. But I am sure the OP would have told us that. lol

FIND A VW SPECIALIST AND LET THEM KEEP YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED!!!!

Whereabouts are you again?
--
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

> wrote in message ...
> On 25 Mar 2007 17:34:28 -0700, "the_lower_class_brat"
> >
> wrote:
>
>
>>Nope! he definately doesn't, but my freind took on look at my markings
>>and knew they were off, therefor explains the car running like poo.
>>But anyways Im going to buy the cam pulley tomorrow and hopefully that
>>will solve the problem. Now it leaves me to the conclusion that the
>>engine is not in anyway stock. The car has been painted 2 times
>>already, and its just screaming that some idiot fancied himself a
>>mechanic and tried doing a swap.
>>
> If the engine starts and runs ( even roughly ) >repeatedly< even though
> it stalls ,
> the timing belt and the enging timing with the cam sprocket/interm. shaft
> is fine.
> The spark timing set by the position of the distributor is a different
> thing.
> The timing can be off alot and keep running , with or without the vacuum
> advacnce
> attached to the distributor.
> What " timing markings" are you talking about?
> the marks on the cam sproket / crankshaft / intermediate shaft?
> or the marks down the hole on the flywheel?
>
> There is no pulley on the cam. You will have a real hard time buying it.
>
> Pulleys attacked to the crank sprocket ( crankshaft ) won't cause your
> problem.
> V-belt powered things...could care less if that pulley is a bit bigger.
>
> A different sized cam sprocket installed is just to nuts. No one would
> do that !
>
> Why won't you answer any questions about the fuel pressure both Dave and I
> ask you about from your first posts ' replaced fuel line ' ?

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:36:32 GMT, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:

>I am ASSuME-ing that now there are more problems.
>The engine could still start with the camshaft timing off a notch or two.
I hear you ( been there done that and couldn't believe i had no one else to
blame ) .............................. I ass-u-me-d the timing belt was done correctly,
I guess because Class Brat didn't say after the belt job the engine ran worse
than before. I still think the problem is fuel related , either a simple
electrical connection fault or the tank pump croaked when it was
run out of gas.
>It will run like poo but I think this OP has more problems keeping it
>running too.
>
>I agree that the wrong size sprocket is just nuts and there is no pulley on
>the camshaft sprocket.......................unless............. ..there is
>that supercharger kit installed. I seem to remember one being made for
>these engines years ago. But I am sure the OP would have told us that. lol
>
>FIND A VW SPECIALIST AND LET THEM KEEP YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED!!!!
>
>Whereabouts are you again?
>--
>later,
>dave
>(One out of many daves)
gotta love the last week of march , snow is almost gone and some birds are back.

On Mar 26, 8:36 am, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:
> I am ASSuME-ing that now there are more problems.
> The engine could still start with the camshaft timing off a notch or two.
> It will run like poo but I think this OP has more problems keeping it
> running too.
>
> I agree that the wrong size sprocket is just nuts and there is no pulley on
> the camshaft sprocket.......................unless............. ..there is
> that supercharger kit installed. I seem to remember one being made for
> these engines years ago. But I am sure the OP would have told us that. lol
>
> FIND A VW SPECIALIST AND LET THEM KEEP YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED!!!!
>
> Whereabouts are you again?
> --
> later,
> dave
> (One out of many daves)
>
> > wrote in ...
> > On 25 Mar 2007 17:34:28 -0700, "the_lower_class_brat"
> > >
> > wrote:
>
> >>Nope! he definately doesn't, but my freind took on look at my markings
> >>and knew they were off, therefor explains the car running like poo.
> >>But anyways Im going to buy the cam pulley tomorrow and hopefully that
> >>will solve the problem. Now it leaves me to the conclusion that the
> >>engine is not in anyway stock. The car has been painted 2 times
> >>already, and its just screaming that some idiot fancied himself a
> >>mechanic and tried doing a swap.
>
> > If the engine starts and runs ( even roughly ) >repeatedly< even though
> > it stalls ,
> > the timing belt and the enging timing with the cam sprocket/interm. shaft
> > is fine.
> > The spark timing set by the position of the distributor is a different
> > thing.
> > The timing can be off alot and keep running , with or without the vacuum
> > advacnce
> > attached to the distributor.
> > What " timing markings" are you talking about?
> > the marks on the cam sproket / crankshaft / intermediate shaft?
> > or the marks down the hole on the flywheel?
>
> > There is no pulley on the cam. You will have a real hard time buying it.
>
> > Pulleys attacked to the crank sprocket ( crankshaft ) won't cause your
> > problem.
> > V-belt powered things...could care less if that pulley is a bit bigger.
>
> > A different sized cam sprocket installed is just to nuts. No one would
> > do that !
>
> > Why won't you answer any questions about the fuel pressure both Dave and I
> > ask you about from your first posts ' replaced fuel line ' ?

Well obviously they did because my friend at the garage said that was
the problem, and I'm pretty sure he's definitely 100% not lying to me.
And that would explain the car running like complete crap.