Low Idle Speed - VW Golf '99 Petrol 1.4

teaspach

Hi,

I have a '99 Golf with about 90k miles on the clock. It is the dreaded 1.4 so the engine runs like it's smoking 60 cigarettes a day... It was never the most lively car, despite the 16v engine. My problem now is that the idle speed is just so low (maybe 500 rpm), that it constantly cuts out. You come to a traffic light, take it out of gear, take your foot off the accelerator - and the engine dies... Just wondering if anyone has ideas as to what causes this? Is it electronically controlled, or can I just adjust the accelerator cable to make it idle at higher revs..

thanks,
t

C4Kid

This has come up before and happened me also with my car, have You considered cleaning the Throttle Body ?

Carbon builds up which means it's more difficult for the engine to breath when the valve is amost closed at idle speed.

Heres the last thread about it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72256375

If you do want to try it yourself, I could give you some more info as it's quite straight forward. don't think there's any pics online for accessing the TB on the 1.4.

That would be the first port of call imo anyway

crosshair1

Throttle body clean advisable
will need someone with VCDS to carry out adaptation(reset) afterwards

teaspach

Thanks for the replies... no - never cleaned the throttle body. I have a Haynes manual, so I might dig that out, and have a go at it. That said, there's a mechanic around the corner from me, I might just bring it to him.

thanks,
t

C4Kid

Might be worth getting him to have a look at it and he'll probably do the re-alignment afterwards with the computer.€30-50 I'd say

Nissan doctor

Could be the throttle body but the egr pipe from the throttle body as well as the crank breather pipe to the airbox are both prone to blockage too.