How a VW Fox Wagon sucked me back in...a build thread.

[redone17]

Got the ignition timing, idle and mixture set. I'm about to go for a spin - but as far as I can tell - its no longer stumbling on acceleration.

Exhaust is spitting a bit - not sure the cause of the minor misfire. I need to run a compression test too.

[redone17]

It's not running right. Acceleration isn't stumbling as much - but something's amiss. I gotta spend some more time under the hood. Maybe tomorrow if I get out of work early enough.

Put in the upgraded gas pedal bushing:


I cleaned up the flakes a bit too. They look much better.

[redone17]

Oh, and many thanks to DragonMike for the OEM oil pan bolts from his parts car! No more crappy AutoZone replacement.

[redone17]

I lied. It's still stumbling.

Thought of something. Should the cam be advanced a bit due to being 270? It's almost like the firing is off by the tiniest bit. It's only from stop. Otherwise it powers through the rest of the gears.

Still no sign of a vacuum leak. I double checked everything.

I'm stumped.

[puchfinnland]

how are your injectors' how is the fuel side of the situation?

[redone17]

Injectors are all new - though I guess I should check their spray pattern.

[myboxyfox]

I lied. It's still stumbling.

Thought of something. Should the cam be advanced a bit due to being 270? It's almost like the firing is off by the tiniest bit. It's only from stop. Otherwise it powers through the rest of the gears.

Still no sign of a vacuum leak. I double checked everything.

I'm stumped.

270 can make for a rough idle I've heard. I'd say tinker with the timing.

[redone17]

especially if we pulled the idle boost valve

[ziddey]

Injectors are all new - though I guess I should check their spray pattern.

So you changed out the #1 injector?

Nah, the idle boost valve would only serve to up the idle by allowing more metered air. It doesn't really have a "stabilizing" effect.

A 270* cam should still be plenty mild, and if anything would be a little lopey at idle; it wouldn't cause the stuttering off idle.

Have you tried disconnecting the o2 sensor and manually fiddling with the mixture? I guess it's really kind of pointless though, since it'd just point to an issue we already know exists.

Were you able to narrow down the misfiring cylinder by watching the timing light strobe?


Where'd you get that accelerator pedal bushing?? Looks like I gotta make a trip to MA at the end of the week. Not really trusting the Volvo right now so I might actually work on the Fox this week

[redone17]

I tried the strobe on each wire - all steady.

I pulled the VC and can't hear a clicking noise rotating the crank by hand. All the lifters were moving as they should. Got me. Back on - clicking as before. I then thought it was coming from the rotor. I guess I need a stethoscope or something.

Pedal bushing: http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/ForSa...lBushing.shtml

It seems to stumble in any gear after coasting as well as from stop. So - increased speed after stumble its fine. But if I coast for a bit - maybe downshift - it will stumble again when I put my foot on the gas until it picks back up. So - at this point it must be either vacuum or fuel delivery related. I don't know what else to do tonight.

Oh, I should mention that the car starts great - every time. Ignition timing, mixture, cam/crank timing are all set.

[redone17]

oh, also...my interior light just stopped working. changed bulb - nothing. any ideas? not a fuse because a few other components would go out along with it.

[ziddey]

you got the gl map light unit? That switch tends to oxidize. Two screws/bolts and the thing comes down. Play with that switch

[redone17]

thanks

that will be a good time to swap out my non-faded rear view with working night flip that's been sitting around for over a year.

[redone17]

So it looks like my throttle body has the vacuum leak...not sure if the adapter plate is surface isn't straight or what. I gotta take it apart and use some liquid gasket or something. Thing is - one of the bolts hex is stripped. I can get it out, but won't be able to torque it. Does anyone have any extras? They are the longer ones from 16v TB (N10073701 - bolt, with hex. socket - M8X60).

ziddey and I exhausted all other possibilities.

edit: seems World Impex can get them for $1.84 ea and 1stVW for $1.12 - just annoying to spend $12 on shipping.

[mike in SC]

I'm not sure how things work in Brooklyn, but would you be able to get to a hardware store? I could stop by some places on my way home if you're in a pinch.

[redone17]

Metric is a little iffy - but I have one trustworthy place I can check out. Though, they close at 12:15pm on Saturday and are closed Sunday.

[voxwagen88]

oh, also...my interior light just stopped working. changed bulb - nothing. any ideas? not a fuse because a few other components would go out along with it.

I had water leaking onto the switch in the door jam. Rusted. Had to replace the switch.
Hopefully your issue is not a leak.

[bluetoes591]

I had water leaking onto the switch in the door jam. Rusted. Had to replace the switch.
Hopefully your issue is not a leak.

Those switches are kinda dodgey in general, would definitely be worth a look. Had to replace both in my Jetta and the drivers side in my Fox.