Currently all problems are solved minus the horrible missing. Even the CEL is off at the present moment.

It has two new o2 sensors, maf sensor, o-rings, upper intake manifold gasket, throttle body gasket, fuel filter, plugs & wires, fuel pressure regulator...

The never ending CEL was coding a system too lean which hasn't come back on since the fuel pressure regulator was fixed.

Any ideas?

Modified by myjettablows at 6:50 PM 8-9-2008

Modified by myjettablows at 10:05 AM 8-10-2008

Did you remove the upper intake manifold / plenum at any point? That gasket may need to be replaced or it may not be tightened down right (nothing special, just has to be even - not many people get that wrong, but it's a simple oversight sometimes).

*Edit: Wait... yeah... you said intake manifold gasket. Still, there's some chance it might have been tightened up wrong - a slight chance, anyway.

Have you guys misted the coilpack to make sure it isn't arcing/sparking (or, for that matter, stalling when you do that)?

Modified by ninety9gl at 1:11 PM 8-9-2008

The CEL came back on today & It's missing horribly. Before i could hear it but it wasn't showing on the tak. now it's reving down to 500 or and bouncing up and down.

We did a fuel pump test today and this is what it said..40-44 psi with the key on, engine off. And when the supply hose was pinched off it droped 12 psi in 10 mins...hubby said he thinks it's the fuel pump. but for $400 I need a 100% certainty that it's bad. I don't have that kind of money and the only reason that I will have it is b/c i'm getting some money back from student loans, after my tuition and books are paid.

thanks.

But none of the vaccum lines that remain seem to have anything wrong with them. You could hear the leak from the other one.

Tach bounces/engine misses at idle and when throttle given?

Modified by FL 2.0L at 6:38 PM 8-9-2008

We didnt' think it was the coil pack either...

The maf sensor is new...is that what you were reffering too? And what should we check with the airbox? Everything is hooked up right..and we've checked allt he connectors on the MAF sensor as well.

Modified by myjettablows at 6:35 PM 8-9-2008

270 cam, intake, header, exhaust, chip, light weight crank pulleye, stage 1 clutch, lightweight f/w, and bimmer blue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRuNxHqwazs

"the early bird may get the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese"

Recheck: spark (timing, what kind of plugs did you put in? what are they gapped at? spray the plug wires with mist water at night to check for problems,make sure you have the plug wires going to the right cylinder!! make sure the coil pack isn't cracked) fuel (check fuel rail pressure at idle and under load,check the LTFT and STFT from the O2 sensor, inspect the fuel injectors for broken wires, or hoses) and air delivery (clean MAF (make sure you didn't damage it while installing clean TB, make sure you don't have a intake gasket leaking).

The airbox is cleaned. Re-checked the spark plugs when the wires were arcing, The wires are going to the right cylinders we marked them. We're getting ready to spray the wires with mist water at the moment...Checking the coil pack for cracking tomorrow. Hubby asked what you meant by & how to check the LTFT & STFT from the o2 sensors. The fuel injectors were in great shape and he cleaned them when we did the o-rings. Cleaned the Maf once since we got it just to make sure it wasnt' that and he checked all of the connections on it yesterday. The intake gasket was not leaking. The exhaust manifold gasket does have a small leak but he says that's gonna take a few hours to change..that couldn't be the probem though, could it?

Sucks. 4 days after i bought the car 2 years ago the waterpump blew and it left me stranded..my ex changed the waterpump & timing belt and i never had a bit of problem out of it until 6 months ago..and i drove it from VA to WV (4 1/2 hours) upwards of 4+ per month to visit Tj. Always by myself and it never gave me any ****. I guess it's making up for lost time.

Thanks everyone for all of your inputs. We will check, check & re-check.

So what do I do now? The horrid miss a few weeks ago threw a cylinder 2 misfire which is why i bought the new plugs b/c it was defintly arcing.

He said maybe the coil is bad?

Looks like you found the issue.

Do you have a VW spark plug wire tool? It is next to impossiable to remove install plug wires without this tool and not damage the wires. Especially on cylinder number 2 and 3.

LTFT= Long Term Fuel Trim
STFT= Short Term Fuel Trim

These numbers are stored in percentage and reported when you throw a CEL. These are clues as to if the engine is running rich or lean and the adjustments the ECU is making in an effort to return the car to a stociometeric (I think that's how you spell it...sorry I'm an engineer and redneck, R doesn't spell no good). Anyways this number should be -5% to +5%...if it is not you have a clue!

However, in your case I'd fix the plug wires before I did anything else.

Modified by smartcardengr at 6:16 AM 8-10-2008

Quote, originally posted by smartcardengr »

It is next to impossiable to remove install plug wires without this tool and not damage the wires. Especially on cylinder number 2 and 3. However, in your case I'd fix the plug wires before I did anything else. Modified by smartcardengr at 6:16 AM 8-10-2008

Yup. Handle those wires with kid gloves.

And you could still have a coilpack issue. Do you have the original coilpack?

Modified by FL 2.0L at 9:57 AM 8-10-2008

Modified by FL 2.0L at 9:59 AM 8-10-2008

also she forget to put throttle body gasket on the list of stuff that we've changed.

Modified by myjettablows at 10:04 AM 8-10-2008

I do still have the original coil pack...

No one thinks it could be the fuel pump? Because with the tester the pressure did drop more than it was supposed to?

so do you think i should get new wires?

Thank you. That's what I just freaking told him to do. He broke one this morning when he took the coil pack off, or something I don't know. So he took the broken one back & voided the ENTIRE WARRANTY.

I'm like no, that's stupid take them all back and get all new ones, if the entire warranty's going to be void.

So now we've ended up in this huge stupid argument b/c he says I'm wrong they're brand new & don't need to be exchanged. But I say I paid $75 for them, NOT HIM and if i can get all brand new, i want all brand new. No point in voiding the entire warranty for 1 plug that he broke.

GRRRRR

Thanks.

i was wondering...
when you had the intake manifold gaskets replaced, did you check the valves? meaning did you happen to see a load of carbon build up on the face of the valve? that being said, you can have misfires, start/die condition, and poor idle on cold start.

another thing to try is injection cleaning. im not talking about pouring a bottle of "fuel cealer" in the tank. disconnect the fuel feed and return line from the rail and use the fuel injector cleaner in the system as the pump (hope it make sense).
example of the injector cleaner

good luck PM if you have questions

He didnt check the valves...we did put seafoam in the gastank when i filled it up today. How much would an injector cleaner cost? We are broke right now.

It also makes this really weird noise when you start it..like it's screaming. Never been able to figure that out either. And sometimes it cuts off as soon as i start it..if i press the gas it goes right to the floor and cuts off.

Quote, originally posted by myjettablows »

How much would an injector cleaner cost? We are broke right now.

$100-$300, i dont remember. its cheaper to have a shop do and injection service for 120 (or whatever they charge)

Quote, originally posted by myjettablows »

it also makes this really weird noise when you start it..like it's screaming. Never been able to figure that out either. And sometimes it cuts off as soon as i start it..if i press the gas it goes right to the floor and cuts off.

starter making noise?

I can't afford to take it to the shop and have that done. We are broke. We don't even have a savings because we dont make enough money to save any money. Not to mention the close to $1000 i've put in this freaking car in the last few months. And i dont have any credits cards either b/c i consolidated our debt and they were closed.

Parting out '96 Passat GLX VR. hit ME up, if YOU need parts.

Get a can of CRC QD Electrical contact cleaner, this stuff is perfect for cleaning wiringand sensors without any possibility of damage. Also after you spray and wipe and or use a soft bristle brush to clean the contacts. make sure you let the connections COMPLETELY dry before using anything electrical!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Modified by TreehuggerINM at 3:45 PM 8-10-2008