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1999 1.3 intemitent starting problem - markfreeland
when the car starts its on the button but when its playing up its in the hands of the gods.
i feel its a problem with the automatic choke but am not 100%.
when it wont start: i turn the key and it starts but cuts out, i then have to remove the key and start again, sometimes if i put it in gear and turn the key ( start it in gear ) it starts and keep running, when it is running its a bit lumpy sounding and when i clutch and brake to come to a stop the revs drop to 500 from 750, sometimes thay drop to 400 and the car cut out but thats when the engines cold.
the plugs are good and the ignition is good, the engine has only done 32000
when its hard to start and it starts the smell of fuel is heavy and if i stall the engine and try to restart it it hesitates like its flooded.
there is no plug in diagnostics and cant afford a mechanic and cant afford to buy a throttle body and thats not the problem.

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 30/04/2009 at 13:34

19 1300 intemitent starting problem - bell boy
try a new coolent temp senser (NOT the temp guage one mind)
the senser should be about £10 and will probably bolt under the plenum chamber,this acts as your choke reader
19 1300 intemitent starting problem - Another John H
UK specification 1.3 Felicia MPI from 1999 has a combined temperature sensor - it contains both the temp gauge and the engine management sensors it one little lump which plugs into the top of the thermostat.

There's a 4 pin plug in the top, and the sensor is retained by a big plastic "C" clip which pulls out to one side.

Make sure the system isn't hot and under pressure when you pull the clip...

The coolant should be VW G12+ (the pink stuff).

www.jorily.com is probably the cheapest source of parts, and there's a picture of the part at the top of this page:

tinyurl.com/cnlu7a


Be warned this car is of an age where all the following things are due to fail:

alternator,
throttle body,
front suspension strut (collapse)
ignition lock (drops to bits)

Oh, I forgot to mention the rust - really nasty, fraying from all the edges rust.


I gave up after 10 years.
19 1300 intemitent starting problem - TurboD
I have a 1.3, 2000 vintage. It does have diagnostics- but not standard ones.
I reckon the poster above is on the right lines as sensors are the culprits for the bad starting and running.

But these cars are easy to fis( if you are so inclined) and keep checking the alternator output to ensure correct volts.

In 9 years since new, I have had to have one new suspension strut and mount, rear and central exhaust, one battery , one set of tyres one set of discs and pads.
( oil/plugs /filter), and one thermostat which was £25 through web supplier.
So these are cheap to run, watch for rust and keep on top of any stone chips , use the supertrol liberally.
The engines run and run- not very efficiently but so what.