VW Golf Mk3 1.4cl - Sluggish on cold start

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Wed 2 Mar 2011 20:17
VW Golf Mk3 1.4cl - Sluggish on cold start - Swine

Hi guys.

New to this and know next to nothing so excuse my ignorance!! Having a few probs with my '96 1.4 Golf. Have recently replaced coil pack, HT leads and plugs as was having flat spots and then wouldn't start one day. Is now struggling to start in the cold (sometimes needs a bit more throttle to get going) and is sluggish until warmed up. Am still getting flat spots (although alot less) and seems to be using a bit more fuel than it should (get around 60/65 miles to a tenner). I know the dizzy cap needs doing but as it only has probs in the cold, not sure if this would be the cause?

Any ideas??

Thanks, Jules.

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Thu 3 Mar 2011 21:25
VW Golf Mk3 1.4cl - Sluggish on cold start - kiss (keep it simple)

Hi Jules

I had similar symptoms on a 1996 1.4. It turned out to be the head gasket which was leaking onto one of the plugs. It would take a couple of goes to get it started and it ran rough for a minute or so. It always suffered from slight flat spots when cold but nothing major. Check and see if it is using coolant.

Edited by kiss (keep it simple) on 03/03/2011 at 21:26

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Thu 3 Mar 2011 21:53
VW Golf Mk3 1.4cl - Sluggish on cold start - Swine
Ah ok I'll check it out.

Cheers.
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Thu 3 Mar 2011 23:09
VW Golf Mk3 1.4cl - Sluggish on cold start - suziesue

Hi Jules

this sounds very familiar - I have just posted a question about my 1992 escort cabriolet as my head gasket has just blown- but for the last week or two I have been experiencing problems with starting - it will turn over but not catch - I had the RAC out the other day and he thought it was the coil pack and would need replacing - now after reading one of your replies it could have been the head gasket leaking over one of the plugs. Now my car is sitting in the garage waiting for me to make a decision to spend £400 to have it replaced!

Suzie

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Fri 4 Mar 2011 06:30
VW Golf Mk3 1.4cl - Sluggish on cold start - Swine
Not good! Have you confirmed the head gasket has blown then?

Im still holding out hope its something simple (and cheap)!!
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