HELP!!!!!!Lacks performance when hot!

clees · Post by **clees** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:06 am

Yesterday, i had been driving in my polo Gti for roughly 1 hour which obviously made the engine become very warm. What came to my attention was that every now and then my car would chugg a little on acceleration and sometimes have a delayed reaction on acceleration, also my exhaust emissions light would flicker on and off!!!

It only does this problem when engine is very hot!!!When engine is cool it runs spot on!!!

I know it's not my spark plugs cause they are fairly new......Does anyone know what it could be????

Any help would be of great assistance

Thanks Christian

inder · Post by **inder** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:12 am

Could be a faulty cooling fan or a temp sensor somewhere, Polosilver had a similar problem I think, PM him?

PhilGTi · Post by **PhilGTi** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:45 am

I was getting a problem because my cooling fan was f****d is the car actually overheating?

clees · Post by **clees** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:16 pm

I'm not sure. The temp gauge reads normal on dash!! However, when i open the bonnet after my journey when problem occurs the heat off the engine is very hot!! once engine has cooled down car runs fine?

i was gonna take it to a Volkswagen dealership to get it on a diagnostic whcih costs around Â£70.

Are there any recommendations?

PhilGTi · Post by **PhilGTi** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:19 pm

Id like to say that taking it to VW is the best option, but i think VW know f**k all, they totally dianosed my problem wrong...

clees · Post by **clees** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:25 pm

i know they couldn't solve a problem if you gave them instructions on how to solve it!!!

Well i suppose checking my cooling fan and sensor would cancel a few things out!!

If you know of any solution it would be much appreciated!!

cheers

smokeGTI · Post by **smokeGTI** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:52 pm

I don't think it's overheated, water/steam will pops out from the plastic
tank if overheated.

Did you add anything other than fuel to your fuel tank?
Or did you run the car in low rpm for a long period?
It sounds like the catalyst got chocked.

Check your spark plugs, see their colour make sure they are not dark.
Clean up your throttle and airbox.
Check your engine oil level, make sure it's not over filled.

clees · Post by **clees** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:11 pm

The only thing i've added to the fuel tank is that Nitrox solution from Halfords and i only added it once a few weeks ago. Not really ran car in low rpm, however i do notice the problem more when in city traffic stopping and starting.

i will check what you suggested mate and will let you know the outcome. if anything else springs to mind give us a shout!!

Thanks for your help!!!

smokeGTI · Post by **smokeGTI** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:32 pm

clees wrote:The only thing i've added to the fuel tank is that Nitrox solution from Halfords and i only added it once a few weeks ago.

Is that a kind of fuel injeter cleaner?
If the cleaner is too strong, sometime they could flush away masive
carbon chips, which is not a good idea.
As they could aways trapped into the catalyst.

But I have added Slick-50 injeter cleaner just a month before,
doesn't have any problem so far.

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:21 pm

My GTi was crap on hot days (as is my Fabia!).

I think that's just the way it is (dud du du dud du duu)

LAN's GTI · Post by **LAN's GTI** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:00 pm

Mine is like this too, Temp guage reads normal but the car lacks power, bogs down in 1st and generally drives like poo!
Only happens on hot days when stuck in traffic for say 30 mins+, never been able to find out the cause, have taken it to VW before when it was still under warranty but they couldn't find anything wrong.
I'm guessing that it's just that there's a lot of engine in a small space under the bonnet and it needs airflow to keep it cool.

PhilGTi · Post by **PhilGTi** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:13 am

I find that on hot days i abuse the climate and find that if climate is on full power the car lacks power, parhaps the same for you?

clees · Post by **clees** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:48 am

Cheers for all your input!!! It's frustrating if there is no cure but i will certainly let you all know if i solve the problem!

many thanks

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:51 am

There is sort of a cure:

Get a PROPER cold air feed from the front of the car, into the air box.

The air box will always get hot because of it's placement on top of the engine, but if you can get a decent amount of cold air into it, it should be better.

Don't use a Pipercross or K&N cone filter... A BMC or a K&N Panel Filter will do just fine.

Also, have a look at the "trumpet" that goes into the inner wing where your air pipe goes from and you'll see a huge restriction in your air intake...

Blackie · Post by **Blackie** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:50 pm

i have the same problem, but it fires on three cylinders when it happens. i had the same problem on my 2003 fiesta and it turned out to be the distrubtor cap. Only got my GTi today and it already needing to be put into the garage! GRRRRR

hope this car isnt gonna break down like this all the time. Another thing i noticed i can sumtimes hear a sparking noise, like when you try and light a cooker, coming from the engine area. Will let you know what happens when i take my car to the garage!