m4ttj4mes 10 Posted October 4, 2011 hey all, finally got round to getting myself a corrado - grabbed a 1990 1.8 16V KR engine one, but am having some problems with the running side of it... The car ran fine for about a month and then one morning it started but would not idle by itself? the symptoms are as follows; 1) it will start and run if you hold the revs fairly high, but will die and 50% of the time will not start again for so many minutes... 2) very lumpy/poppy(?) when you do try and let it idle. I just replaced the distributor (complete) and a new set of plugs for good measure, taken it to a local VAG specialist (distant friend owned) and he had the computer on it and said the timing was spot on, he set up the adjuster on the throttle body and the ECU was bringing up no faults at all... he recommended possibly changing the ignition module, but more importantly the airbox (the weird k-jet style) has got like a lever/pivot arm inside it (which opens the valve for the intake?) which is very dirty/oily. do these two things sound like they could be the problem? ive found ignition modules for around £50 (and copys' for £20!) but wouldnt know where to start to get hold of a complete airbox with all the fuel bits on it. help/suggestions desperatly needed - my babys dying here! matt :shrug: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wullie 1 Posted October 4, 2011 Check all the hoses on the induction side for vacuum leak. The concertina type elbow that connects to the throttle body is a good suspect as it tends to split at the bottom of the folds. If it's not that work your way round the other pipes and vacuum hoses. The dirt etc. on the fuel distributor will not be helping. I cleaned mine out with WD40 and a fine bristled paintbrush. Be gentle and don't unscrew or bend anything. You can get to the underside by lifting off the top of the airbox and all will be exposed on the underside. I would leave the ignition module oat of the equation until you have tried the above first. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m4ttj4mes 10 Posted October 4, 2011 thanks for the quick response pal! definatly a good place to start (carry on!) will keep my eye out for a metering head just in case but fingers crossed its something like a split hose - would this just cause it to take in far too much air:petrol ratio? also i'd imagine why it runs at higher revs (using it all) but dies at/near idle... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikkijayne 0 Posted October 4, 2011 the ECU was bringing up no faults at all... Really? The 'ECU', which has no diagnostic capability, in a car which doesn't even have a diagnostic port? Not surprised its not showing any faults... It sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking about tbh. I've run K-jet cars for years and never had a bad metering head. Its about the simplest piece of machinery on the whole car! Give it a good blast with carb cleaner and leave it alone. The ignition module is similarly simple -never had a bad one of those either. Like Wullie said, its likely a vacuum leak - they are the bane of the K-jet car since the hoses are all 20 years old and falling to bits. I had a starting and idling problem on mine for ages and it turned out to be injector seals! Pence from the dealer and easy to change, but a complete bugger to track down. I would check the breather hoses and pipes under the manifold, and the vacuum hoses round the throttle body. Then run some injector cleaner through it and change the injector seals. Good luck :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m4ttj4mes 10 Posted October 4, 2011 ^ appears i dont either! will definatly check out the vacuum hoses tommorow and does anyone know where to get injector seals from?? been searching online a bit and havent found any yet... :( thanks guys! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wullie 1 Posted October 4, 2011 In all fairness there is a connector under the gear lever cover which connects to the Ignition module cum ECU and tells you nothing, so there would be no errors but as Mikkijayne says its a pretty dismal mistake to make. So get ye to staring at hoses and sooking on vacuum pipes. PS Injector seals from VW, Eurocarparts or GSF, pennies. Mikkijayne, what's occurring with the V8?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikkijayne 0 Posted October 4, 2011 In all fairness there is a connector under the gear lever cover which connects to the Ignition module cum ECU and tells you nothing, Not in a KR ;) All thats under there is a black power connector, and if he plugged his computer in to that it would have blown up. The white data connector is missing on the KR. ABS cars have a data connector for the ABS ECU but I think thats blue iirc. Mikkijayne, what's occurring with the V8?? Its on hold while I build a garage. I need to turn it over to reinforce the floorpan to take all the extra weight of the drivetrain, and that isn't practical on an open driveway :( Hopefully I'll be able to get back under way next year. For the record the injector seals are 035 133 557A, about £1.60 each from the dealer. Don't ever buy rubber components from GSF - the quality is ****. Euro Car Parts are fine though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rodmax 0 Posted October 4, 2011 Hi,if it does turn out you need any parts (inlet pipes etc),give me a shout as i'm breaking a 1.8 kr 16v thanks rod Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wullie 1 Posted October 4, 2011 Not in a KR ;) All thats under there is a black power connector, and if he plugged his computer in to that it would have blown up. The white data connector is missing on the KR. ABS cars have a data connector for the ABS ECU but I think thats blue iirc. Its on hold while I build a garage. I need to turn it over to reinforce the floorpan to take all the extra weight of the drivetrain, and that isn't practical on an open driveway :( Hopefully I'll be able to get back under way next year. For the record the injector seals are 035 133 557A, about £1.60 each from the dealer. Don't ever buy rubber components from GSF - the quality is ****. Euro Car Parts are fine though. Aha, I appear to have been misled. I was led to believe that it was a connection used during manufacture for checking the operation of the ignition module. Glad to be proven wrong before I plugged anything into it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m4ttj4mes 10 Posted October 5, 2011 thanks for the advice guys! been stripping to down a bit and it looks like a lot of the (vacuum?) lines under all the intake hosing are cracked and some split near where they push onto the connectors - especially the two leading/coming from the 'concertina' angled piece which slides onto the throttle body (not ssplit itself though) - it also has some sort of sensor inside it just before the TB? little red thing... anyway - replacing all of the air lines and 90* connectors so hopefully that will sort something out! will also give the metering head a bit of a strip down and a clean... and thanks rod, i'l bear you in mind! i believe the actual air intake hosing/piping look in fair condition but will inspect closer before it goes back together for sure! cheers, matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boost monkey 0 Posted October 5, 2011 Mine used to do this all the time becasue the thermo switch in the head was dead which meant the cold start injector never worked. This obviously only affected idle from cold though. Try the vac lines as mentioned and see how you get on. Where are you located b the way? Always useful to know who is near you for tips and advice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m4ttj4mes 10 Posted October 5, 2011 leighton buzzard pal! bout hour on a good run from oxford area, i've seen a few people in milton keynes area so they might be my best bet if i ever need a 2nd hand! also checked the vac lines and few look as if the 90degree elbow rubbers that connect them to stuff are split/perished slightly so hopefully something like that - going to replace the whole lot anyway, oredered some vac hosing and ive got some 4mm air line lying around somewhere so its all goood! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m4ttj4mes 10 Posted October 11, 2011 just to let you all who helped know - shes aliveeeee! thought i would post as may help others - theres quite a few KR idling problem threads around! 1) replaced all the vacuum lines and piping underneath the inlet tubes (just bulk ordered 4mm ID silicone hose and T + Y connectors) 2) soaked the ISV in petrol overnight as ive seen a few other people have done before 3) took off all breather hoses and cleaned out - as well as the metering head 4) fresh jubilee clips on EVERY hose!! 5) and a new air filter for good measure! seems to have cured it and idles a lot smoother too, thanks for the advice guys! see you next time ;) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
