Daisy is like a tempremental teenager!!!

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DaisyDub
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Daisy is like a tempremental teenager!!!

Post by DaisyDub »

Daisy hates being COLD!!

So my car can be so temperamental when it's cold out!! Usually when it's cold she'll have trouble getting into first, grind second, and stall on me two or three times before she's ready to go.

This morning none of the above happened...instead she just plain acted like she had the flu!! First she didn't want to get into reverse...that took like five minutes...and then she made this whirrrrr in the dash that got louder and louder as she accelerated...and it wasn't the fan belt wiiirrrrr, it was like behind the instrument panel (totally freaked me out). AND the engine was knockin something awful (I know she needs new motor mounts). OH AND she was running a temperature!! The temp gauge kept rising and rising almost to the point where the red light would come on ...

After about 10 minutes of this on US-1 all of her symptoms disappeared and she happily and quietly got me to work. So weird.

I think Daisy has a bit of an attitude ... she's like a teenager who doesn't want to get up for school cause it's too early and too cold!!!!

Welp, that was my adventure this morning. I contemplated turning around and going straight back home, but I'm glad I didn't cause it all worked out.
-Tara
92 Jasmine Cabriolet
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Calimus
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Post by Calimus »

Sounds like a nice list of the common issues.

Cold starts are always a pain with these cars. Basicly, the fuel/Air mix is prollie off and needs to be adjusted. Even if it's dead on, Vacc leaks can make it seem like it's off, so replace all the vacc lines even if the lines look fairly new. Temp sensors could be getting old and since you have a Digi car, thats a big thing as those sensors have more of an effect on the fuel/air mix then a CIS car.

The whirring behind the dash sounds like the speedo cable or speedo itself. When cold, the 15+ year odl lube isn't doing much and you will get some nice noise.

As for the temp readings, again, it could have just been the sensor. However, it could also be the Thermostat getting old and cranky. Chances are, it wouldn't hurt to replace the water pump and T-stat and flush the system for good measure. Now their may not be anything wrong with the water pump, butsicne the T-stat is housed inside it, it's almost worth the extra $30 to just replace the pump. That is, if you are doing the work yourself. If you are having a mechanic do it, well, it could get pricy as the pump is in a real PITA location. Once you've done one though, it's a lot easier.

I know this may sound like a lot of propblems and seem daunting, but it's really not bad at all. Just normal maint on these older cars. Once you get into the swing of it, it becomes pretty easy and you will find that just in one day, there is a massive ammount of things you can accomplish on the car.

Case in point, 7 years ago, I thought a bad shifter bushing would cost and arm and a leg to be fixed and my wifes first cabby sat for almost 3 months. Fast forward 4 years and I put an engine, transmissing, all the engine wiring, fuel lines, motor mounts and everythign else under the hood into her new cabby and had it running over the course of about 10 hours. It wasn't running perfect, but it ran.

An now I'm getting ready to try my hands at not only and engine swap, but an entire fuel Injection system swap as well in my rocco.

So as long as you don't mind getting dirty, you can easily do tons to these cars and save yourself boat loads of money and gain satisfaction by doing the work yourself.

Sorry if I rambled, I'm a bit scatter brained today. :P
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DaisyDub
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Post by DaisyDub »

Hey thanks Calimus!!

I haven't done any engine work myself before...I've only helped others with their work (assistant type stuff like hand me this, hand me that, hold this, etc) but I've learned a lot in the process. I hope to do a lot of the work with a bunch of my VW friends here...

Maybe I'll work on some things this weekend...it's supposed to be a really warm weekend!!!

I think everything you said was clear enough for me to get started. Much appreciated!!!!

...ps...I'm hoping to work up to an engine swap...maybe a 1.8T in my cabby...after I get used to her a bit :)
-Tara
92 Jasmine Cabriolet
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Briano1234
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Post by Briano1234 »

You need to replace the Blue CTS sensor, that causes all kinds of flakiness, It effects the cold start and warm start, replace all your vacuum lines. and get a shift linkage repair kit from ebay, or from a local place, but make sure that you have the linkages with it.

Bad motor mounts can cause the shifter to bind but go with the shifter kits first.

The squeel behind the dash is the speedometer cable, you need to replace it, they squeel like a pig...specially when cold.

Hesitation when it is running is a sign that you may have a in-tank fuel pump that is possibly going bad.

The t-stat and radiator flush is a good Idea, it is one of those piece of mind things.............

The water temp gauge is controlled by the black sensor next to the blue CTS sensor. If that don't fix the gauge then it is most likely the gauge trust me on that one.

With these cars preventitive maint and keeping up witht he standard repairs is a must.

On owning a new one to you, it is better to just go thru the car one part at a time then within afew weeks you have a reliable running car.

Trust me, read my Farging won't start thread from about a year ago....

William will tell you I had a hell of a time for a while......
Briano

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Calimus
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Post by Calimus »

A hell of a time it was. :?
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1lowcab
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Post by 1lowcab »

ditto on what cal and braino said.
it is pretty easy work, just take your time with it and soon you'll be a pro!

one thing to add is don't get parts from autozone.... i've got burnt from them Too many times :roll:
get yer parts here http://germanautoparts.com/ :thumbup:
If you can't beat them, drop the top and pimp by 'em!

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DaisyDub
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Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:41 am
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Post by DaisyDub »

1lowcab wrote:ditto on what cal and braino said.
it is pretty easy work, just take your time with it and soon you'll be a pro!

one thing to add is don't get parts from autozone.... i've got burnt from them Too many times :roll:
get yer parts here http://germanautoparts.com/ :thumbup:
Thanks for the heads up on the parts!!
-Tara
92 Jasmine Cabriolet
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