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21
Engine & Gearbox / Re: MK2 GTI 8v Start Runs Rich Then Dies and Does Not Want to Start Again
Last post by Monkey -
You've said you've done the Fuel Distributor, but have you done the Warm Up Regulator?
The WUR ultimately controls the fuelling based on how hot the car is, if it has failed, it'll almost certainly cause you massive problems.

You can also try unplugging the 5th injector, these have been known to cause more trouble than they're worth, I run with mine unplugged on my quattro and it starts much better.
22
Engine & Gearbox / MK2 GTI 8v Start Runs Rich Then Dies and Does Not Want to Start Again
Last post by Eighty6_GTI -
I’ve been in the process of restoring a 1986 mk2 GTI 8v CIS Kjet. I have done an excess amount of work on it and after fixing the vacuum leaks I am having trouble keeping the engine running. The list of new parts are listed.

-New fuel distributor
-New fuel lines
-New 5th injector
-New fuel pumps (both)
-New injectors
-New Distributor, wires, and plugs
-New ISV

I have cleaned up the grounds the best I can. Both fuel pumps prime. But I have to wait 24 hours to start the car. After 24hr it starts up quickly it hunts for idle 200-ish rpm for a minute or two and smooths out. The car runs incredibly rich. I pulled the spark plugs and they were caked in carbon from the fuel. I’m at a loss at this point. It’s either the fuel differential module or something else. I’m banging my head against the wall. Each step I take is going to the right direction but I’ve hit a wall.
24
Bodywork & Paintwork / Re: Paint work
Last post by nadabsardar -
Worth knowing that the colour match is the easy part. Monza Blue is a solid colour (no metallic), so a decent paint supplier can mix it from the paint code on your plate or by scanning a panel. The tricky bit is that your front wings and doors are 30-odd years old and will have faded a bit, so ask for it to be blended into the original panels rather than butted up against them. That's what makes the difference between "same colour" and "looks like two colours".

If budget's tight, a good compromise is doing the prep yourself (stripping back the bad finish, sanding, dealing with any rust) and paying a small bodyshop just to spray it. Prep is where most of the labour cost is, and a lot of smaller places will quote on that basis. Worth getting a few quotes either way.
26
Members' Cars / Re: G135EPB 8v GTI
Last post by Monkey -
I had the same issue with the rear exhaust bracket bolt the week before the national meet this year!
27
Members' Cars / Re: G135EPB 8v GTI
Last post by ianmac86 -
25th September 2026, Bicester Motion
I booked another trackday! This one was at Bicester Motion through Oli's Secret Trackdays. It's only a small track and was just the afternoon session. They ran it anti clockwise for the first few hours and then swapped it round to clockwise. It was a low numbers day, around 20 cars I think, so there was plenty of track time to be had.

Me, Dan (20v), Woz (20v) and Tom (abf) had all booked on, along with a fella called Tan in an Oak Green 3.2, so there were five Mk2s between us. There was also a Mk1 there which was very similarly matched to my car, which made for some good fun on track.

I managed to get some tuition from Oli. He started by saying "you can drive" 😏 but then followed it up with plenty of advice, which I tried to take on board for the rest of the day.
https://youtu.be/ZIggkDVICp0?is=M6kHjUHO3x7nFL9d
It wasn't a problem free afternoon. I think pretty much all of us had an issue of some sort, but we all managed to drive home in one piece, which is the main thing!

Mine came away with a couple of jobs. The front subframe is very crusty whichbi already knew about, so I've got a powder coated Mk3 subframe and a new old stock mount lined up to replace it. The rear exhaust hanger has snapped the stud, so that needs welding back on and the speedo stopped working. I'm assuming the speedo cable has either broken or come detached.
Dan's heater matrix blew up and he also lost his fans. Woz somehow managed to lose two of the three bolts holding his gearbox bracket on. The final bolt then sheared off and took a chunk of the gearbox casing with it for good measure 😳

So not exactly a trouble free trackday, but plenty of track time, laughs and all the cars made it home under their own steam. By old VW trackday standards, I'd probably call that a success! Definitely recommend Oli's Secret Trackdays and will book through him again in future.

Oh yeah, the photographer was class 👌🏻








28
Members' Cars / J858KLY 20vt Project
Last post by ianmac86 -
Bought this recently as a bit of a project, with the idea of building a 20 valve. That decision was made considerably easier by the fact it came with a BAM engine!


The car itself is a five door Driver, originally a 1.6 auto. The previous owner had already started the conversion and had basically stripped the car right back. The original engine and gearbox were removed, along with the dash, interior, looms, sound deadening, dash and even seat belts! The engine had been mounted in the engine bay on the correct mounts, but that was about as far as the conversion had got.

So what I've really bought is a big Mk2 Golf jigsaw puzzle that somebody else has started. Most of the parts that were removed have since been given to me, so hopefully the majority of it is there to put back together, although I'm sure I'll find plenty missing along the way.

Condition wise, it seems to be a pretty solid shell in the places that matter. The rear turrets look good, the fuel filler area looks good and the rest of the underside seems reasonably solid for a Mk2. Which is the main reason I went for this car. I had plenty of pictures and videos sent over before buying it and although it's certainly not perfect, it didn't appear to be hiding thousands of pounds worth of welding.

There are still a few bits to sort. It needs a jacking point repairing, a patch on the sill and a small repair around the tailgate plinth. Cosmetically it desperately needs a good clean and polish, so it'll be interesting to see how well it comes back up. I've got no plans to make it perfect cosmetically though. I want something I can use and enjoy without worrying too much about it.




The engine is a BAM 1.8T 20V, believed to have done around 115k from a TT. It apparently comes with a decent amount of service history, which I'm still waiting to get hold of being maintained by an Audi specialistin High Wycombe.

As I bought it, the main useful bits were:
• BAM 1.8T 20V engine
• 02A CGY Corrado gearbox
• Russell Swann converted BAM CE2 loom
• BAM ECU
• Mk3 VR6 fuel tank


There was no clutch or flywheel and the engine had essentially just been mounted in place (i assume for tranaportation), so there's still plenty to do before it i can think about turbing the key.

I've started collecting parts for it and so far I've got:
• G60 flywheel
• Sachs VR6 clutch
• Strengthened clutch arm
• Hydraulic clutch setup from a mk4
• Mk3 subframe and ABF rear engine bracket
• Sytec uprated fuel pump setup
• Oversized K04 TIP
• 600 x 300 x 76 intercooler
• boost pipework
• G60 front brake setup
• SEAT Ibiza stubby brake master cylinder
• INA timing belt and water pump kit
• Non AC auxiliary belt setup
• Trackslag 3 inch K04 downpipe
• Trackslag full 3 inch exhaust
The converted CE2 loom was done by Russell Swann, which is a good starting point. The ECU has just come back from Adlai Phillip for the immobiliser removal and the necessary deletes.

I'm sure theres still a fairly long list of little bits to find and work out along the way, as well as putting the interior, dash and wiring back together. I know there will be plenty of things I've not even realised I'm missing yet!

For now the plan sounds pretty simple. Get it running, driving, MOT'd and road legal as a 20VT Mk2 and then see what I think of it.

I'm not completely sure what I'll do with it if i even complete it. I might keep it as a road car and daily it, turn it into more of a track car, sell it once it's finished, or possibly transplant the 20VT setup into my red Mk2. I still love the ABF in that car though, so I'm in no rush to pull apart something that already works.

For now this one can be the project. Put the jigsaw back together, get it running and see where it goes from there 🙂
30
Mk2 Parts for Sale & Breaking / Re: Mk2 16v Golf & Jetta Parts For Sale
Last post by nadabsardar -
Hi James, is the 16v stuff still available? The thread's been quiet for a while, so I wasn't sure. I'm mainly after a 16v head or inlet manifold, and I'd like to know whether the cam and timing gear are included or already gone. I can pay postage or collect if that's easier. Cheers