Won't idle

[SteveC]

I sold my Cordoba (2.0 16v SX) to my mate in 1999 with 7000 miles on the clock and today bought it back with about 127,000 miles on the clock. I bought the car direct from Seat - it was an ex-"management" car with the AP brakes and the uprated lowered suspension. It is a little bit tatty now but it's nice to have it back.

The car will be used in the roadgoing class of the South West hillclimb championship which starts at the end of April.

The car has been stood for 4 months and now won't idle - as soon as you let off the throttle it just dies. Can anyone suggest any likely culprits. Is it likely to be a dodgy sensor somewhere???

 

[m0rk]

You've got Paul's old car? Bengal?

Anyway, check the vacuum pipes round the back of the engine (that go into the manifold) make sure they're not split or have fallen off

 

[SteveC]

Ok thanks I'll have a look tomorrow.

I don't know Paul - but no, my mate is called Stuart, and the car is Volcano? (the raspberry colour) Red. It also has the twin headlight conversion which looks good (IMO) but I seem to recall was not very good at lighting up the road... Still, don't need lights for hillclimbing.

I spent 4 years hillclimbing a Suzuki Swift GTi and have justed wasted a year trying to build a Daihatsu Charade GTti but have now had enough of rusty ricers and when my mate said he wanted rid of the Cordy that was it - where do I sign???

 

[andyj]

Might be the ISV (idle stabalisation valve) has packed up.... it's under the plastic cover that guides the HT leads....

 

[SteveC]

Ok, cheers.

 

[SteveC]

I hope its NOT the ISV as SEAT are quoting £233+VAT for it which is nearly £274

Are there any particular hoses that may cause this if leaking? I've replaced the thick and short rubber hose that goes from a black plastic pipe into the TB as it was quite perished but has made no difference.

Is there a simple way to check the ISV or should I just get some diagnostics done on it?

 

[andyj]

I took mine off, and soaked it in petrol for an hour to dissolve the carbon deposits that build up on the inside.

If you can find a 2.0 16v Mk3 Golf in a scrappy, they use the same ISV.

There are several vac hoses that link up to the inlet manifold, have a good look around and see if you can see any that have popped off, or are damaged/perished on the ends.

 

[Bogwoppit]

When my isv went on my mk2 golf I just put white spirit in it, sealed both ends with my fingers, shook it for a few minutes, poured the liquid and cr*p out of it. Then let it dry, refitted it and the problem was fixed.

 

[andyj]

same principle as using petrol if not slightly less flamable !!!

 

[SteveC]

Cheers guys. Sounds worth a try.

When your ISV went, did the engine basically just cut out when you lifted off the throttle?

 

[Fl@pper]

firstly i'd put some fresh petrol in it

check the water too

and let it warm up properly as it may be the inj temp sensor not activating choke etc

 

[Bogwoppit]

When my ISV was coked up the idle was basically all over the place between 1000rpm and 3000rpm hunting all over the place.
It was on a 8v digifant Golf though but the principle would surely be the same?

 

[SteveC]

Mine just won't idle at all - as soon as I let off the throttle it stops dead.

 

[SteveC]

Now idling ok. The solution? Driving like a hooligan for 20 minutes. Set off this morning to take it to VW to take a look, gave it some beans on the way and hey presto, nearing the VW dealer I noticed it wasn't dying at junctions any more. So, I turned around and gave it some more beans on the way home.

Thanks for all the advice.

Next jobs are to sort out the handbrake and find out why it fills up with water when it rains...