Cordoba 1.8L

[Tim]

Hey guys. My bros cordoba is running like arse again. pulled the plugs out and they were completely fouled. Replaced them and it ran ok for a week but now it seems to be getting harder to start and run a bit rough. Im thinking the plugs are probly starting to foul again.
Problem is the car only gets driven once a week maybe. and only short trips. Im sure it really doesnt do it a lot of good.
Any ideas of what i could check to try and solve the issue. Its a really nice car with less than 100k kms on it, But just seems to have problem after problem!

Also the airbag light is on. Do these cordobas have a diagnostic port that i will be able to plug the vag-com into? havent been able to find one anywhere?.

[Golf Loon]

Straight away, 100% fix

On the front water outlet on the top of the motor is a sender unit. It has 4 wires going to it and is held in with a little clip. Unplug the wire, pull out the clip and get a new sender unit. About $50 from VW.

Plug will go straight back in and car will run sweet. New set of plugs, or clean em again and that will be that.

The sender controls the autochoke so just makes it run real rich.

I got my T4 van cheap because that sender was rooted and it was running ****. The guy though he was dumping rubbish on me. $50 later I was

[Tim]

awesome. Ill look into it. Is there any way to test the current unit?

[Tim]

I just looked up the part number

357 919 501 A
temperature sender
for coolant temperature
gauge
and
electronic control unit

would the fact that it controls the temp gauge as well and that is seemingly working ok mean it may not be the cause? or is it still possibly the fault?

[Golf Loon]

There are two sender units, one for the gague with 2 wires and one for the auto choke etc with 4 wires. Make sure you get the right one.

[Tim]

yeah i just spoke to a buddy of mine. said it still could be the issue. Went down to imparts to pick up a new oil filter for my car and asked them about the temp sender then. The part number i gave them was in their database. no stock till next month tho. They quoted me around $15. if its that cheap its definately worth trying! If youre right ill owe u one.
Its also definately the 4 wire one too. Has the black base with the little yellow bit on it.

[Golf Loon]

If its that, you can buy me a beer in Melbie

$15 sounds very cheap for the sender.

[Tim]

they didnt have it in stock. Altho my oil filter from them only cost $12! that was half the price i normally pay for a Hengst one.

Just spoke to Euro car parts. They can get me one down from sydney for $65. I gave them the same part number. Interesting!

[Golfwise]

Thats why us Smarties use Imparts before most others.
Loons on the ball with that prob Tim.

[Golf Loon]

Thanks wise one. I dont know much, but I know about SEATs

[Golfwise]

or Golf CLs then too !

[Golf Loon]

Yup. I can even fix GLs Too.

[Tim]

thanks heaps for your help so far guys.
Just quickly. Did any of you guys know the answer the diagnostic port question? Do these cars have one? Is there a way to diagnose an airbag fault?

[Golf Loon]

What year is the Cordoba?

[Tim]

its a 1997