Finally got myself a VR6 (but not accelerating right)

[Quakes]

Hi all,

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this. I have been stalking this forum for some time and after a 2l 8v GL and having fun in that (till a drunk guy smashed into me and fled the scene leave my mk3 as bent as the soviet sickle) I waited till I could get myself a VR6 that will be a daily run for about a year then become my project NA build. I finally got my hands on a 1994 VR6 and I couldnt be happier, well.. I got it with 187000 on the clock and it needs work, but that's what i'm looking forward too. Pics to follow,

My concern is that it does not accelerate as a VR6 should, yes I know its 12 years old but it feels like it has a miss or something is just not right. On my drive home after picking her up, I was on the Monash and couldn't wait to open it up but as soon as I got on the highway I put my foot down and it was sluggish. The strange thing is that while accelerating it had these bursts of power like the engine was trying to break free. Im going to take her to the Macky to have it seen to but I wanted to know if anyone had experienced this before?

Im planning a engine recon, suspension rebuild, respray and interior restore. Really looking forward to this build and getting this car first in a spotless condition then moving on to a NA powerhouse.

Thanks for your time and input.

[GoLfMan]

could be plugs or coilpack mate. If I were you I'd change the plugs and see if that makes a difference and go from there

[HaydEn]

A good service of everything, (leads, plugs, coilpack, fuel filter, oil, oil filter and air filter) should bring back alot in the old girl.

[Quakes]

Thanks allot gents, Volkswerke is just around the corner from me so that will be my first stop, well i frist got to get her to vic roads so that I can get her registered then its gonna be time for some serious TLC!!!

[mk3pete]

NA powerhouse is generally not the term used to describe vr6
take it from me
spend the money on a charger after you fix what needs to be done!

[SpeciP3]

May also be an afm or O2 sensor problem. I have a similar problem with mine, can't afford a new afm ATM tho. Try disconnecting it and put your foot down then and see if there is any difference. It'll idle like crap tho and stall.
Also check fuel consumption (when you do get to drive it), as this may also be indicative of a sensor problem.
Good luck with it

[KKK VR6]

X3 on the service.
But usually its a crap sensor/s that cause things like that. Could be O2, maf anything really, I'd say get a scan done at the same time.

[Hakan]

I had the exact issue with my vr6 its like its lag lag lag POWER lag POWER . mine ended up being my coilpack and cam angle sensor next to the coilpack.also as KKK VR6 and others mentioned could be o2 ,maf. try those first after a major service and see how you go good luck

[Quakes]

Thanks so much for replies guys, defs will look into the MAF and coilpack. I also noted that the drop in power only comes when the car is at operating temperature. Today I cleaned her up and brought some shine back and after 4 hours of hard work took her for a spin.

When cold it rode like a bat out of hell, but when I got to normal operating temp the drop in power came. I also noted a in o2 in my odometer on start up.

Her are some pics..I know before and after shots are awesome but trust me I'm to ashamed to put up the before pics. Proper ones to follow.

[anthony--t]

What you read as In o2 or how it dispays IN02 has nothing to do with o2 sensors. It's actually a service function so after x (cant remember exactly) amount of kms that reads as due for a service until its reset. Nothing to worry about there.

Car looks tops! I dig white mk3s

[Quakes]

Thanks anthony--t, Im going to take the car to a proper VW macky but I really want to have a go at doing it myself. Yeah the white ones always get me.

[anthony--t]

No worries mate. Here's a link to some info about it although I read it in my Bentley manual.
VW Jetta MKIII/MK3: in o2 on odometer|Volkswagen Bora
If that link doesn't work I apologise I'm on my phone.

Hopefully it's an easy and cheap fix for you so you can start enjoying it I would assume as already stated that it's a bad sensor or coil pack or something.

[Quakes]

Thanks again Anthony--t. Greatly appreciated

[anthony--t]

Happy to help dude.

[Quakes]

OK a quick update, Ive been doing some scorching around on the interwebs and allot of posts are pointing towards the ICV (idle control valve) so i thought to myself last night get some carb cleaner pull it out and clean it out. I open up the bonnet and just before Im about to go for gold, I get a call from a old buddy of mine who heard about my cars issues and told me its defs gonna be the MAF. He said wait till the the car is at its sh*ty idle stage then unplug the MAF and there should be a difference. So I did it, and bob's your uncle' twice removed cousin, there is no difference in the rev's not even a flicker. Im going to purchase a new MAF and pop it cause apparently that was a second hand one that was used.

I also have another question, My drivers key barrel is stuffed and from what Ive been reading there is an eccentric that could just be replaced the get everything back up and running, but I dont know if that applies to me cause I can remove the whole key barrel from my door by just turning and pulling,I have attached a photo.