I'm thinking that it's time to find another 16v harness and just start from square-one...
Anyone have a 16v CIS-E harness? ----- Original Message ---- > From: Chad Rebuck <[email protected]> > To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list <[email protected]> > Sent: Tue, October 19, 2010 9:41:08 PM > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] General Li Update > > My car used to have a intermittent bad connection at the > differential pressure regulator if I recall correctly. It would act > sluggish until I wiggled the connectors on the side of the air intake and > restarted the engine. I think the ignition key off/on resets something in > the computer. The coolant temp sensor circuit also plays a role in the > air fuel ratio so I'd check those out. > > On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 12:54 PM, Matthew Yip <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I changed the knock box but have the same issues. I'm starting to think > > that it's a weak O2 sensor. > > > > Here's my logic which is probably flawed. > > > > The O2 sensor has a heater - when I start the car from cold, it fires up > > easily due to the cold-start valve. Perhaps 30 seconds after cold-start, the > > engine stumbles and is very sluggish to respond to the throttle. It remains > > sluggish until the engine temp warms up which keeps in thinking that the O2 > > sensor is bad. > > > > The problem is worse when it rains which points to a bad ground as well but > > I'm at a loss about where to find that issue. > > > > Aarrgggghhh!!! Maybe I should knuckle under and buy a car built in this > > century. > > > > - Matthew - > > > > On Oct 1, 2010, at 21:16, Denis Goldman <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Matt, > > > > > > I had that same intermittent power-loss/limp-home/acts-as-no-o2-sensor is > > > connected gremlin at one point - turned out, after months of trial and > > > error, swapping parts one at a time, to be the knock box under the > > passenger > > > side of the windshield (this was a CIS-E 1.8 16v, I think motronic has > > the > > > 02/Knock CPU as part of the main CPU on the driver's side). > > > > > > The key cycle you mentioned was the same for me....unlike a torn air > > boot, > > > the problem often went away with a quick flip of the ignition. > > > > > > Swap it out with a good one if you have access to someone with an > > extra... > > > > > > Of course, if you have motronic, then disregard what I said above. :) > > > > > > Regards, > > > Denis > > > > > > On Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at 12:27 PM, Matthew Yip <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > >> ITA allows for a final-drive change but it's verbotten to "mix and > > match" > > >> the > > >> internals. I run a 4.25 which, according to Shine, is the wrong final > > >> drive - > > >> wrong for his application but fine for me. > > >> > > >> > > >> I've considered a newer car and the myriad of benefits. The issue is > > that > > >> I'm > > >> flush with antique VW bits - most of which are worthless to anyone who > > >> isn't an > > >> "enthusiast". That having been said, I'd love to get into an E30 BMW > > >> (newer but > > >> not so new that it's fully computer controlled) or an Integra (new > > enough > > >> to be > > >> tunable). > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> My street 16v GTi seems to have a black cloud hovering over it - I've > > >> touched > > >> virtually EVERYTHING and yet it spites me. It starts and runs GREAT > > until > > >> it > > >> drops into some sort of low-power mode, sputtering and stumbling. All I > > >> have to > > >> do is cycle the key and it goes away BUT I have no idea where to start. > > It > > >> drops into that mode for no apparent reason and all temperatures > > although > > >> it's > > >> more "sensitive" when it's cool and wet. AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Give me > > >> something > > >> broken - I abhor these intermittent problems. > > >> > > >> Matthew > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> ----- Original Message ---- > > >>> From: Les Noriel <[email protected]> > > >>> To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list <[email protected]>; > > >>> [email protected] > > >>> Sent: Fri, October 1, 2010 11:21:39 AM > > >>> Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] General Li Update > > >>> > > >>> Matthew, > > >>> Does ITA allow for any gearing changes or do they have to remain > > stock? > > >>> > > >>> Over revving the motor--Many of the newer cars once again have engine > > >>> management limitations that prevent that from occurring on newer > > engines. > > >>> Again, another advantage to newer cars. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> Regarding older cars, Rafi Kazanjian of Eurosport campaigns a MK1 here > > >> on the > > >>> West Coast. The car is almost entirely stock. The balance and > > lightweight > > >> of > > >>> the car (Along with his driving skills) makes him competitive against > > >> many of > > >>> the newer cars. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> I had a similar electrical experience on the road with my MKI many > > years > > >> ago. > > >>> It did not matter what I did, the wire would dislodge from the > > >> alternatior. I > > >>> replaced the cable, used zip ties, etc. I even created a small metal > > >> bracket > > >>> and screwed it down to prevent the cable from coming off. That was to > > no > > >> avail > > >>> as the metal bracket broke one day while driving away from a stop > > light. > > >> That > > >>> car was cursed and refused to be fixed. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> Good luck this season. > > >>> -----Original Message----- > > >>>> From: Matthew Yip <[email protected]> > > >>>> Sent: Oct 1, 2010 6:46 AM > > >>>> To: [email protected] > > >>>> Subject: [a2-16v-list] General Li Update > > >>>> > > >>>> It's been several years since I've written any updates. I'm > > astonished > > >> that > > >>>> y'all find my drivel interesting. Be honest - many of you have kids > > now > > >> and > > >>> need > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> something to read that will drone the kiddies to sleep. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> Nothing too spectacular has happened in the past 3-4 years of racing. > > >> The car > > >>> is > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> becoming less competitive bc of new cars being classed into ITA. I'm > > >> not > > >>> pleased > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> but understand that we can't stand in the way of progress. What I am > > >> seeing > > >>> that > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> annoys me is that the EFI cars are getting all the breaks while the > > old > > >> junk > > >> > > >>>> like the CIS-E or carbureted cars are getting left behind. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> After 6, yes SIX, seasons, I finally replaced the otherwise stock > > >> engine 3 > > >>> years > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> ago. The "race" motor is now a .020 overviews 1.8l 16v with porting > > as > > >>> allowed > > >>> > > >>>> in IT - 1" in from the outside edge of the head. Otherwise everything > > >> else is > > >>> > > >>>> OE, just fresh and new. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> The results of the fresh engine amazing. All that time spent trying > > to > > >> eke > > >>> out > > >>> > > >>>> momentum paid off. The engine was worth a good second PLUS it as > > great > > >> to > > >>> final > > >>> > > >>>> motor past other cars on the straights. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> 2 years ago, I finally ditched my ancient Koni single adjustable for > > >> some > > >>>> Bilstein Race shocks. Again, what a HUGE difference. The car actually > > >> stuck > > >>> and > > >>> > > >>>> I found myself gaining in otherwise faster cars in the twisties. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> The past years have had a few "moments" as well. > > >>>> > > >>>> The last race of 2007, a car spun on the first lap in T9. I spun to > > >> avoid or > > >>> I'd > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> have shortened his car by several feet. I took out the tyre wall with > > >> the LF > > >>> but > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> the car was unfazed. Unfortunately, going down the front straight, I > > >> saw a > > >>> flash > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> of orange which told me that the hood pin had come loose. Worse, > > >> entering T3, > > >>> > > >>>> the car go loose on me, I jumped the inside kerbing, giving the car > > >> behind > > >>> me, > > >>> > > >>>> the SAME that that I'd spun to avoid, a great view of the underside > > of > > >> the > > >>>> General Li as I balanced the car on the RR tyre. I slid to a stop in > > a > > >> cloud > > >>> of > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> dust, heard squealing tyres and WHAM - Earl's 240 pummeled the > > driver's > > >> side > > >>> of > > >>> > > >>>> my car, side-to-side. I restarted my car and left the scene in a > > hurry > > >> to > > >>> avoid > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> having other cars find me in the fog. Ducking into the pits, I > > >> frantically > > >>>> motioned to some friends (I still don't normally travel with crew) to > > >> take a > > >> > > >>>> look at the hood - they gave me a "Come back in 2 laps" signal. 2 > > laps > > >>> later, I > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> returned and they graciously taped my hood shut and I returned to the > > >> melee. > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> The final outcome wasn't pretty but it wasn't hopeless either. The > > >> drivers' > > >> > > >>>> side of the car was beat up and the rocker panel was bent at the > > >> trailing > > >>> edge > > >>> > > >>>> of the door BUT the car was still running without any pulling, > > rubbing > > >> or > > >>> fluid > > >>> > > >>>> leaks. Earl's 240 went back to the paddock b/c of a bent tie rod - > > >> Germany > > >>> 2, > > >>> > > >>>> Japan 0. > > >>>> > > >>>> Over the winter, I replaced the fender and Auto Expectations (owned > > by > > >> the > > >>>> former owners of Datsun Dynamics) pulled the major dents in the LR > > >> quarter > > >>>> panel. I retained the door and the dents in the rocker panel for > > >> asthetics. > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> For the first race of 2008, we raced in a misty pseudo-rain. A few > > >> laps into > > >>> > > >>>> the race, I was running with Doug's MR2 and eating up the track. In > > T7 > > >> on > > >>>> Summit Point, Doug started a rather lurid spin - anticipating that > > he'd > > >> spin > > >>> off > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> to driver's right, I hit the grass on driver's left. Nope - wrong > > idea > > >> - > > >>> Doug's > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> car instead came back to driver's left and found the RF of my car. I > > >> tagged > > >>> the > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> RR of his MR2, spinning both of us surprisingly quickly. Per usual, > > I > > >> drove > > >> > > >>>> away, bouncing off the rev limiter in the grass. Doug got the short > > >> end of > > >>> that > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> contact with about 6 degrees of toe-out in the RR - Germany 3, Japan > > 0. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> The rest of 2008 went well with some oddities starting show up as the > > >> car > > >>> ages. > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> In particular was an infuriating miss during hard right turns - this > > is > > >>>> indicative of fuel starvation so I started adding more and more fuel > > to > > >> the > > >>>> car. The problem persisted and I started wondering if something in > > the > > >> fuel > > >> > > >>>> system was starting to fail - I HATE intermittent problems with a > > >> passion. > > >>> Then > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> Brian, my crew and now fellow competitor (or maybe it was Bob, one of > > >> my > > >>> other > > >>> > > >>>> crew and Brian's Dad) who noticed that the main electrical connection > > to > > >> the > > >> > > >>>> alternator was broken. The tab was completely broken away BUT > > because > > >> of > > >>>> metal-memory, it touched the connector. However, under hard right > > >> turns, the > > >>> > > >>>> connector was "pulled" away from the alternator - since the voltage > > was > > >>> marginal > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> (thought the alternator was just junk), the car WAS cutting out in > > hard > > >> right > > >>> > > >>>> turns but it was electrical, NOT fuel. Ugh - problem solved although > > >> we > > >>>> encountered the same problem in 2009. At least we'd seen it before > > and > > >> Bob, > > >> > > >>>> whom we all refer to as the Mad Scientist (Think Dexter of Dexter's > > >>> Laboratory) > > >>> > > >>>> was prepared with a full electrical kit including lugs specifically > > >> sized for > > >>> > > >>>> the alternator. > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> As a whole, 2008 was an exercise in frustration - the car is just as > > >> fast as > > >>> it > > >>> > > >>>> was in the past 1:31-1:30 on Summit Point Main but the new cars are > > >> getting > > >>>> significantly faster. The lap record on SP Main is now in the 1:26 > > >> range > > >>> (might > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> even be in the 1.25s - I try to put that out of my mind or I'm just > > >>> depressed). > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> Starts are still my favorites, especially charging down the middle, > > >> scaring > > >>> the > > >>> > > >>>> daylights out of the smaller cars. At the end of 2008, Ryan, my > > other > > >> crew > > >>> and > > >>> > > >>>> soon-to-be Brian's brother-in-law, thanked me for not making him do > > >> bodywork > > >> > > >>>> over the winter - that's gratitude for you...<G> > > >>>> > > >>>> In Fall 2008, Brian, my crew member, decided to go racing and I > > offered > > >> him > > >>> the > > >>> > > >>>> General Li for School. He took to the car like a duck to water which > > >> was bad > > >>> > > >>>> for me. Actually it was amusing to watch the car going around the > > >> track > > >>> without > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> me driving. Some of my fellow competitors mentioned that the car > > >> looked fast > > >>> - > > >>> > > >>>> probably b/c it was at least 50 lbs lighter without me driving. I > > >> reminded > > >>> all > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> of them that my bumpers are both big and strong. During the race and > > >> the end > > >>> of > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> Driver's School, Brian and Jesse, son of one of my ITA competitors, > > >> were > > >>> running > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> inches apart. As they came thru T10, we only saw the General Li - > > poor > > >> Todd, > > >>> > > >>>> Jesse's Dad exclaimed "Oh, no - Jesse must have gone off". About the > > >> same > > >>> time > > >>> > > >>>> that he said that, Jesse popped out from behind the General Li and > > >> suddenly, > > >> > > >>>> there were 2 cars...very, very cool. > > >>>> > > >>>> 2009 was another exercise in frustration - Brian's car wasn't > > completed > > >> so we > > >>> > > >>>> shared the General Li during the season. At the first race, we had > > >> shifter > > >>>> problems and ended up changing the clutch. That wasn't the problem > > and > > >> at > > >>> VIR, > > >>> > > >>>> the issues just got worse as the trans had no interest in finding > > >> gears. > > >>> This > > >>> > > >>>> made for interesting racing since gear changes had to be very slow and > > >>>> deliberate. This relegated me towards the back of the pack and made > > >> racing > > >>> more > > >>> > > >>>> > > >>>> of a chore than a fun competition. When we (actually just me) > > returned > > >> from > > >> > > >>>> VIR, we (this time ALL of us) pulled the trans and sent it to a buddy > > >> who is > > >>> a > > >>> > > >>>> VW Master Tech and a transaxle guru. The verdict was that the 1-2 > > >> slide had > > >> > > >>>> worn along with a clutch disc that delaminated - something about an > > >> over-rev > > >>> on > > >>> > > >>>> downshift - couldn't have been me <G>. > > >>>> > > >>>> Once the trans was fixed, the light at the end of the tunnel started > > >> getting > > >> > > >>>> brighter although racing a now "vintage" VW has many challenges. > > >> During one > > >> > > >>>> race, whilst racing with a pack of cars, the car just shut off - the > > >> coil > > >>> wire > > >>> > > >>>> popped off - something that happened many years ago so we zip-tied > > the > > >> wire > > >>> in > > >>> > > >>>> place - apparently that wasn't enough. Scratch one DNF into the > > books. > > >>>> > > >>>> Updates for 2010 to follow shortly. > > >>>> > > >>>> - Matthew - > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> _______________________________________________ > > >>>> a2-16v-list mailing list > > >>>> [email protected] > > >>>> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > >>>> For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > >>> a2-16v-list mailing list > > >>> [email protected] > > >>> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > >>> For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > >>> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> a2-16v-list mailing list > > >> [email protected] > > >> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > >> For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ > > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > a2-16v-list mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > > For list archives, see listinfo link above. > > > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above. >
