Just bought a 1989 TT 2+2 manual with 86K on the clock, when its under load it flutters, my mechanic thinks it may be a vacuum leak or possibly something electrical. anyone got any ideas or have something similar happen to them? (Not talking about turbo flutters, the engine itself flutters)
Mmm, flutter > rapid variation in the pitch or amplitude of a signal, especially of recorded sound. Was the stereo on? Assume you mean missing under load
How much boost you running? And how are your coil packs/sparkplugs for health? Ignition breakdown can sometimes cause that in my experience...
These are great question that i wish i had an answer to for you haha, currently the front of the engine is pulled off ready to do a timing belt, once i put it back together im gonna start chasing it down. Doing timing belt, all asseccory belts, oil filter, oil, fuel filter, spark plugs, As far as i am aware the coils are fine, but i do have spare coils lying around somewhere in the spare parts i got when i bought it!
Where are you located? It sounds like a misfire. If you’re in Sydney bring it by, shouldn’t be a big deal to diagnose...
Live in Broken Hill mate! middle of bloody nowhere haha Me and my mechanic gonna have a look at it properly this coming weekend to hopefully figure it out!
While you have the motor down for service, clean, remove oxidation on all the connection pins and mating connectors for your coils and injectors. They are renown for building up corrosion over the years. Also do a comp and if you have a leak down test. Nice to know the health of the bores and valve seats. Make sure the timing belt is back on though before cranking the engine. I can't remember whether these things are interference or not however always a good idea to only crank an engine with the timing belt on and in the right spot. If you are going to use the old plugs, clean and gap. Happy Zeding
As in, it hesitates only when you first push the throttle or it struggles for a while? Is that at all revs or just around certain revs?
Fine at idle, struggles under throttle starts up and idles perfectly fine but just struggling when on the throttle, about to do timing belt, thermostat, water pump, spark plugs, oil, oil filter and fuel filter next weekend, just waiting on the parts to come, put it all back together and see if its still doing it, if it is ill start chasing down possible causes.
Does it start to fail above 2,500 RPM? That's a nice grocery list you have there mate but what stands out to me is the fuel filter. It's a possible culprit for your lack of power under load but I'd expect misfiring and rough running. Same with the spark plugs - you'd be running rough if they are crook. Change the fuel filter and plugs before you do anything else then go for a drive. The other parts need replacing for long term reliability but unless your timing belt has slipped a few teeth replacing those other bits won't sort your issue.
Late reply but the problem has been fixed, timing was out a few teeth on a couple of the cams and caused its bad running, now runs much better and is no longer backfiring, running rough or smelling rich. New plugs, new fuel filter, oil change and oil filter, cleaned air filter, new timing belt, new drive belts and it runs way better. But now i have other issues to sort out haha
That sounds worse than a flutter. Must have been some flutter. There always seems to be something to fix. Glad you fixed this one.