[sms1305]

After top end overhaul, I have lousy idle, including hesitation and stalling at times. Here's a couple questions:
1. From the archieved stuff I found a helpful troubleshooting guide at: http://scirocco.dyndns.org/tech/16v/ciseidle/cise_idle_p1.html
2. What is the ideal timing for the 16v 1.8L PL engine? Is 6 deg BTDC best as the article seems to say?
3. My engine has a whine to it that sounds a lot like an automatic transmission with a clogged screen intake. The bentley indicated that the timing belt, which was the reason for the overhaul, should be tensioned so that you can twist it 45 degrees. It seemed pretty tight and it required that the tensioner be rotated to its fully maximum position. There is no more room for adjustment if the belt stretches. Is that too tight? How much pressure should I exert to get the desired amount of twist. I certainly don't want to bust it now.
4. I have a lousy idle. I did the electrical tests on the idle air stabilizer. The center prong of the harness had full 12.7v and the two outer ones had 11.2. Bentley (and the site above) says it should be about 10v. Is this a problem? When testing the valve for continuity, I read 8 ohms on my digital meter. Is that resistance low enough to qualify as "continuity," or is there a problem?
5. Finally, I have an exhaust leak that I can't find. It seems to be in the vicinity of the down pipe or the cat, but it's not obvious. Do they go bad often?
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[CRL87VW16V]

Re: 1.8L 16v CIS-E question (sms1305)

on your digital meter there should be a continuity position on it it will be a wierd looking symbol then when checking for continuity it should beep ! all continuity is a conection from point A to point B like a str8 pice of metal ! 8 ohms is resistance not continuity !

 

[Elwood]

Re: 1.8L 16v CIS-E question (sms1305)

2 - Yes.
3 - Yes. I set mine too tight as well. Loosen it up so that its easy to turn it 45º.
4 - The ISV rarely goes bad, but it does get dirty. Since it seems to have worked before (?), don't worry about it now.
Focus on those things that were recently done to the engine.
It sounds like you have a bad vacuum leak somewhere. Make sure the boot between the airbox and the throttle body didn't get torn as a result of all this work. Check all your vaccum lines. Maybe one got missed somewhere.

 

[Trav]

Re: 1.8L 16v CIS-E question (sms1305)

In addition to what was already stated, if you do indeed have an exhaust leak "upstream" of the O2 sensor, your fuel mixture is likely off. To find the leak, remove the blue cap from your exhaust test-pipe and blow compressed air into the tube.
Here's another link you should have in your stable: http://www.iders.com/alexweb/

 

[ValveFloat]

Re: 1.8L 16v CIS-E question (sms1305)

quote:[HR][/HR]3. My engine has a whine to it that sounds a lot like an automatic transmission with a clogged screen intake. The bentley indicated that the timing belt, which was the reason for the overhaul, should be tensioned so that you can twist it 45 degrees. It seemed pretty tight and it required that the tensioner be rotated to its fully maximum position. There is no more room for adjustment if the belt stretches. Is that too tight? How much pressure should I exert to get the desired amount of twist. I certainly don't want to bust it now.[HR][/HR]​

When I changed my belt I initially set the tension so I could just twist the belt 45deg like the Bentley said. The thing howled like I had a supercharger. Maybe I'm just really strong,

, but I ended up setting the tension so I could twist the belt somewhere between 45 and 90, I'd say 60deg, but I didn't measure it. Hope that helps
JOE


[Modified by ValveFloat, 8:54 AM 2-13-2002]

 

[QB]

Re: 1.8L 16v CIS-E question (sms1305)

I can't really shed more light on your questions except for this: The belt is definately too tight and will destroy your new tensioner quickly. If you can't get it to quiet down with a reasonable amount of tension still there, its toast. As far as exhaust leaks go, the flex joint on the downpipes are known to go but that doesn't mean that's where the leak is. If is was there before you did the work then I'd sad feel around the flex joint. If the exhaust manifold was not installed properly to the head or mated to the down pipe correctly it will leak. Good luck!

 

[sms1305]

Re: 1.8L 16v CIS-E question (sms1305)

Thanks for all your help and references. The post at axleweb was a big help, too.
I'm not sure I was able to properly test the ISV because my dwell didn't change (89) no matter what. I'm not sure I connected up to the right connection. Any help, here? One good point - with all the hoses disconnected, the timing was rock solid. Otherwise, it was hopping about a little +/- 3 deg.
Jet engine sound is gone with a little relaxation of the timing belt.
I did not connect the T from the charcol canister back to the intake boot. That thing makes a big difference! (Boy, do I feel dumb.)
Thanks for all the help.

 

[sms1305]

Re: 1.8L 16v CIS-E question (sms1305)

Thanks for all your help and references. The post at axleweb was a big help, too.
I'm not sure I was able to properly test the ISV because my dwell didn't change (89) no matter what. I'm not sure I connected up to the right connection. Blue & brown single wire?? Any help, here? One good point - with all the hoses disconnected, the timing was rock solid. Otherwise, it was hopping about a little +/- 3 deg.
Jet engine sound is gone with a little relaxation of the timing belt.
I did not connect the T from the charcol canister back to the intake boot. That thing makes a big difference! (Boy, do I feel dumb.)
Thanks for all the help.