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Topic: Jetta 89 stalls while driving and only in the cold. (Read 287 times) previous topic - next topic

Jetta 89 stalls while driving and only in the cold.

Hi fellow MK2 owners.
 I'm having a problem with my 89 Jetta. Just as the title mentions the car dies on me while I´m driving it, it starts to sputter a bit and once i put the car into neutral the rpms drop completely and the car just dies. If I pull over or I start the with its inertia it starts right back up. The car used to do this to me at all times but now it only does it in the morning from 3am-8am. It doesn´t matter at what speed I'm going, the only constant seems to be the temperature. It´s an 89 jetta, 1.8L 8V, carbed engine.
I've changed the dizzy, ECM, spark plugs, coil, spark plug wires, fuel pump, fuel pump relay, X-load relay and serviced the carb.
Any ideas on what could be wrong with my car?

Re: Jetta 89 stalls while driving and only in the cold.

Reply #1 –
I had a similar problem on a 1.6 engine golf with an automatic choke. Once the engine stopped the choke released and the car started straight away. I don't know if you have an automatic choke so it might not be relevant to you.

Re: Jetta 89 stalls while driving and only in the cold.

Reply #2 –
Quote from: johnapril on
Hi fellow MK2 owners.
 I'm having a problem with my 89 Jetta. Just as the title mentions the car dies on me while I´m driving it, it starts to sputter a bit and once i put the car into neutral the rpms drop completely and the car just dies. If I pull over or I start the with its inertia it starts right back up. The car used to do this to me at all times but now it only does it in the morning from 3am-8am. It doesn´t matter at what speed I'm going, the only constant seems to be the temperature. It´s an 89 jetta, 1.8L 8V, carbed engine.
I've changed the dizzy, ECM, spark plugs, coil, spark plug wires, fuel pump, fuel pump relay, X-load relay and serviced the carb.
Any ideas on what could be wrong with my car?

Have you checked the red and grey thermo switches on the top coolant hose are working?  Is the earth to the choke housing intact and showing continuity?
As the fuel pump is mechanical I'm not sure how you could have changed the fuel pump relay.  How did you 'Service the carb'?  Did you strip it and replaced the gaskets?  Did you replace the vaccum hoses?  Is the waxstat solenoid on the carb clicking when you put power through it?