[Rob P]

Hi,
Just thought i would introduce myself, i recently acquired a 3 door 1992 220 gti 16v Cat with the M series engine, found the car in an open yard, it hadnt moved in 6 years, the sun has destroyed the red paint but but the rest of the car is intact with no rust at all anywhere, the beauty of no salt on the Spanish roads!
Needs full respray and a couple of front seats which i have already sourced and have changed all service parts on engine, it start and revs freely but its 140 horses have escaped somewhere as it feels more like a 1 litre metro rather than the GTI it is.
I think the previous owner changed the ECU, but not sure if its correct, does anyone know what ecu it should have? Its currently got a MKC10092
Will post pictures soon.
Regards
Rob

[GTiJohn]

This in going to be an interesting story so pls take lots of pics!

M-series parts are hard to identify but to help rule them out, the later T-series ECUs are MKC101440/550/890/960.

[GTiJohn]

M-series expert Kevin says that's the correct part number for the ECU.

If it's revving but has no power, could it be fuel-related? Is it worth looking at the fuel pressure first?

[Rob P]

Thank to you both for your help, so looks like the ecu is the correct one, when I got the car I had to change all the engine bay pipes, breathers and all engine sensor as most had perished with the heat and age, when we changed the fuel filter we checked and it had plenty of pressure, does it need to be
within a certain pressure range?
It revs freely up to 6k and drives without spluttering just has no real power! Will post some pics shortly

[Rob P]

[Topcat Tomcat]

Is that what is known as Lightning Cloth? Very nice.

[Rob P]

Yes its identical to the original seats but came from a 216 gti, that was totally intact but scrapped on the eco scheme, missed my chance to canibalize it for parts.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Carburation, ignition or valve timing would be the old fashioned ports of call.

Easy first checks are plugs/ignition leads[resistance check] then look at the valve timing, that is possibly favourite and easy to do.
If it's been stood it may have one or more sticking valves. Not an expert on the M Series by any means, so this is generic advice. But if the engine has hydraulic tappets, they can fail to fill properly in which case replace the oil with a full synthetic. That will make the oil leaks worse though, so only a temporary measure.

[Rob P]

Thanks for that, ive checked the plugs and leads and the resistance is all good, im going to change the oil so ill try the full synthetic and see if it makes it helps, its strange because it starts immediately revs freely, no smoke, it just doesnt pull like it should, it flew through the MOT emissions test aswell.
so will do oil and valve timinig and report back.
Does any body know if its the norm for everygear position to feel like neutral? all the gears are there and go in perfectly and its not notchy but its like changing gear with an umbrella in a bucket of water (literally)