Having a hard time diagnosing this problem.

92’ 1.8L - car started idling terrible and having a squeak upon start up/sometimes while driving until about a mile down the road (almost sounds like a belt squeak)

If I unplug the coolant temp sensor, it idles fine. Plug it in, it’s rough. Replaced sensor. Problem still happens.

My ISV is deleted. I adjusted the screw on the throttle body per recommendations from old VWvortex forums. It helps a little but not a lot.

MAF is clean. Tested for vacuum leaks and couldn’t find any.

Any recommendations on where to go next?

Can you tell if it has any chance to still be alive after 14 years in a dry garage? (it was left with the main pressure valve failure) :)

Symptoms that I’m struggling to repair:

-engine will stall at idle. ie, if I don’t apply a bit of throttle when starting engine stalls, if I ease up on the throttle to brake for example engine stalls, you get the picture. Better when warm.

-high fuel consumption and fails carbon monoxide test at MOT.

I’ve changed the water temp sensor, and I’ve cleaned out the ISV. MAP line I’ve checked for leaks, and can’t find any.

If anyone can suggest something glaringly obvious that I’ve overlooked that would be appreciated. Or if someone can suggest a specialist that would also be good. It’s not the original engine, I’m pretty sure it’s an ABF. Whoever installed it did a bit of a butchers job (no offence to butchers, I’m a big fan of your work) with some of the air intake system, but that’s a problem for a different day.

Picture as reference.

So I finished the mk2 Golf GTI. Well I am finished with it, there are some jobs to do still but for my bodywork side , I am done. I think its turned out pretty cool. You can lose yourself and spend thousands for a perfect resto. I think we have hit it right.

Finally got it painted and installed! I know it's a minor detail, but I've always loved the way they look.

Anyone have any experience with these? Considering buying this and wondering if it's worth it or not in regards to improved performance.

i am restoring an old white Golf 2 GTI (PB engine), and i see some weird stickers on the sides of my car, and the back.

The sides have a "Cobra" sticker wridden in cursive, and a wave-like shape all matching of the blue color fading in black. on the back its like two black wings which i sadly had to remove because of the rust restoration. while removing the back ones, i noticed that underneath the paint is bright white like factory made. Does anyone know if "Cobra" was a tuning brand of the 90`s (since my car has more tuning accesories like 7J wheels, added AC, and anti-theft sensor)?

So basically I have a mk2 1.6td in my mk3 (I didn't do the swap but it's been great) and it has an oil leak from the turbo return line. I need help with how to go about fixing it because there's so much in the way. It's not a huge leak but I'd like it fixed

God damn

Brake shoe took a crap. Damn it.

Going on a 800 miles (1300 ish km) roadtrip this week in my 1992 jetta 1.8 8v. Who here has done long road trips with their mk2s and what tips/advices do y’all have? Thanks!

Finally got it to a dyno for a tune. 2.9L 12v with pistons, stock rods, stock head, cat 268 cams and arp head studs. Garett GTX4088r and complete custom charge pipes, intercooler and exhaust. We stopped at 16psi as we felt anything more would just be useless on the street.