Well. I now own a sweet non-running MK3.
I tried to look for vacuum leaks with my propane torch with no luck.
I’ll check the timing when the weather breaks again 
Anyone know what sensor is on the drivers side of the head above the trans?
Its got a loose spade terminal on it?
Also of note, the car runs much longer if I crank the A/C.
I’m going to dig up a code scanner to see what the CEL’s are too.
Do any stores loan them out?
they wont lend them out, something about deleting codes can get them in trouble :shrug: thats why I bought mine, I have a cheap hand scanner that does any make model car, and I have Vag-com (vag car specific) Ill PM you my cell if you want to get me your address i can see about swinging by… sorry I didnt get around to responding to your PM. been super busy hoping to close on are new house Friday 
Mike
FYI: I told the former owner that his mechanic just forgot to plug in a sensor and it now runs great… 
No worries.
I remember closing on my house… TWICE.
1st time They gave me closing cost assistance…
Home owners lawyer screwed up. and I had to close again a few days later w/o the closing cost assitance that I had spent 
There is nothing better than coming up with a $3000 you do not have in 1 day
:tup: to badnewsmini for spending some qaulity time with the car and I.
So what’d you figure out? FUBAR? Wait, it’s a VW so SNAFU.
Throws a MAF and cam postion code.
Distributor was 180deg out also.
He has a spare MAF that he wants to try to see if it will
get it runing right.
ya no problem now I just need to buy flowers for the wife 
and your lack of tools is mind blowing :P, next time i swing by with the MAF Im bringing at-least a top half of my box.
but nice meeting you.
lol.
I do have a bunch of tools…
My problem is that they are scattered throughout the garage/house/cars.
I like to gather all the tools I need to do some work, then start another project and steal from the last projects tools until I have 4 projects and no tools.
Add to that, the short duration work sessions and new “honey do” chores and it makes for the mess.
If my garage did not flood, I would keep my toolbox outside
Does the wife drink? 
so did you get this thing running right or what?
no, I didnt bring my spare parts box…
“I’ve never tried to do it the wrong way before” - badnewsmini
I think that was the timing belt quote of the day.
I spent another 30 minutes on it.
Compression is ~140-170 or so across the pistons
(without the fuel pump relay removed :picard:)
The Cam sensor on the dist. appears to be open. I was using a crappy DMM leads, but if there was some resistance, it should have showed some reading.
The voltage on pins 1 and 3 of the connector was nearly 13V. I read somewhere that the max should be 10.6V ??
The MAP is shot. One of the little tabs looks like it has broken.
So, With the help of a little carb cleaner and pumping the gas pedal, it starts and will stay running so long as I keep it above 1500rpm. It sounds like crap with some popping and crackling sound to the exhaust.
Could the Cam sensor keep the car from running @ idle and starting?
With both the MAP and CPS unplugged, it does not really change how the car acts.
bump.
I had this wonderful auto running for about 5 minutes now…
comp was 180,170,190,180.
The only CEL i get is for the MAF being broken.
But, when I started it I had to turn on the blower and a/c to get it to idle.
Any idea what happens when its turned on and why it would not idle on its own w/o it?
I think my next step will be cleaning up the grounds, cleaning the TB, and trying to find the coolant temp sensor in the shareware vag-com.