It is alive....for now.

After being sick for 2 days with what I can only call my stomach hating me sickness. I finally got out to the car. I started it up and then after staring at engine while it was running. I noticed a nipple under the intake manifold that was exposed. After plugging it with my finger and unplugging I noticed the engine surging and evening out. Once I noticed that. I grabbed a vacuum line plug and well plugged it.
Now she runs with no rough idle. I did some driving today. About 15 to 20 mins each time and did that about 3 times. Still no oil pressure light.
So at this moment, my stomach still feels rough, but the car is drivable and seems to be working better than I expected.

So good news all around. Now I need to test it again and run out for some more pepto.

Things that are cheering me up right now.

I needed a little pick me up. So here are somethings that are cheering me up right now cause my car is not.

Ken Block videos:
The full video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ7R_buZPSo&feature=player_embedded
The build
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTB6tpnmveo&feature=related
His car:


This little guy:


And this guy always cheers me up.....I love Panda Dog:

No news and no updates

I have been lazy and busy at the same time.

The car still has a rough idle.
Rough idle causes:
misfiring
vacuum leak
MAF sensor fail

So, since the car had a misfire issue not that long ago, I plan to tackle the first two first. This week I will be picking up new spark plugs and trying those out. I am also going to remove the catch can that I spent a lot of time on. The reasoning behind that is to see if the reducers I placed in there are not big enough to allow the proper air flow thus cause a vacuum leak like feeling.

If I am still in the same boat after those two things, then its time to clean the MAF sensor.

If that doesnt work..(there's a plan for the plan). Then I am going to break down and take to a shop. There is a good one right down the street from me.

Needless to say I have not fully driven the car in some time. I still go out and start her up to keep the battery alive, but that is about it. It has been 6 months since I have fully taken it out. Driving the 3 miles to work does not count.

I miss driving and I miss having a fully working car.

Rain rain go away

With the recent downpours here in the not so sunny state, I have yet to do anything to the car. It sits in the same condition as when I last posted.

I am more and more under the belief that the oil pressure issue is a wiring issue to the sensor at the oil housing. I recently secured the wiring to the sensor more into the plug. After doing so the car ran perfect for around45 minutes without a single light. The next day it ran for 30 minutes and no issue. The following day for 15 mins to work and came on. So it has to be that wiring and that has come loose. Too bad the wiring for the engine is all one harness. So replacing the wiring would be a bigger job that what I am willing to take on at this moment.

With that, I am tempted to get a electrical oil pressure gauge set up that allows me to run both the stock and an aftermarket one. Thus being able to see the stock sensor light come on and the aftermarket gauge to tell me that everything is good to go.

On a rather large side note. The old girl is up for sale on the VwVortex. I am halfway throwing in the towel now in search of a new beast to tackle. If it doesn't gain any interest for sale, then I am sure I will be heading back to the engine to get her fully runing and working like the champ she is.

If you are one of the few that might read this and am interested in the GTI. Here is the original post.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3997167
More up to date pictures are coming once we get a weekend of sunshine.

Later gators.

It's alive......kinda

So I took her for about a 30 minute drive on wednesday night, then another 45 minute drive yesterday and no issues. There is a slight bounce in the rpms at idle which could be caused by either a leak in the vacuum system or a bad Mass Air Flow sensor.

BUT this morning I decide to take the old girl to work with me. A 10 minute drive. As I am pulling into the parking garage bang the oil pressure light comes on.

What can it be?! I am leaning towards a wiring issue more than a oil pressure issue. Since it did not come on during the longer drives. I think I am about to break down and take it to a shop to have it looked at.

But first I might pick up a oil pressure gauge to really see if that is in fact the issue.

Happiness to sadness

Updated parts list from home depot

1/2 heater hose 6 feet long (only length they had)
3/4 heater hose 10 feet long
3/4 plastic t-fitting
3/4 to 1/2 reducer
Vacuum caps in varies sizes

All parts installed and good to go. Pictures to come.

I got a chance to install new plugs and reseal the new valve cover gasket.

Started her up last night. Rough idle to start then smoothed out. I let it run for about 10 minutes before taking it for a drive. Got it out and then 15 minutes down the road the Oil Pressure Light came on yet again. It was a happy moment that got turned to poop.

So I am back to the drawing board with the oil pressure issue.

Key ring fix!

So while I am waiting for parts to be shipped, I decided to finally after 2 years to fix my VW key.
I found a link off VWVortex forums to fix this.
Here it is:
http://stinogle.com/2009/02/12/fixing-a-vw-key-ring/
It is a nice step by step to drill a new hole into the key to attach a key ring.
And here are my bad cell phone pictures. Enjoy!