Volkswagen: Rev meter problem, vw golf 1, vaccuum

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi Ron,

I have a VW Golf 1.4L, 16V, 2001. I have two problems with it.
Firstly, when I started the car in the morning it worked fine. However, after two minutes of driving I stopped at a stop light and the engine just stalled. I tried starting it up again, it started but the rev meter went up and down and stalled again. I tried a third time to start it up and this time the engine stayed on but the rev meter kept on going up and down and felt like the engine was just about to switch off the closer the rev went to zero. But the engine did stay on. Now every time I start the engine in the morning the rev meter delays for a second before it goes just above 1 and then straight down below 1 going towards zero (feeling like it is just about to stall) then up again until it settles just below 1. Before the problem, when stating in the mornings the rev meter used go straight up just above 1 and stay there for about two minutes and then settle just below 1. Would you have any idea what the problem might be?
The second problem is that when a press the gas pedal I hear a hiss sound coming from the engine just before the engine revs. Is that normal in a VW Golf?

Thank you for your time,
Alum.   

Answer -
Hi Alum.

Most likely, it is an ignition problem.  In addition, the rev meter gets it's information from the ignition system.

The likely cause faulty ignition wires/coil(s) or, quite simply, spark plugs.

1) Pull out a spark plug, and check the condition.  If they are fouled, replace them.

--- This should fix the problem on both the rev meter and the stalling------

Item 2:

The hissing sound.

1) This is not normal.  Carefully have someone rev the motor, and look under the hood to see if you can pinpoint the sound.  Pay particular attention to the vaccuum hoses.  

2) BE VERY CAREFUL listening around the motor, remember it is hot, and there are moving parts.

--- A leaking vaccuum line can be a contributor to the stalling as well ---

Let me know how you make out, and I hope I helped out your problem.

Take Care,

Ron

Hi Ron,

Thank you for the prompt reply. The spark plugs were changed recently by VW, so I don't think its that. I took my car back to VW and they cleaned and reset the throttle body and replaced the servo hose. The car works fine now, but there is still that 2 second delay of the rev meter after the engine starts. Would you have any idea what that problem is? or even if I have to worry about that. Also, about the hiss before the I rev the engine, the VW engineer says thats normal, something about air entering the engine before the engine rev. Let me know what you think.

Thank you, Alum.

Answer
Hi Alum.

I was under the assumption that the hissing sound was something new.   If the vehicle has been doing this since you owned it, and the VW Dealership says its normal, I would not worry about it.

If the plugs and ignition system have been recently serviced, and there are no other obvious problems with the function of the car,  the rev meter should be fine.

Happy Motoring and thanks for writing in!

Ron