[Mk2] [NA] Problem starting

[Caz]

Hi

My car seems to be getting a little tempermental.

It sometimes struggles to start. Im guessing it is something to do with fuel but it'll turn over and then start up if i give it a little bit of throttle as im starting.

It'll sometimes lose all the power as im driving too, well when i have slowed down and start to accelarate again. Found this is quite dangerous on roundabouts cos the power will suddenly kick in, usually when im coming off the roundabout!

Weird thing is, this doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it wil be happy as larry and then the next day not.

Any suggestions? Think it will have to go to a garage but would like to know a little more so they don't take me for a ride!

Thanks

[mikey2]

Could be worth checking the airfilter, might be a bit clogged, usually problems like this come down to the ignition, so could be worth checking the plugs and leads. A freind of mine had this a while back, turned out to be an HT lead, i checked it by running the engine, then using an insulated screwdriver i moved the ht leads about, until i found out which one was causing the issue. If they are fine then could be the coil or the dizzy, those i dont know much about, other than they can be quite expensive!!

The other thing yiu could try is using a fuel system cleaner, like redex, and also if you can find, and if it has one, the fuel filter.

Does the car stutter when you try and accelerate?? then all of a sudden come back in with full power?
If it does that then its likely to be a knackered plug or lead. Mine did it a couple of times, turned out to be water in the plug chamber, but it could also be a knackered plug or lead.
Sorry to ramble, but theres a fwe things it could be, and no doubt i havent covered them all!!