shakes then stalls...please help, they're going to tow it!!!

[obeypixel]

Ok,
so I get my car started and it shakes, bad, there is a knocking sound, but not like detonation, and it is rythmical, and it keeps in time with the shaking.

I have to give it gas to get it started. Then it dies, unless i keep giving it gas. haven't kept it running too long with the gas pedal, cause i don't want to screw anything else up.

its a 91 TSI AWD... any ideas?

my appartment complex is going to tow it because its been in the same parking spot for like two weeks.

Please o' knowledgeable DSM gods, please save me.

Thanks ahead,
-Brandon

 

[thejeebus]

Sounds like your timing belt skipped a tooth (or few).

 

[obeypixel]

honestly,
I am not the most knowledgeable about these cars, but I thought that if the timing belt was off a few teeth, once you gave it some gas, it would straighten out abit. but I dunno. Oh, I forgot to mention, the intake is off of the car. like there is the turbo and then nothing, could that have something to do with it?
-Thanks
Brandon

 

[Nighthawk01]

is the intake off the car?
of course you need that on there,, you need the mass air sensor,, thats most likly thr cause of your problems.

btw,, if you decied to sell it,, let me know ill tow it.

 

[obeypixel]

Its a long story suffice it to say, I didn't take it off. but I will put it back on, that may be the cause of my problems, but it seems to me to be a bit more than just a rough idle. we'll see. In the meantime, anyone have any other ideas?
Thanks,
-Brandon

 

[obeypixel]

I hooked up the intake, thats not it. Do you guys think that it could be the balance shaft/belt?
Thanks
-Brandon

 

[Nighthawk01]

reset the ecu,,,
(unhook negitive batt cable from battery for like 20 mins.)



let us know then..

 

[obeypixel]

Ok, so I unhooked the negative batery cable for a while, and put it back on. Then I tried to start it up. I heard noise, difficult to discribe, sounded like the started blew but I dunno, lifted up the hood, and wafts, not bellows, just wafts of smoke come up from behind the engine, on the drivers side, kinda under the intake manifold. when I try to turn it over, nothing... like a dead battery. did I just blow my starter? In addition to the what ever else is wrong...

-Thanks
Brandon

 

[Nighthawk01]

right?
didnt somehow unhook both and put them on the wrong terminals right?

something definilty shorted out there,, who knows what.

does the car still have power,, like,, do your dome lights still come on and all?

 

[obeypixel]

yeah, I still have power inside, and yeah, I did make sure only to disconnect the black one. Is the starter a PITA to replace?

 

[misplcdmemries]

It tok me a couple days to take mine out, and 15 minutes to put it back in...

 

[rabi42]

, i think that's how all older car parts go...