Whats up guys,,
Well like i said i have an 1987 jetta gl. And the car will start up fine and run ok for a while, then when it gets warm, it starts skipping under a load and backfires and pops sometimes.

But if i turn the ignition off and right back on while going down the road it will turn right back on and run fine for another 1/2 mile or so, then it starts doing the same thing.

It will do this as many time as your cycle the engine. I know this because it started happening when i was in the middle of a 200 mile drive and i made it about a 125 miles turning the car off and back on again every mile

Thanks in advance guys,
Patrick-

 

You don't say if its a petrol or diesel Jetta?

Well it hard to diagnose car problems over the web as you can imagine. Do you have any engine (Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)) lights lit on the dash board?

Even if they aren't lit the easiest way to diagnose the fault on a VAG vehicle is find someone with VAG-COM\VCDS to do an Autoscan to find the error codes. If you live in the States I believe that AutoZone, PepBoyz, Advance Auto will do a free scan with the hope that you buy something of them.

 

it is a gasoline engine, but there aren't any check engine lights on.

I thought that VAG didn't come out until 92, im not sure but idk if i can hook up my 87 to find an error code.

 

True VAG-COM came out in 1994 but you would need the 2x2 adaptor cable for VCDS but that is only shown back to 1991 because it older.

VCDS Compatibility Charts

 

Just a wild guess,
Check the wiring inside your distributor.
You don't have to remove the dist , but your have to remove the cap,rotor button and dust cover and do a good visual ispection.