just a quik update. i drove the car for around 2 hours today and took it back to the house to check it out. i unhooked the vac line going into the egr valve and just like that it started idling normal. is this the valve itself or the egr temp sender?

I think it's a safe bet you have a bad egr valve.

lol... thats been the root of all this the whole time... i got the exhaust put on today. nothin special just 2' pipe from the cat back it has a deep growl to it with the muffler i put on it. also stained the headlights and put my stock wheels back on it. thanks for all the input man i really appreciate it. now on to a new thread about my troublesome mkIII.....

could one of you tell me how to pull the codes i asked on vortex but the forum they referd me to didnt work.it said 1hold the botton under the speedo2.turn the key to on then 3 turn the key off and release the button 4 press an hold the bottom clock button and then you should see ----5 release and turn the key to on what did i do wrong im sorry if this seems stubid but im new to the newer vws i was use to my88 rocco.im very new to this site and to vortex but i would rather try my luck here because iv been getting attacked at vortex for not knowing any thing.

if you have a mk3 before 99.5 then remove your ashtray and slide the small panel next to it to the left. there you should see a black plug. turn the key over til you see the check engine light come on. take a jumper wire and insert one end top row 4th to the right, and the other end bottom row 2nd to left. i will see if i can get you a link up for a pic by pic of this.

here you go man i hope this helps...

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/car...ions/96mk3.GIF

ok i think i got it
 

ok from what i can gather you count the engine light blinking i didnt know that, i thought the code would come up on the screen.ok i got 2113 whats this mean i hope its not to bad and this is the only one i could get .now i only messed with it for 5 min .when you have more than one code do you do it over again to get more or do you wait.thank you for telling me how now i am gonna pray its not to bad:):confused:

2113 Hall sender - No speed signal from distributor; check Hall sensor and circuits or the
Air-flow sensor plate is not moving freely; adjust potentiometer or lever.

not exactly sure how to adjust the potentiometer or even what one is. the way to get all the codes is to pull one, re-insert the wire for another 3-5 seconds and repeat this proccess until the light blinks 4 long blinks. this is the signal that the code sequence is complete... someone else will have to tell you how to adjust that other part and im not sure about the air flow sensor plate either...

hey thanks
 

thanks you have been very helpful :):)