VW Spacefox Fuel Injection Troubles & Poor Performance

Had a similar issue with my VW Golf from around the same period. As someone with some DIY car maintenance experience, these symptoms immediately pointed to injection problems. The vehicle started showing identical issues, rough running, increased fuel consumption, and misfires during idle. After attempting basic maintenance like changing spark plugs without improvement, I took it to a workshop. The diagnostic tests revealed clogged injection valves were causing incomplete fuel atomization, leading to poor emissions and performance issues. The repair involved: Complete ultrasonic cleaning of all injectors, Replacement of worn injector seals, Full system pressure testing, Emissions check after repair Total cost came to 515€, which included diagnostics, cleaning, and new seals. The difference in performance was dramatic, smooth idle returned, fuel economy improved, and no more stalling. To provide more specific advice about your Spacefox: What year is your vehicle? What is the current mileage? Have you noticed any check engine lights? When was the last fuel system service? These details would help determine if your situation matches what I experienced and whether similar repairs might resolve your issues.

Latest service was done at 17500km, just 455km ago. The engine problems started shortly after, despite the recent maintenance. While the diagnostic suggested by the previous reply sounds thorough, my symptoms appeared very suddenly rather than gradually. During my last workshop visit, they performed a standard service but did not inspect the injection system specifically. Given the repair cost mentioned and the vehicle performance issues, I am considering having the fuel system checked. The check engine light has not appeared yet, but the rough engine performance and high fuel consumption are quite concerning for a vehicle with such low mileage. Would it be advisable to try using a fuel system cleaner additive first, or should I proceed directly to professional injector diagnostics?

Based on the sudden onset of symptoms right after service, this could actually point to a different issue than what I experienced with my Golf. While my injection problems developed gradually, your situation raises some red flags. Before investing in a full injection system repair like I did, consider checking: 1. Fuel filter, Sometimes during service this can be improperly installed, causing immediate fuel delivery issues 2. Air filter installation, A poorly seated filter after maintenance can cause similar performance issues 3. Sensor connections, Service work might have disturbed MAP or MAF sensor connections Using a fuel system cleaner might mask the real problem if something was inadvertently disturbed during the recent service. Given the low mileage and sudden onset, I suggest: Return to the workshop that performed the service, Request they check their recent work, Have them perform a proper diagnostic of the engine management system My 515€ repair for clogged injectors might not be relevant here, since your engine has such low mileage and the problems appeared suddenly post-service. Professional diagnostics would be the most cost-effective first step before attempting any major repairs or replacement of components.

Thank you for the clarification about the service history. After considering the feedback, I think returning to the workshop that performed the recent maintenance makes the most sense. The sudden appearance of these issues so soon after servicing does seem suspicious, especially with such low mileage on the vehicle. I will skip trying fuel additives for now since the problem could be related to the recent service work. The workshop should first verify if any components were incorrectly installed or damaged during maintenance. A proper diagnostic scan should reveal if there are any misfire codes stored, even if the check engine light hasnt illuminated yet. The gasoline engine running this rough despite recent maintenance is definitely not normal. If the workshop finds no immediate issues related to their service work, then we can explore the injection system repair route. But starting with a thorough inspection of recent maintenance work seems most logical given the timing of these problems. Will schedule an appointment with the workshop tomorrow and request they specifically check the fuel filter, air filter installation, and sensor connections as suggested. The repair costs shared were helpful for budgeting, but hopefully this turns out to be something simpler related to the recent service.