I have a 1.8 BA. For the last few months I have been having an intermittent problem, when I am happily driving along suddenly the car loses power and jolts (the revs drop too), so I press the accelarator some more and it does not respond straight away but the power eventually returns and the car jolts again.

After that each time I return pressure to the accelerator there is no power initially but then it eventually kicks in. I don't think it is fuel filters or anything like that because if i pop it into neutral and rev it revs smoothly with no problem or delay.

If I stop the car and pull away again the problem is often gone - also if i put up with the problem for say 20 mins driving it sometimes disappears on its own.

Does anyone think it may be the clutch gripping and sticking?

ANY advice would be gratefuly recieved! - Cheers

good way to test if your clutch is slipping is to drive at approx 10mph then change into 5th gear.. the car should try to stall,, if it revs high but dont go anywhere its probably slipping,,

another test for the clutch is rev at about 4k then try to pull away in 3rd it should stall

but it really doesnt sound like clutch more like plugs and leads possibly a sensor.. sounds like a cold problem...
let the car sit for about 10 mins before driving next time you need to do a fair distance (30mins or more driving) and see if it occurs then?

Yep doesn't sound like the clutch to me either.

When my clutch was slipping (also have a 1.8 ), 60mph in 5th, clutch in, plant it, dump clutch, revs stayed at 6500, speed didnt really change. Take my foot off the throttle slightly, revs went back down to about 2500 or wherever theyre meant to be at 60mph

Not the clutch, sounds like it could be an electrical fault - check the connections on all the grounding points on the engine, make sure they're all clean and making good contact.

Has it been serviced recently?

What about your maf sensor ? There is quite a few problems with these when they get dirty.

Thanks all for the advice so far.

It seems to pass all of the clutch 'tests' and having driven a car whose clutch was going it seemed it may not me that.

This first flared up about 10 months ago and through looking at this website i 'diagnosed' an electrical problem, so i got some new HT leads (as mine were originals!) and cleaned the MAF and it seemed to sort out the problem for a while. 2 weeks before it initially flared up I had just had it serviced maybe they put the wrong spark plugs in?

I did notice that the Dizzy o ring is leaking Oli, can this afect the running of the engine? I recently ordered this part and a new rotor arm so i will replace this over Xmas! It is due for another service in 1000 miles so that may help, i will take it to a different garage.

PS where are the grounding points on the engine?

please, does anyone know or have a picture to show?

Thanks