'92 GTI starting/running issues

[vwblondie]

Hey everyone! I happened to stumble across this forum, read for quite some time and was hoping for some insight. I drive a '92 GTI that I bought and drove back from California to Canada in 2002. I'm having a few problems that only seem to happen in certain weather conditions. On cold+humid days it will take up to 3-4 attempts to start, but then it runs fine. On really cold+snowy/wet days it will start up fine but I have to fight it from stalling until the engine warms (about 10 min). I had the whole package (cap/rotor/plugs/filters etc) replaced before I drove home to Canada and a new battery that same year (battery tested recently was fine). My mechanic has replace the temp sensor recently but has never quite figured out the problem - he says that his diagnositics don't show anything. Sometimes when it is wet out my power steering is loud + I have even lost power steering once or twice. I'm hoping that maybe there is one problem that it the root of it all, or perhaps my baby is dying? Sorry this was so wordy, but I need advice!!
Thanks in advance!!!

[boschmann]

The most common issue relating to wet weather conditions is the ignition coil will develop small cracks & when the moisure level is right it will arc to ground rather than sending the spark to the distributor. To check for this spray some water on the coil & see if it starts popping & arcing.

[zzpza]

power steering problems in the wet could be due to a loose belt on the power steering pump or water splashing on the pulley and making the belt slip. does the car have a splash guard around the power steering pump?