2ltr 8v (2E) mk2 Gti won't turn over or start.

[CARL BRIGHTON]

Was driving home yeterday and the car decides to cut out, not only that but the clocks went mental!

A couple of goes at turning it over and it starts again, only to do it again after a bit...

Not only that, but when it did start and drive it "kangaroo'd" now and again...

Once i got it home (around 15 miles) it would turn over, but not strike up apart from a quick rev then die again...

Thought maybe a spark plug was on the way out, so i changed them all....Nope
Thought maybe a HT lead was cracked, so i changed them....Nope
Rotor arm...Nope
Dizzy...Nope

Now the car wont even turn over....(not the battery, i put it on charge last nite)

Any ideas anyone?? Coil??


Ooops....For those that dont know, its a 2ltr 8v (2E) mk2 Gti

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

Now when i try to turn it over, it clicks (solenoid on the starter) but dash dies and resets the clock....

Ive just tested the battery and thats fine...

Im starting to think dodgy earth? anyone have any places to look first?

 

[Greasemonkey]

Sounds to me like you'd hit the nail on the head. Just have a clean up on the ones from the battery, otherwise i'm not sure on others

 

[Cupra Kid]

Definately earth/loom related, my old GTi did this and getting a steel brush on the earths cured it. Almost like the car has a mind of its own when it does it.

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

cleaned up the terminals...no good.
looked at all the earth leads i could...cant see any breaks.
Gonna get a coil tomorra.

 

[ibiza_95]

na its not the coil mate, it would turn over at least if it was the coil...

for peace of mind id try another battery as thats what sounds at fault, try jumping it off another car...

If its not that id then say it was starter/solenoid related

 

[Cupra Kid]

Or the wiring looms got cut/worn out at some point, this has alo happened

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

right...

so the coils out then...

cant see any cuts or burns on the main cable / loom...

Ive just had a voltmeter on the starter while the missus turned the key, its 12 (ish) volts before and 5 ish when the keys turned...

Haynes says...

Turn the lights on and if they stay bright then the batts ok, if they dim when the keys turned then its the starter...mine go off along with everything else...

anyone thinking starter? if so, why do you think it cut out and then restarted
(albeit badly) before i got it home?

 

[ibiza_95]

try a new battery to eliminate that its the easiest thing you can do

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

Forgot to say id tried another battery earlier (for some reason had a spare)

 

[andyj]

Carl (not seen you for ages! )

Have you tried the ECU control relay?

Similar symptoms to when mine went in my Mk2

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

Alright Andy!

good to hear from ya!

Wurs the ecu relay?

 

[andyj]

It's one of the relays on your fuse board (under steering wheel!)

The ECU relay is the one with '30' on the top of it.....

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

righto...how to i test it?

 

[andyj]

I just fitted a new one from Seat.... about £11 IIRC

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

right then....off to seat i go....

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

rubbish!

Dealers not got one in, gotta wait til thursday..

Anyone got any other things to look at while i wait?

 

[andyj]

Did you try the local VW Garage ?

Same part used on Mk3 Golfs Common problem on them as well by all accounts !!!

 

[CARL BRIGHTON]

dude, im lucky theres a seat garage around here!

Did a 70 odd mile round trip today,

 

[rich.h44]

erm maybe the immobalizer has kicked in for some reson!just something else to try probs wrong!