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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: JOSHJY on 30 October 2013, 10:13

Title: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: JOSHJY on 30 October 2013, 10:13: Hi everyone

I’ve Recently bought a 1998 MK 4 golf Gti 1.8 petrol

The seller had mentioned that where as he had changed the starter motor recently the earth cable between battery and starter was never changed and seems slightly faulty

Therefore the car occasionally wouldn’t start due to a loss of connection

(why you would change the starter and not the cables at the same time is beyond me but there we are )

The suggested temporary fix he had was to simply “wiggle” the cable apparently restoring the connection and allowing the motor to start

Ive had the car about 6 weeks and had to do this about 5 or 6 times to get it to start as i haven’t had the time to get it fixed , (a pain but for what i paid for the car i can live with it )

However this morning when i went to start it up for work i had nothing even after giving the cable a nudge a few times nothing

Whether this was to do with the fact that it was a slightly colder morning than usual or the cable really is on its last legs now i don’t know ?

Anyway after panicking i was going to miss my train i managed to get catch a neighbour on their way out and got them to play with the cable whilst i switched ignition on and off

Finally it fired up and off i went

The problem i have now is that the car is parked in the station and im worried when i get back im going to have the same issue and get stuck

Does anyone know if theres a better temp solution to get it to start than just wiggling the cable?

obviously i don’t have any tools with me in work..... but would perhaps electrical tape securing each connection point work?

Also is changing this cable a fairly easy job? From what i can see it just seems like 2 bolts between the battery and starter?

Providing i can find a cable from the scrappy on Saturday i would be pretty tempted to try and change it myself

Cheers

Josh
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: Luke1981 on 30 October 2013, 10:20: I think you have just answered your own question. Replace the cable.
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: Shizzle on 30 October 2013, 10:25: there isn't really a temporary fix alot of current goes through that cable need a permanent fix and fast :tongue:
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: xxChrisxx on 30 October 2013, 10:30: Take it off, clean the connections, rebolt it up.

Its a huge bit of copper so it shouldnt ever need replacing, as its petty difficult to damage them. Even if you do a new 170amp cable is cheap.
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: JOSHJY on 30 October 2013, 11:01: i know i should have sorted it out when i bought it but to be honest it hasn’t been top of my priorities

Problem is now earliest I’m going to be able to change it now is Saturday

And i need the car at least for tomorrow and Friday

Thanks Chris il give that a go when i get home wondering now if then perhaps it isn’t damaged and it perhaps just dirty/unsecured

Im assuming getting hold of a new cable shouldn’t be too much hard work, again is changing it then a simple job?

thanks
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 30 October 2013, 12:48: if you have a set of jump leads, put the jump lead on the motor as another cable. start it then see if you can remove the jump lead... wuold recomend driving with the jump lead on the motor incase it comes off.
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: xxChrisxx on 30 October 2013, 15:15: Quote from: JOSHJY on 30 October 2013, 11:01

Thanks Chris il give that a go when i get home wondering now if then perhaps it isn’t damaged and it perhaps just dirty/unsecured

Im assuming getting hold of a new cable shouldn’t be too much hard work, again is changing it then a simple job?

thanks

You have to take them off to clean the connections anyway. What you do is take the cable off, sand the crap off the connections and rub down with degreaser/contact cleaner.

I suppose the question we should have asked earlier is which cable you are wiggling? Is it the power to the starter or the ignition.

If you are truly stuck somewhere you can always bump start the car.
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: JOSHJY on 30 October 2013, 16:01: right great will give that a go asap !

its that fairly thick black cable about "10" long going from battery to starter thats as best i can describe it

thanks for the jump cables tip aswell !

one last thing ( sorry to be a pain )

could anyone hook me up with a link on ebay to the correct lead i need to buy

i think its a 170amp one but not certain what size i need out of these selections

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-SELLER-18-EARTH-STRAP-BATTERY-STARTER-CABLE-SOLENOID-CAR-MOTOR-LEAD-BOAT-Etc-/290905307250?var=590122901181&_trksid=p2054897.l4276#ht_1068wt_1411

am i on the right track ?

cheers
Title: Re: MK4 Golf starter motor connection problems help !
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 30 October 2013, 23:01: If buying new I'd just go to vw. Can't see it being expensive and atleast you know it's the correct rating and length.