16v died... fuel issue?

[mk2_abf]

i think it could be your lift pump take it out to test it try a live and earth on it see what result you get also inspect it for any signs of damage if its been replcaced worth checking first

[Skiing]

Well, checked every vacuum connection and also replaced the coil and fuel filter. Still no go - car starts eventually just manages to run (badly) and the cuts - the rev counter also doesnt work now? So I gave in and called AA - they reckon its either the ignition amplifier (on top of the ECU) or the hall sender in the distributor... so its off on the back of a low loader to VW in Newark.  Am covered for repairs on my AA membership, but wanted to drive it back down south on Sunday....

[Skiing]

Well, the golf has been in the VW garage now for a week and a half and they still cannot get it going. They have checked fuel pressure so thats not an issue and pretty much every electrical connection - does anyone have any other ideas about what it could be? will remind them to check every vacuum connection as well - also it has a 9a bottom end from a passat - does this mean anything electrical / timing wise could be different which is throwing them off - any ideas - my poor car is still dead and I miss it... 

[rubjonny]

fact rev counter isnt working suggests the hall sensor aye, though it could just be clocks need to be reset.  did you try a different dizzy?

[Eddie]

Hello there.
I had a very similar problem, After three weeks at a local garage they couldn't get in started and gave up but insisted it was a fuel problem. They didn't have the fuel pressure test kit that RJ mentioned earlier, so of it went to a BOSCH specialist, tested it and it passed. Yet still wouldn't start.

In the end it turned out to be the old factory fitted alarm that i have never used since owning the car. The alarm was preventing the engine starting by randomly shuting off the ignition, or fuel or both. They took out the alarm, repaired some frail looking wires and connections to the E.C.U and HEY PRESTO!  I cost a few Quid to fix, but that was due to labour. They also put in a Recon E.C.U at £100 because some of the voltages coming out of the old one were iffy.

Good luck.

[Skiing]

They will have tested the distributor I think - but will a problem with the hall sender eye not turn up like this?

[rubjonny]

if they did check it properly then yeah it should, but this assumes the dealers actually know how to fix old cars now!
do you recall if you heard the main pump run on for a few seconds after the car cut out?

[Skiing]

Can't remember about the main pump (I changed the pump relay though) - I know it primed as it should do and the intank pump also buzzed etc (unplugged main pump to check in tank one) - Should the main pump cut out after the engine stops or at the same time - NB you can with a lot of cranking get it to start - it idles very low (with no rev counter) you can then slowly raise the revs if you are very light on the accelerator (but with it coughing and popping etc.) and then it just dies away whether you have your foot on the accelerator or not. If you tap accelerator when it starts then it just dies straight away.

[rubjonny]

if the ignition cuts then the pump will run for a few seconds, just the same as priming on 1st click basically. If you dont hear the pump run on after engine dies this suggests a fuel pump problem, or a fault with the wiring to the pump.

still sounding like fuel delivery to me!

[Conker]

If its not fuel related, my second guess would still be air leak. Has the head been compression tested? It could be a head gasket leak for example, as you don't always get the other HG symptoms at the same time. Then theres manifold gaskets, injector seals, idle screw o-ring, ruptured intake pipe etc. etc.

Have fun!