Why wont it start?????

[the_GTI_new_guy]

Can someone point me in the right direction to go to work out why my car wont start. Quick bit of history. Bought car last week. Drove home, wouldnt start for a few trys once at home ( no cranking of starter) then worked once. Nothing since. Car is 1988 Gti 16V but NOT standard, now twin webbers etc insted of fuel injection.

Problem:
I turn the key and the only thing i get is the facet fuel pump whirr for as couple of seconds. No starter cranking. Put Volt meter on battery shows no volt drop when key turned. There is a click from a relay in the fuse box while key is turned fully. Cleaned lots of earths and connections and replaced starter as it looked dodgy but nothing 

The car does have a Cat 2 imobiliser acording to the history file. You have to put a little chip thing into a slot until the LEd turns out to deactivate the immobiliser. The light does turn off but could the immobiliser still be on? Can i bypass the immobiliser?

What i need to know is how to go about finding the fault. Please help a man in distress  :embarassed:  or will have to call out the man in the orange van  Thanks

[Mr Blue]

would have said starter motor but looks like something else.

sounds dodgy but ive 'jumped' the life into a starter motor by using jumper cables. make sure the car is in neutral though

[Rain]

yer blue is probably right sounds more electrical than the starter being out, you would see some load on the battery if the power was going to the starter even if the starter was f**ked.

if it is the immobiliser that fuel pump noise shouldnt happen as tahts normally cut off and only engages when the immobiliser is deactivated.
bypassing the immobiliser is simple but you need to remove the lower part of the dash drivers side and locate the control box for it. just follow the wires to behind the fuse panel and there should be atleast 2 wires that have been cut and have a black wires connected to the ends where it onced joined if you connect cut wires back together youll bypass the immobiliser.

*****before you do anything id check relays and fuses first make sure there all ok.

[monzablue16v]

Quite possibly the ignition switch has gone they are available from GSF or Euro car parts I think if not VW dealers parts desk should be able to help. They are quite a common problem on the golf. If not possibly the solenoid on the starter or a loose connection on the battery. HTH

[Agreeable Slick]

Usually if its the switch the engine will turn but not spark. I would have a look at the HT leads and consider replacing them first, and also put a voltmeter across the ignition coil. They are £22 if it needs replacing a 5 min job to do.

[Rain]

wouldnt the starter still turn if the ignition coil was f**cked?

[Mr Blue]

Tried bump starting it?

*check relays and fuses like Rain said*

[the_GTI_new_guy]

And the winner is..... Monzablue. It was the ignition switch. The key would case the relays to work but would not activate the starter. I can get it working by turning on igntion then hotwiring the other lead. Thanks guys.

[monzablue16v]

Woohoo



Glad you sorted it mate, it's a nightmare having an intermittant problem that turns none intermittant an hour after buying the car!

[the_GTI_new_guy]

Just pleased to get it going. I knew it was a problem but at least now i can asort it. Still got a small list of problems to fix but will get there in the end. Just fitted the new gear link bushes and gear ball. Works sooo smooth now  Just got to get that pile of spaggetti  tidied back into a loom now and the jobs a goodun. Was thinking of putting in a push start button so then could leave the old ignition barrel in as its practically no work to wire the switch up. Still, cheers