Starting issues

[jaybv6]

After a blinding track day the other day my car would not start the next morning.  It's an 88 8v Gti.  It's got new plugs, blue temp sender already.  The symptoms?

Start the car and turn it over.  Sounds like it wants to fire an then when it finally start to fire sounds like it's only going on 3 cylinders and when trying to add a bit more throttle dies.  Remove plugs and clean out dizzy (possible moister?) it starts alot better but then dies again.  This happened the morning of the track day but I got it started and once runing had no problems all day except for the starter motor showing signs of failing.  Any suggestions?  I'm going to buy a new dizzy, rotor arm and ht leads to see if that cures it.  If it is moisture in the dizzy what can I do to prevent this from happening in the future?

Thanks for your help.

[jaybv6]

Anyone agree with my diagnosis above or anything else that may be causing it?

[fused]

Since the car had a work out, it could be a single thing or many! Not what you wanted to hear! Check obvious; getting fuel, did you over work lift pump? check the entire ignition system, the leads and dizzy bits sound good, also check the coil and all the earth straps are in good order (didn't work loose). I had problems with a loose connector to an injector once before, I would go over and look for any loose connections.

Other possiblity is did you stress the engine on the track, how many miles on the clock? Might want to try a compression check?

[rubjonny]

I had this and it sounds like a blue temp sender failure, did you buy it new from VW?  Check the plug & wiring to it as well, maybe theres a dodgy connection or the pins have pushed up inside the plug...

Also remove all the battery/starter & alternator wirtes, clean em up with sandpapaer till all is shiny & refit.  If possible I'd upgrade to 93> Passat cables, much chunkier!

Also pop off the ECU plug and check the contacts for damp & corrosion

But if you havent yet replaced the service items, then do it ASAP!  If moisture is getting in the cap thats a sure sign its buggered and needs replacing, a new one wont do that!
And make sure you get decent ones, non o this cheap halfords crap, http://www.vwspares.co.uk

[jaybv6]

I had this and it sounds like a blue temp sender failure, did you buy it new from VW?  Check the plug & wiring to it as well, maybe theres a dodgy connection or the pins have pushed up inside the plug...[/uote]
Nope, was a Euro Car Parts one.  I've slapped my wrists for error.

Also remove all the battery/starter & alternator wirtes, clean em up with sandpapaer till all is shiny & refit.  If possible I'd upgrade to 93> Passat cables, much chunkier!

Will do, where can I get the chunkier cables and are they easy to replace?

Also pop off the ECU plug and check the contacts for damp & corrosion

Check, will also do this.

But if you havent yet replaced the service items, then do it ASAP!  If moisture is getting in the cap thats a sure sign its buggered and needs replacing, a new one wont do that!
And make sure you get decent ones, non o this cheap halfords crap, http://www.vwspares.co.uk

Wicked,  will give all that a try and report back.  Thanks again for your help.

[rubjonny]

Yeah GSF blue senders are a bit pants unfortunatly!
I got mine from my local scrappy, A1 in workingham. You can get the +ve cable from MK3 Golfs, and later passats (one with a front grill)  The -ve cable on a MK3 wont quite reach the terminal on the battery bracket, so you need the Passat one.  There are several lengths depending on what engine is fitted, so if you find som, try to find a MK2 in the same scrappy to compare lengths!  I aslo found the same design cables on a VW transporter, so check any later VWs you can find and see what they have
Its worth noting that the MK3 earhts to a stud on one of the gearbox->engine bolts, as do the late MK2s.  This gives a much better engine earht than the older cars, which run to a bracket on the gearbox!  So while you're there, pinch the gearbox bolt and fit to your MK2.
Swapping the cables is easy, just loosen the bolts on the terminals and the ends are usually held on with 13mm nuts.  The only fiddly bit is the blue alternator trigger wire, the later cables will have a different connector but you can just crimp a ring terminal on the alt side, and a spade on the battery end

Edit: I really need to make a FAQ for this!