Mk 2 16v starting problem

[goose0709]

I hope someone can help me. I have bought a 1988 GTi 16v as a non runner after being told that all it needed was a new battery. This has been replaced and now the engine turns over but still will not start. There is about a quarter of a tank of fuel in and I can hear the fuel pump hum when the ignition is turned on.
I have fuel pressure at all of the fuel pipes as I have cracked off the unions and fuel goes everywhere but have turned the engine over with the injectors out and they do not seem to fire.
A friend advised that there is a known problem with the fuel pumps failing but would like this confirmed before I shell out for a replacement pump.
I have checked separately and there is a spark when the engine is turned over.

If anyone can help with this problem I would very much appreciate it as once I have the car running there is a lot of other work that needs to be done to restore this unloved car to its former glory...

Many thanks for any help offered.
Jason

[Ben Lessani]

Are you saying you don't have fuel coming through any of the injectors?

If so, it sounds like a metering head fault

[Conker]

Its harder than you think to make fuel come out of the injectors. When I was tesing mine, hardly any fuel would come out just by turning the engine over, but on doing the proper test, my injectors were absolutely fine.

This is what I did (note that it is dangerous):

1) Pull all injectors out. Slide jam jars over each one, making sure they are secure.
2) Remove the air intake pipe over the metering head to expose the plate.
3) Bridge the fuel pump relay.
4) Gently lift the metering plate, all four injectors should fire.


You tube vid of the above but on a disconnected system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cIbyk64Lqc&feature=related


My £1 would be on electrical fault or vac pipe air leak.

[nige_s]

How long has the car not been running?  If its a good few months the fuel may have gone stale so it could also be worth putting some fresh jungle juice in to help things along.

[rubjonny]

could be a clogged fuel filter, had same prob on mine shortly after droppin the 16v lump in. fuel everywhere except out the endof the injectors! spray some easy start or similar up into the intake, if car fires and runs for a bit then that could be your problem.

[goose0709]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I will have  alook into them all as soon as I get some time from work to do so 

The car has apparently been stood for 4 years and was last started 18 months ago. There was no fuel in it so have put new fuel in. I'll update once I have tried what has been suggested.

Thanks again

[goose0709]

Car still won't start 

I've now changed the dizzy cap and rotor arm, the plugs and also the old fuel and fuel filter.

I have looked in the Haynes manual that was in the car and this has pointed me in the direction of the warm-up valve which I have tested and it appears to need replacing but I don't understand how the car would not run even if this is knackered???

Having tried to start the car a number of times and removed the plugs there doesnt seem to be the fuel getting to the injectors which would suggest to me the metering head. Unfortunately I have no experience of working on these.

Is there anything I can you to check this out further?

[Procomp]

Jason
Did the same thing myself.,.........buying a non running 16V.  Did everything you have done and found out it was the Fuel Metering unit, that was at fault in the end.

Suggest you check that all the induction pipes have no leaks as well, as if there is any air getting, in the management system can't cope, so make sure all your hoses are tight from the air filter box to the throttle bodies, as when I got my going it keep stalling and failing to start.  I hadn't done the clips up correctly in my excitement lol!

Finally when I did get my running it was very lumpy.  You said you can here the fuel pump.  Do you mean it priming or all the time?  If it's noisy, could mean the pump is not providing enough fuel.  Have a look at this link, as I got loads of help of people on this forum and found it was a logical process to follow: -

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=118327.0

Good luck and I hope you get it fixed soon
G

[mattkh]

Many thanks for any help offered.Jason

Hi
Whereabouts in London are you.

[goose0709]

Well I fell like I've spent all day on the car and it still doesn't start 

I think that I have made some progress though. I have removed the metering head and cleaned this out. There is nothing sticking and all appears good  I have found that the cold start valve is not firing when I am cranking it. I have traced the wiring and there was some damage which I have repaired but the valve is still not firing.

Through tracing the components in the system on an exploded diagram I have found that the overrun cut off valve has been removed so there are gaps in the induction ststem. I have temporarily bridged the connections on the plug for this and have also bridged the connections on the cold start valve. I can now smell fuelwhen cranking and there has been a couple of splutters on cranking but still nothing definative.

Does anyone have any further advise on what I can do other than hget the car to a Golf specialist??? 

Thanks