MK3 GTi will not start - please help

[gti_mk3]

my brother's mk3 gti 8v will not start, so having an identical car I suggested swapping a few bits over to try and diagnose the problem.....

His car had intermittent starting problems then one day it refused to start at all. The AA said that it looks to be the coil, as there was no spark at the coil. We swapped the coil with the one on my car, no difference. We swapped the ECU and fuel pump relays, no difference.
We then decided to swap the ECUs over, my ECU on his car, still no start. His ECU on my car - my car would start then cut out after a few seconds (doesn't the immobiliser cause this anyway?)

So thinking that his ECU is not the problem, we are now stuck. Any ideas?

Cheers in advance, and great website by the way,

Chris

[vwnut.ant]

heres a few tips from me

my car is a 1996 8v gti

few probs i have had are:-

the coil. you will find on these cars the coil just goes and it wont start again at all...it doesnt let you know ...so dont think its that

ive also had intermitent starting/stuttering problems....this was down to the air pipe that leads from the airbox to the top of the rocker cover was full of gunk and oil .....and the valve that the pipe connects to was sticking open ...when i took the pipes off there was crap all over and indeed in the little flap that opens and shuts.....i got some cleaner ...for carbs etc and sprayed all the pipes...off the car.....and cleaned them ,.then sprayed some into the opening , and cleaned it all ....once back on the car felt 10times better and felt faster too......

give that a go

also ...i couldnt start my car when i got crap leads from a shop......

check the leads /plugs they maybe wet..and you wont start it then.......plus check the dizzy and rotor arm....

hope this helps

cheers

[mrwotto]

I would check the coil as i had a problem with my coil on my mk3, that just died on me, I replaced it with a coil from a Skoda believe it or not!

[Len]

Um he swapped the coil and it didnt make any difference!

[Overseer]

have you checked the cable from the battery to the solenoid is connected properly?

i had to clean mine up once as the car wouldnt start.

i've also had the coil go, and the starter go..

[Len]

The same question is in The Garage.

The starter is fine.
The problem is no spark at the plugs.

[mrwotto]

Um he swapped the coil and it didnt make any difference!

Sorry never read it proper duh lol

try the ht leads