Electrical problem burning out Coil and Starter.

[wonky]

Hi all, sorry it's a long one!

Not posted before as my 2.0 8v Mk3 Gti has always been good to me!
Recently though (last month) the engine (ADY) cut out and wouldnt re-start. Electrics ok but no power.
A breather pipe to the throttle body popped off while trying so returned to it next day with a jubilee clip, reconnected hose and it started fine. Overheating I thought.

Week later after driving for about 30mins and 10mins in town it cut out again outside a friends house.
Had a cuppa with the bonnet open, cooled it down and started no prob. Defo Overheating, maybe fan.
Nursed it home but the next morning it wouldnt start at all.

No spark so replaced worn dizzy, rotor arm ok. Still no spark.
Fuses all ok so replaced the Coil and it started and ran fine.
Tested fan and it too was fine.

Last week drove 50 miles on A roads to my folks house and parked up.
Went to leave and nothing. Engine not turning and no started noise.
Shorted across the starter which fired the solenoid but the dog didnt engage.
Bump started with a tow from the old man. Ran fine. Turned it off, still nothing so bumped it again.
Nursed it home again (50miles really not wanting to stall!).
Replaced the starter at a garage coz I didn't have time.

When it was done the guy said that when they put the new starter in it started firing on it's own!
They stopped it and checked it again but it didn't do it again.
When I went to pick it up I drove it back from the garage and when I tried to turn the engine off the starter began firing again!
Checked it for the next few days but it behaved itself.

Then went in to town yesterday, smelt burning for a little while and when I got into town and cut the engine..nothing. New starter burnt out too.


Does anybody know of any obvious problem that may cause the coil and 2 starters to burn out?
It's been hot everytime something goes so heat altering electricals?
Anything else I could look at? I'm not a car mechanic but I can work a spanner ok.
After reading other posts I'll look at the earth under the battery etc but wouldn't expect an earth problem to do this!

All ideas welcome as I'm stumped. 

[rubjonny]

I think the coil was just a coincidence, they burn out all the time. the starter problem i think could be down to your ignition switch, also can be a common fault on these

[Wayne]

As above, I would think your ignition switch is faulty which has caused the starter to burn out.

[wonky]

Great, thanks guys. 

I'll look into it.
Any pointers or tips on how to identify it?
I'm out of my depth with electrics.

[rubjonny]

a quick n dirty test is to disconnect the ignition switch, if that stops the starter running on you can be pretty sure you have found the problem. if you get a replacement switch and plug it in you can turn the car on with a thin screwdriver till you get round to replacing the switch, obviously you need the key in the ignition to release the steering lock

[wonky]

Ok, got new battery just to eliminate that from things and just putting the new starter on now.
Have also got a new ignition switch so I'm abaout to look in to replacing the old one.

Will let you know how I get on!

[wonky]

Hi all.

Just to complete the thread for information's sake here's another thread I used to get to my ignition switch.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=56978.0

I used the brute force and ignorance method after the puller I bought just stripped the lip from the splined collar!
The anger helped things along no end!
Had to clean up the splines a bit with a small file but it all came off ok and with a new ignition switch in, went back together ok too.

So far It seems to have done the job and it's running better than ever, even sorted a sticky contact in my wiper stalk while I was at it!

Thanks rubjohnny and wayne for the info!

[Wayne]

Great result