Staring in cold weather

[mr burns]

Hi all Every time we have frost my car won,t start and I end up draining the battery and being stranded :-/  she's fine in normal weather and once she's started again fine, I am going to change spark plugs and possibly ht leads just wanted anyones ideas of what else it could be, getting late into work is wearing a bit thin now with my boss roll on summer :-)

thanks Pad

[mattkh]

Hi
What fuel system do you have on the car ?

[mr burns]

Hi not sure of the question sorry but it's a mk2 golf gti 16 valve 1992 hope this helps

cheers

[jimojameso]

Hello
When its really cold it sometimes help to squirt a bit more fuel in. If you look at the metering head there is a little hole on the top towards the back. An allen key fits in there. Turn it slightly clockwise and will prob help with it not starting

[mr burns]

Just an update got home from work and put battery back in after charge took dizzy cap off and noticed the contacts had like black carbon on so i,ll be replacing this but for now gave it a clean and turned her over and she started, so would the carbon have caused my engine to turn over ok but not fire (when its v cold) and if i,m replacing the cap do i also replace the rotary arm anyone know does the arm just pull off.

Last question honest     are GSF goods ie spark plugs dizzy cap etc ok just that i,ve been told GSF gear can sometimes be a bit dodgy any thoughts is this a load of rubbish


Thanks
Pad

[Alec]

Dirty contacts could cause a weak spark or no spark at all I guess.

The rotor arm should just pull off mate I believe, it does on my 8valve anyway.

I have heard mixed things about GSF parts, suppose it depends how much dollar you are willing to spend

[walchy01]

Think you will find that the rotar arm will smash/crack off into pieces if my memory serves me correctly, remember struggling to get mine off without smashing it, but as i said i am sure it smashes into small pieces due to it being such a tight snug fit.
Think i ended up using plyers to get it off.

Hope that helps.

[dragonfly]

Haynes suggests breaking it off and using glue to hold the new one on!

[mr burns]

Ok car took ages to start again this morning turning over just not firing very frosty again was wondering could it be my auto choke not working that is causing this how do I check this out

thanks

[weazgti]

Have you checked the blue senser is working? pull the plug on it off with the car running and see if the idle speed changes.
That deals with cold and hot starts and if its knackered it ll be a mare to start.