Help please starting the 16v

[walchy01]

Hi all

I am struggling to start the car, a few weeks ago this started, I tried to turn her over but she would struggle, yesterday I jumped started her off another car and she ran sweet ticking over on the drive for an hour so had a really good warm through, I then turned her off to re start again and the car would not even try and turn over, is this the battery, alternator or starter motor, advice very much appreciated as I am getting the face on with it now, the other thing I noticed was the pin on the rev counter was all the way round at 8k
And the mfa has stopped working also, any help or advice very much appreciated....
Thanks

[weazgti]

Best get a multimeter out and start checking it all. The clocks do that when you try start with dead battery and stay like it till you disconnect battery or pull fuse for the clocks

[The Mighty Elvi]

Get a multimeter across the battery when car is off.  Anything below say 12.3v and your battery is flat.

Pull out your alternator voltage regulator - -see my pics for condition check.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=174652.0

[rubjonny]

run a chunky cable from battery +ve to the red/black terminal on the starter motor. if it turns over fine then its the wiring or ignition switch. if it doesnt its the starter or the battery.  clean up the spade terminal on the starter as a start, as well as the black/red wire spade. make sure its nice n tight on there too, if loose give it a slight pinch with pliers to make it give better contact

[walchy01]

Right then, got a spanking new battery replacement under warranty thru TPS, put it on and it started, but still that funny slow turn over as if flat battery then it turns as it should and fires up... Does this sound like some kind of bad connection on the starter motor, or would you advise anything else to check?
Run sweet as considering it had been stood unused for 6 weeks since the X5 arrived

[mk2bal]

My cars been doing the same. All earths have been cleaned and tested, starters only 6months old and connections are like new. Sometimes it turns over quick, others its real slow and sounds like it might not start. It started doin it in the cold weather, but I've jus put an 075 bosch battery on it so I'm going to see if it still does it occasionally...

[wil892]

My GTD does the same, though usually in hotter weather. I think it is a contact on the ignition barrel, as if I turn off ignition and then start cranking again the starter turns at the right speed. Luckily it seems not to do it over winter though. Possibly the sliding contacts in the ignition are worn?

Will

[walchy01]

Exact same problem as me mate,
Hopefully RJ may be able to offer some alternative ideas for us to
Check out, if u solve it drop us a message and I'll do the same to you....
Thanks and good luck

[rubjonny]

take off all the battery, starter and alternator cabling, clean up all the connections till shiny and refit.

if its an early car the battery earth goes to a studf on the gearbox upper bracket, which is a poor place to earth it. the later cars have a different rear gearbox->engine mounting bolt with a stud on the end, and battery earths there instead. recommended to upgrade to this setup

ideally get uprated cabling, MK3 +ve wiring fits straight on but -ve doesnt quite reach the earth stud on the battery tray. B4 passats sometimes have a cable that fits straight on though, but you could just make up a short length o chunky wire between the MK3 cable and the battery tray stud.

[sparks03]

My cars been doing the same. All earths have been cleaned and tested, starters only 6months old and connections are like new. Sometimes it turns over quick, others its real slow and sounds like it might not start. It started doin it in the cold weather, but I've jus put an 075 bosch battery on it so I'm going to see if it still does it occasionally...

 Had exactly the same problem in the cold weather. I replaced the battery lead to the starter motor and now i don't have the problem. Car draws more power because of the cold weather, if the lead isn't up to carrying the extra amps it just doesn't want to know. The lead it replaced was only good for carrying 150-200 amps max, it wouldn't even turn over. Could have been a combination of the battery AND the lead if its still a little shy in firing up?