Mk 3 Starting Problem

[mhb4468]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, am from Forres in Morayshire Scotland. I have a 1997 2L 8V GTI and was enjoying it up to last week 

I am hoping someone out there has had the same type of issue and could maybe point me in the right direction.

All of a sudden it just wouldn't start. Got a lift home from the AA in the early hours! Symptoms as follows;

Turn key, starter not even turning, turned out the earth between the solenoid and the starter had corroded away. Got a loan of a starter from a mate who also has a Mk 3 GTI and hey presto it would crank over but not fire. The fuel pump kicks in when I turn the key and fuel is getting through OK.

Called the AA out AGAIN and he said it was either a suspect coil or the hall sensor? Well robbed my mates car again for his coil, fitted it and it went, superb, but not for long. Turned the car off for a short while and when I went to start it again, NOTHING 

Still got fuel, removed the HT lead from the coil and attached one of the plug leads to the coil with a plug installed in it, held it to the block, but no spark! Could the coil have pack up? Any ideas what could have caused this! I am beginning to loose the plot with it.....

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

[mhb4468]

The plot thickens. I read on the forum that you can test the feed to the ignition coil in the following way.
The voltage should be >12V between terminals 1 and 3 and a pulsating 12V between terminals 2 and 3. I have the following;
Voltage with key in on position between terminal 1 (Black wire) and terminal 3 (Brown wire) was 12.10V, but there was no reading between terminal 2 (Green/Red wire) and terminal 3 when cranking over. Any ideas??

[neil1780]

Sounds like you need a new crank sensor matey have just gone through all this with mine its located betwen the oil filter and front engine mount, you need to take the mount off to get too it. Its also worth swapping relay number 30 in fusebox with your mates as it could be this but will put money on it being the crank sensor.

[mhb4468]

Cheers mate. All is well again with the Golf. Changed the coil and put a new earth strap between it and the engine block and hey presto it has decided to work again. 

I am waiting for a new starter motor to arrive so will change out the crank sensor for a new one will I have the motor off.