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Author Topic: 8v GTI - won't turn over.  (Read 2559 times)

Offline jmsheahan

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8v GTI - won't turn over.
« on: 20 July 2011, 17:32 »
Jumped in the car today to find it wouldn't turn over, zilch when you turn the key. I thought the battery had drained itself but just put a voltmeter on and it's registering 12.5. Unfortunately I don't have a proper multimeter (I have one of the ones with lights rather than a digital readout) but:

- I have a power reading at the coil
- I have a power reading at the starter motor (this is a month old)
- I can hear a clunk from the starter which I assume is the solenoid engaging
- I can hear the in tank pump kicking in when the ignition is turned on
- Battery seems fully healthy
- I have bright lights and everything electrical works

A bit weird as I've had no problems recently and the car was fine yesterday when I parked it up  :huh:

Any ideas?
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Offline Sam

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #1 on: 20 July 2011, 18:05 »
Quote from: jmsheahan on 20 July 2011, 17:32
Jumped in the car today to find it wouldn't turn over, zilch when you turn the key. I thought the battery had drained itself but just put a voltmeter on and it's registering 12.5. Unfortunately I don't have a proper multimeter (I have one of the ones with lights rather than a digital readout) but:

- I have a power reading at the coil
- I have a power reading at the starter motor (this is a month old)
- I can hear a clunk from the starter which I assume is the solenoid engaging
- I can hear the in tank pump kicking in when the ignition is turned on
- Battery seems fully healthy
- I have bright lights and everything electrical works

A bit weird as I've had no problems recently and the car was fine yesterday when I parked it up  :huh:

Any ideas?

Put a socket and breaker bar on the bottom crank pully and try crank her over by hand clockwise as you face the pully. also is the starter genuine?
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Offline weazgti

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #2 on: 20 July 2011, 18:21 »
Tried banging the starter?
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Offline jmsheahan

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #3 on: 20 July 2011, 18:38 »
Starter is a genuine Bosch one and yeah I've tried whacking it to see if the solenoid is sticking.

Wouldn't be the ignition switch would it?
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Offline mk2bal

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #4 on: 20 July 2011, 18:41 »
Could also be associated earths or the ignition switch. Mine works fine 99.9999% of the time, but occasionally there's nothing on the last turn of the key. I have to try it a few times and thank god it always eventually goes. I've jus changed box and starter to 02a and its happened since, and my battery is a beast so I can rule all that out, I think mine may be my ign switch starting to fail. My bro's mk3 does exactly the same probably once a month, and I've tested continuity of all conductors, and checked m+e soundness of all associated connections etc etc
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Offline jmsheahan

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #5 on: 20 July 2011, 19:24 »
Sorry for the noob question but if it were the switch would that stop power getting to the bay for the starter etc? Electrics are not my fortay!

Just managed to bump it so it's definitely electrical or the starter motor.

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Offline Sam

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #6 on: 20 July 2011, 19:32 »
Quote from: jmsheahan on 20 July 2011, 19:24
Sorry for the noob question but if it were the switch would that stop power getting to the bay for the starter etc? Electrics are not my fortay!

Just managed to bump it so it's definitely electrical or the starter motor.



Well, set up a starter testing majig. Take a set of jump leads and do starter body earthed to neg battery terminal, positive to thick positive on end of starter then take a peice of wire and connect the positive to the other cable on the solenoid. Then dab the positive on the positive of the battery and try her. Not a very good explaination but this pic will help, also make sure she isnt in gear to avoid running yourself over  :laugh:



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Offline jmsheahan

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #7 on: 20 July 2011, 19:34 »
Quote from: caistor_bmx on 20 July 2011, 19:32
Quote from: jmsheahan on 20 July 2011, 19:24
Sorry for the noob question but if it were the switch would that stop power getting to the bay for the starter etc? Electrics are not my fortay!

Just managed to bump it so it's definitely electrical or the starter motor.



Well, set up a starter testing majig. Take a set of jump leads and do starter body earthed to neg battery terminal, positive to thick positive on end of starter then take a peice of wire and connect the positive to the other cable on the solenoid. Then dab the positive on the positive of the battery and try her. Not a very good explaination but this pic will help, also make sure she isnt in gear to avoid running yourself over  :laugh:







Cheers - plan of action for tomorrow.
« Last Edit: 20 July 2011, 19:36 by jmsheahan »
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Offline Sam

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #8 on: 20 July 2011, 19:41 »
Try it tonight, it doesnt take 30 secs
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Offline jmsheahan

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Re: 8v GTI - won't turn over.
« Reply #9 on: 20 July 2011, 20:23 »
Fired up straight away with that trick.
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