(Sorted) Starting problems Mk3 Gti

[X01X]

My mk3 M reg Gti is having a bit of trouble starting. as above 

First time i had a problem was when driving in the rain, battery light came on then the car died. Result, being towed across town to a garage. Not fun. The mechanic had a look at it and said nothing was wrong but by the time he got to it, it started by it's self.

Second time i had an issue with it was when it rained, hadn't even moved the car but it wouldn't start.

Third time i had an issue was it was very cold (again hadn't moved it) recently and condensation had turned to water and my car was soaked, again it wouldn't start.

Fourth time was 5am! this morning. Just wouldn't start. Not cold or wet, just way too early for this sh!t.

Then the fifth time was again today. Drove it from my house to across town, stopped for like 2 mins then it wouldn't start again.

Does anyone know what the hell is causing this as i would appreciate some problem solving as i haven't got a clue 


Cheers Daz

[Seanl]

Condensation in either you coil, or distributer. Spray some wd40 on it to draw the moisture out. Get yourself to a scrappy and get a second had coil anyway, probs only cost you a fiver and worth having. If it happens again, replace that and see if it starts. Cheapest thing to do anyway. Also listen for your fuel pump priming when turning the key. Relays are pretty common too. Stick your head down by the fuse box when you turn the key, and you should be able to hear it click. May be intermittent/sticky relay, but by the sound of it, its water/damp related. 

[X01X]

we thought it was due to moisture too so my dad got me this stuff they use on tractors, which you spray on basically everything in the engine bay and it draws out moisture/water and covers everything in a film to seal everything up but even after this it happened again, and atm my car won't start at all, it's still in the car park

i'll get it tomorrow and have a poke around, thanks for the tips

[Seanl]

Dont touch it too much, but check the crank sensor as well. Insulation gets really brittle, and wires can short out. Obviously if its intermittent, could be vibrations moving it to make it short. Would probs happen when driving though as well, but worth a look.

[X01X]

Well if it doesn't start tomorrow atleast it should be pretty clear ot the mechanic wtf is wrong with it. Thought about changing the crank sensor but it was £75 new but there must be somewhere cheaper for them.

[patc]

Picked up my new crank sensor from local unipart dealer for £32!

[X01X]

f***ing knew it lol, well i know where to get a new one then 

And for a change i have good luck, i have a unipart dealer hidden in a dark corner of one of the industrial estates in my town

[X01X]

Still wouldn't start this morning but it isn't the relays as i can hear them clicking. So the same mechanic who ripped it apart ad said ti was fine gets to o it and again and find the f**king problem this time 

[patc]

Mine was a combo of crank sensor & relays in the end. I hope!

[X01X]

The mechanic who checked it the other day found that today the coil was damaged/worn, i find it hard to believe that it got damaged in the last 3 days. Did tell him it was the coil but he didn't listen, took it back today to get it checked and he repaired it without even telling me the problem so got a massive repair bill, not happy as i could of sorted it my self when he found the fault for like 20 quid. Never going back but atleast it's working, LOVE my mk3