MK3 Golf starting problem

[Ferdinor]

Hi guys, having a problem with my mk3 golf 1.4 cl, went to work this morning firing on 3 cylinders as it has been for the last couple of days now, after leaving the car for around 8 hours i go back to it and it just would not start it was just turning over but not firing, so me and a friend give it a check over, it had new plugs, cap and rotor arm around 1 month ago, so i bought some ht leads today aswell so i know it isnt them now we have realised that if you crank the engine over for around 1 min it will fire on one then two then three then finally start and run perfectly? i have fuel as i have taken the top of the airbox off and seen the fuel going into the tb, i have a spark on all 4 leads so i am stuck as to what it might be? it is just weird how well it runs once it has started? so any help, ideas and suggestions would be great.
cheers

[Leon27]

Would look into the coil next. What you said about cranking it for a minute made me remember my old 1.8GL which had a similar issue, had to really crank it then slowly the car would come to life and not have a starting problem if it was switched off. However if I had to let it stand overnight or for about 6+ hours and it would be faulty again.

The strange thing was that it had spark on all four plugs however using some spark testers I found the spark to be weak in the cylinder under compression. Donor a coil if you can just to try it out.

[Ferdinor]

I have had a few people tell me it might be the coil now, so if i borrow one just to try of a friend it wouldnt somehow damage his if there was something else wrong with my car would it? sounds silly but i dont want to mess my friends car up 
Also if it is the coil are they pricey or do some firms make patern parts so they are cheaper?
Cheers for the advice mate i will try and do it tomorrow 

[les.tansey]

It could be starter motor related 

[gasketface]

You can get a coil for about £20 on ebay new but if you are able to bid at about noon tomorrow :-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Golf-GTi-16V-Ignition-Coil-/160647319205?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2567538ea5

If not :- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-VOLKSWAGEN-VW-GOLF-LUPO-PASSAT-IGNITION-COIL-12916-/300328971372?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item45ed006c6c


Please check first that they are correct for your model though as i'm not 100% certain what your model has on it.Good luck.

[Ferdinor]

ahhh didnt look in time to get the first one, thats a bugger 
But thank you for the replies, i have a friend coming over today to do some part swapping is there any other parts that arnt to arkward to swap over and try?

Also what would point in the direction it was starter motor as it does go eventally? doesnt sound bad and isnt slow spinning? im not sure how that could be the problem? 

[Leon27]

How did you get on? That coil for £1!  GSF do a BQ one made by Beru exactly the one listed on that ebay site. They must make it for VW as it has the same part numbers, same stamps and looks the same bar a VW badge and I rmbr it was £83 pounds from VW with my discount and £38 from GSF with my trade discount. If it ends up being the coil then I'd look at getting what gasketface posted up

Think there must have been some misinterpretation but if the car is turning over as you say but not running then its not the starter which is the issue.

[dan_apps]

dont waste ur money with a cheap one get something like the beru one quoted from gsf as they are pap at the best of times. the module tends to go on them.

[Ferdinor]

Cheers for the replies guys, but its not the coil, i plugged my friends into mine today and the same thing happend? i mean what an earth could it be? any sensors, relays, fuses i should check or swap with a mate to test? any idea guys? its really bugging me now and if i dont sort it soon i am gunna mess up my start or ignition aswell 

[Leon27]

When you said earlier that it starts on 2, then 3 then all four cylinders is it actually misfiring that bad? Or is it running rough then clearing up?

Scan the car for fault codes - see what comes up, an issue could lie with the throttle body. When you had the airbox off was the throttle clean of oil?

and if you use VAG-COM, monitor the Coolant temperature sensor and see if its a plausible reading, or if your mate allows, try changing over the coolant temp sensor.

Are you loosing coolant or oil by the way?