bodges/bypasses/wire twisters burn in hell,

[galtee2.o16v]

hi,i have a problem with a golf i just aquired (at last),i was told that it had a diy anti theft switch located under the steering column,which i ripped out as i want the car standard,it consisted of,wire stuck in fuseboard through on/off swtich to a relay wired to the battery,from there another wire was crudely fed to join a black and red wire at the o/s strut(wire had been melted and twisted around)all badly done.So to start the car before you would turn on the ignition with the key-lights could be used,and the heater-but ignition lights would be off,and motor would start and spin but not fire,to start ,move the bodged switch-ignition lights on and start via key normally,although running badly all seemed okay.Only this was'nt a anti theft devise,it was a fault by-pass,having looked deeper into it you can see circuit tester pin hole probe lights on a lot of wires around the fuse board and ignition.and finally,the question,has anyone come across this fault before?switch on ignition,no ignition lights,engine spinning and not firing,fuses all okay,nothing burned,relay swapping with a handfull of working relays showed up nothing.

[geeksteve]

I'd check fuel pump power. Bottom right relay. Check it's got power in the right places etc.

[beno88]

Sounds like this bodge repair is to by pass ignition live from the igniton barrel to the fuse board.  my thatchem immobiliser works in the same way. If I put the key in and turn the key to the first click I can have head lights and blowers but if u try start the car nothing. Only when u deactivate the immobilser will the dash lights come on and the car start.  part of the wiring harness for the immobiliser runs off the ignition live to the fuse box. May just be a simple case of a burnt out / corroded wire between the 2. Someone with more wiring experiance should be able to confirm this thought. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

[beno88]

Sorry forgot to ask does anything happen when you turn the bodged switch on with out the key in the ignition? Ie do any relays click on or anything live up?

[galtee2.o16v]

thanks guys,dash will light up without the key in the ignition,i had a play at lunch time to see if i could get it firing,the only way i could start and run the motor was to with a direct feed to two fuses,one put on the ignition,and the other set off a pump or motor whirring,i have'nt a fuse map or a workshop manual yet but it does sound like a relay missing, or like you said,a burnt or corroded wire,i need more information on what relay does which job,and a good wiring diagram,and as you know it's not the easiest of looms to pull out and inspect,is there a ignition module or some early type of ignition ecu hidden anywhere?

[beno88]

The whirling will more than likely be the fuel pump priming. Like you said you need to get hold of a wiring diagram and then trace the ignition live back to the box and find out what's going on. If you haven't found a diagram online by the weekend I can scan mine and email it to you. Am guessing from your name that you have a 2.0 16v?

[galtee2.o16v]

i would save me a lot of hassle if you would email that to me,it is a 1994 2.0 16valve,that i am trying to get back to standard,any chance you would have a relay and fuse map aswell? email davie.unclebunt@gmail.com,thanks man