Wont Start....HELP PLEASE!

[davidopresto]

Right this is my first post on here so be gentle 

I have an N reg Golf GTI 8v. I bought it and been running fine in it for just under a month and nothings ever gone wrong with it. Until a heavy rain storm (dont know if this is relevant but i thought i better share all the details of the problem) on the way home from work i did go through some pretty big puddles and i would be surprised if it didnt wet the whole engine bay... it carried on running fine and the next day it wouldnt start. It will tick over fine but wont even try and start.

Ive seen this kind of problem a lot so ive been scrambling around the internet trying to sort this out but its no good. ive been working on this for 2 weeks or so now and im runningm low on patience and funds (im a uni student...)

whenever i turn ignition on there is a little fizz of electricity, the sound of it shorting out, coming from the top of the king lead in the dizzy cap, i am unsure of why this is, especially when turning igntion on??

Anyway, sorry for the long post but i need help as to anyone else can suggest what to do?
Thank you in advance!! 

[dixie180]

You could spray the leads with WD40 which will help disperse the water.Take the dizzy cap off and give it a clean and dry.Sounds like you've got a lot of water in where it shouldn't go.

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Right this is my first post on here so be gentle 

I have an N reg Golf GTI 8v. I bought it and been running fine in it for just under a month and nothings ever gone wrong with it. Until a heavy rain storm (dont know if this is relevant but i thought i better share all the details of the problem) on the way home from work i did go through some pretty big puddles and i would be surprised if it didnt wet the whole engine bay... it carried on running fine and the next day it wouldnt start. It will tick over fine but wont even try and start.

Ive seen this kind of problem a lot so ive been scrambling around the internet trying to sort this out but its no good. ive been working on this for 2 weeks or so now and im runningm low on patience and funds (im a uni student...)

whenever i turn ignition on there is a little fizz of electricity, the sound of it shorting out, coming from the top of the king lead in the dizzy cap, i am unsure of why this is, especially when turning igntion on??

Anyway, sorry for the long post but i need help as to anyone else can suggest what to do?
Thank you in advance!! 

How is this possible?

[dixie180]

It will tick over fine but wont even try and start. 

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

It will tick over fine but wont even try and start. 

I think he means it will crank over fine, but won't start 

[dixie180]

I hope so 

[Jasikasisback]

take the lead that goes from the coilpack to the dizzy off of the dizzy. is there spark when the car is turned over? if not time for new coilpack. if ok next step.  take key out of ignition if in ignition.

next take dizzy cap off.should have 2 clips- remove them. do the contacts (4 of them)on the dizzy cap itself oninside look shiny or black? if black then clean them. check rotor arm (can just pull this off)and can clean that too if needed.(the end should be shiny)

put back together cap back on and then lead from coilpack back on. try to crank car. no luck? take key out and onto next step.

if all this ok check first lead going from dizzy to sparkplug farthest away from distributor. take out sparkplug and see if it is ok. if sparkplug ok look at lead for corrosion. put plug into lead and crank car.if no spark then problem lies elsewhere. replace everything and try other plugs if first one sparks.

some people work their way back from the sparkplug but i start at the thing that failed on my car which is the coilpack.

hopefully it will not be the distributor itself or the sensor plugged into it( yeah check if it is plugged in)
so learn to avoid rain, puddles mud and snow, the enemies of german technology.

the timing may be off but that is for another post. check all this first.

you will need a friend to help you with this. more fun if done in the dark.

[davidopresto]

Right,  thank you for the replies!
1)  Yes I meant crank over haha :p

2) all the leads and dizzy etc are dry so it's not this

3) all of the above I have tried, there is a spark from the main lead on dizzy when cranking over. When the spark plug is removed (all of which are spotless) and left in the lead and placed on the engine block there is no spark when cranking BUT when I turn the ignition On there is one single spark and that is all.  The rotor arm and contacts withing the dizzy are fine by the way. And i have replaced the coil with a brand spanker and still nothing
 

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Right,  thank you for the replies!
1)  Yes I meant crank over haha :p

2) all the leads and dizzy etc are dry so it's not this

3) all of the above I have tried, there is a spark from the main lead on dizzy when cranking over. When the spark plug is removed (all of which are spotless) and left in the lead and placed on the engine block there is no spark when cranking BUT when I turn the ignition On there is one single spark and that is all.  The rotor arm and contacts withing the dizzy are fine by the way. And i have replaced the coil with a brand spanker and still nothing
 

Have you tried bumping it? Not with jump leads. 2nd gear bump start?

[davidopresto]

I havent tried bumping no... Do you reckon that's worth a shot?