VR6 No Crank. Starter Motor?

[dubdom]

Hi all,

Got myself a Mk3 VR6 recently and a couple of time its not started. No struggling, low battery etc, just literally nothing, turn the key, no click, no starter. Re-try a couple of time and its has worked up until now.

Got out of work yesterday and would not start, no noise, no action when turning the key. Got a mate to give me a push and it bump started ok, drove it home and started to diagnose.

Started checking things and basically followed this procedure:

http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/campingart/jettatech/nocrankdiag/index.htm

12.8V @ Battery terminals
12.8V between battery -ve and positive cable/terminal on starter motor.
12.8V at trigger wire, when disconnected, positive probe shoved in to plug and negative on engine block and cycling ignition to start.

To me the fact that it runs when bumped, has 12v at trigger and permanent live on starter, tells me there is nothing else it can be than starter motor itself? Surely if it was immobiliser it would die after couple of second of running, and if it was ignition switch then cycling the ignition would not show 12v @ trigger wire?

What are your thoughts?

[tweed]

Ignition switch

[dubdom]

Surely it cannot be this? As I'm seeing 12v at trigger wire?

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Have you tried wiggling the key? Also does your car have Air-Con?, There was another member on here long time ago, his VR6 was not turning over, but always started with a bump start. Turned out his Air-Con pump pulley was seized?

Could be a possibility?

[dubdom]

Yep, no joy with any amount of jiggling.

It does have air con, but wouldnt explain why the starter doesnt try to turn or even solenoid click.

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=239793.0

[dubdom]

Hmmm, certainly worth a look, will pop the aux belt off when I get home.

[Therusterman]

Igntion switch

[dubdom]

Although I never considered Air Con pulley, I now remember a couple of months ago was in a car park, stationary, put air con on and car instantly died, would explain this also!

[dubdom]

Sorted. Was starter motor, dodgy solenoid, I put it in gear and rocked it back and forth, free up solenoid n started fine, so replaced starter.