Morning Clunk?

[MK2 Marie]

I?ve got a MK2 GTi on an A plate, every time I go to start it in the morning it starts to turn over and then I hear an almighty clunk then nothing (sounds like it?s coming from the drivers side under the bonnet near the widescreen) eventually it starts (unless like this morning the battery ran out? :-[)

Any Ideas..?
Please help if you can!?!?  

[Blue MK2]

Worn engine mount

I get that noise when the engine shakes due to an engine mount.

The Golf Geeks should know

[Rob]

Yea sounds familiar.
mine was front engine mount,
Just be carefull if it is and you replace it with a patent part as mine ripped apart in a few days so replaced with genuine one. end of problem

[modulater]

When you say it turns over then clunk nothing do you mean the starter motor no longer turns the engine over and you have to try re starting after the clunk has happened?

[MK2 Marie]

Yep, It's like everything dies?

It happens instead of my car starting? (If that makes sense) Tried starting it last night with a battery charger, but still the same?  Checked the plugs, leads and checked fuel is get through.

I can only describe it as a hard clunk, it sound pretty serious?

Thanks for replying!

[richandhazel]

Sounds like a problem with the starter motor. Have a quick look at it and make sure its secure and not worked loose.........I know of at least 2 people on this board that have had the starter motor bolts work loose.

[Leejaydoob]

yeh i had a similar problem an it was starter bolts
one of mine broke and another was missing

these bolts actually go into engine mount bracket and i found that the engine had dropped a few inches causing my exhaust to knock as well when i turned engine over

[modulater]

I've had problems with the leads to the starter motor twice since owning my car.

Both times it has been down to the connections corroding where they attach to the starter motor. It wasnt allowing correct voltage through.

Remove the connectors to the starter motor and give them a good clean with some sand paper so they are shiny copper and then refit. It worked for me so might for you.

When you turn the key do you get the starter solenoid clicking?
If so then this would point to a fault in the actually motor itself.

[MK2 Marie]

Thanks for all your ideas!

In the end it was due to me timing belt being to tight something to do with the rotor arm not sparking in the right place? The timing being well out was the clunk?

New belt and new rotor arm and it's running fine now.

Cheers for all your help!