I have a 96 Mk III Golf GTI 8v. For a while now I have had a problem where every so often the car wont start. I just get a click like when the battery is flat. This is usually when I have left the car for a short while (like going into the super market). Normally I can push start it and or just leave it overnight and it will start on the key again.
I cleaned the connectors to the starter motor but this doesn't seem to have helped. Last week I had this problem but it still didn't start the next morning. So I have done the following;
1. Tried to jump start the car from my gf's car
2. The lights still light strongly and after being driven for half an hour the car still won't start
3. Checked the cars earth
4. Connected the starter directly to the battery.
The car still just clicks. I concluded from this that the battery is ok and the connection to the starter is OK so I changed the starter motor. This is where it starts to get strange.
4. I put the car up on axle stand and replaced the starter motor
5. Dropped the car back on its wheels and tried to start it. The starter motor turns over but the engine won't catch.
6. I thought that maybe all the fuel had flowed back into the tank so decided to push the car and turn it around so the fuel flows forwards as we were facing up a hill anyway(starting to clutch at straws!)
7. Now I just get the "click" flat battery noise (although the starter was turning strongly seconds ago)
8. Tried to jump start the car from my brothers car- still just get the "click"
9. Try to push start the car but it won't catch.
Now I am confused. All the connectors are reconnected I can't see anything that could have been knocked while working on the car.
Can anybody help me?!?
