Engine won't turn over.....sometimes!

[Mew]

I've been having some intermittent problems starting an 84 8v gti.

Sometimes it will turn over and fire up straight away, other times it will turn over after a couple of seconds of holding the ignition and sometimes it just won't turn over! If you bump the car it starts every time. I did find a way of starting it if it won't turn over: hold the ignition on to start, then turn it off and on again quickly and that seemed to do the trick. However, that doesn't work every time!

A mechanic tested the starter and that worked fine when fed with 12v, but he said there is a trigger voltage that isn't making it to the starter when the key is turned.

Would this be the igniton switch, or does anyone know which wire sends this trigger voltage?

Any help appreciated as i need the car everyday, and it is currently just sat on the drive!

Thanks, Ben.

[Ricky]

Maybe a sticky solenoid in the motor. Does it click when you turn the key?

[Mew]

Nope, no click unfortunately.

I've had a lead on what might be the problem so i'll give that a check.

[cняis]

had this on mine recently, clean up the connection with the thin wire going to the top of your starter motor (solenoid impulse wire?). You could have a poor connection which would result in the starter not engaging at all.