mk2 weak start

[so1o]

Hello,

I have an intermittent problem with my gti, its a 9a engine if that means anything to anyone. It has a new alternator, battery, replaced starter motor, new plugs, coil, rotor arm. The problem is when i go to start the car its turns over really weak, like the battery is running flat, what else can it be? What should I check? It turns over really weak, but then fires up. Bad earth maybe? HELP!

By the way whats this 9a code business? i was told this by the person i bought the car of, passat 2.0 16v engine i take it? What power and year passat was this from?

Any help appreciated.

Solo

[davidhawkins_78]

First thing to check is I'm assuming you have some sort of ICE / aftermarket headunit ... how has this been wired up?

The MK2 never came with a remote live, so often  they're 'bodged' and there's a constant trickle charge off the battery.

If that means nothing to you PM me and i'll see what I can do to give some more detail. From what you've said I think this is more than likely to be your problem.

[Gambit]

do you mean weak as in turns over slowly, but still manages to turn over constantly?

if so then take the starter motor off and give the pinion & drive a good clean out and a good greasing up.

also, clean up all contacts/terminals

check the eart strap running from the battery to the gearbox - again give it a good clean up

you could have a power drain caused by a electrical short that is draining the battery, simple way is to swap the battery currently in yours with a good one from someone else's car

if the starter fires normally then its something draining your exisiting battery


as for the 9a

your car has had a 2.0 conversion. this is where they take the 2.0 16v block from the passat and mate it to the 1.8 16v head - its a common and easy swap as both blocks are identical

but your bhp ups from 139bhp to 155bhp and there is a good increase it torque also straight out of the box

look at getting it setup on a rolling road and you can get it up to 160bhp, with better torque curve.

hope this helps,
Craig

[so1o]

Thanks very much guys, great help. I will get my brother to wire up the system again because he knows his stuff when it comes to audio wiring. It already came with a headunit so maybe it is bodged.

If im still stuck on this, you will get pm david, thanks again or the offer.

Yes Gambit, turns overs very slowly, but fires up everytime. I will give all this a try once i have put all the interior back in, stripped out all the inside, jet washed it .

155 nice I must admit for all the 2.0 16v cars i have driven, be it Vauxhall, VW etc this goes very very well even compared to my the Vauxhall red top engines, really does shift. I have a reciept from a shop called Golfshop in London? It actually says a whole engine was purchased a couple of years back so maybe a straight swap but i dont know. Rolling road will definitely feature in my future plans once everything else is sorted.

I cant wait for my golf to get on the road, oh boy the handling  

Solo

[Gambit]

i'd be near enough 99% sure its the starter motor, reason being because mine does exactly the same and has done since the day i bought it, i just cant be arsed cleaning it out!

it will only be the 2.0 16v block, if you had the 2.0 16v head then it would be slower than the equivalent 1.8 16v

the 9a 2.0 16v was VW's 1st attempt at making a 16v CAT complient, so milder cam's & smaller inlet manifold where added to this head to lower the emissions

easy way to check by looking at your engine is:-

look at this pic:-

1.8 16v lump

do you see the small indents on each of the  intake manifold where the plug leads go into the block?

if it is running the smaller inlet manifold then you wont have the little indents

Craig

[Veedubgt18v]

wasnt the 9a engine fitted to 2litre corrados aswell?

the 'small' inlet manifold is 42.5mm diameter and the 'large' one is 50mm diameter. you want the larger one.

[Gambit]

wasnt the 9a engine fitted to 2litre corrados aswell?

yep

[Veedubgt18v]

wasnt the 9a engine fitted to 2litre corrados aswell?

yep

i knew it!  

[so1o]

Thanks for the help.

I had a new starter motor put in but still dont make a difference. A local golf nut mentioned that the timing might be retarted or to advanced? Any idea's?

Will have to take a few pics of my very dirty/untidy engine bay.

Solo

[mk1]

Clamp one end of a jump lead from the earth side of the battery and the other to the engine on a clean piece of metal. If the engine winds faster, check the earth lead from the battery to the body and then to the engine. Check the red live cable where it bolts to the starter for corrosion and make sure that it is ok. The other thing it could be is a worn bush in the g/box that supports the starter pinion shaft, this bush is the front support for the motor and is critical that there is no play as it.
9A engine is a cracker
Steve.