problems starting car (GTI 16v)

[luked]

I have a mk2 Golf 1987 GTI 16v

Recently bought it, and its been sitting on drive for last 5weeks. turned engine over once a week.

Came today,as im insured now... drives and startted up fine this morning, however came to start it up tonight and it wont start 

Its just ticking over, (trying to start) but wont.

Any ideas? lame thread as im guessing it could be a number of things?

Or is it to be expected with the age or the car, and the cold weather and the auto choke?

Cheers, help much appreciated.

Just worried ive bought a car which aint mechanically great, but other than that, everything as been fine, did a 300mile journey (didnt miss a beat) on the day i bought it.

Thanks

[luked]

Plus im new To Vdubs and older cars in general.... so is there a method for starting cars in cold weather? Foot down on clutch/accelarator etc?

Cheers

[The Mighty Elvi]

Read me thread above 

[Bjork]

Have a look into when dizzy cap, rotar arm, spark plugs and leads were last replaced.

Try pumping accelerator 5 times and then fire her up.

When mine was sruggling to start turned out to be the ignition switch but I'd check the above first.

Prob won't be starter motor if it sounds like it's turning ok.

Good luck!!!

[Conker]

Pumping the accelerator won't do a thing with a 16v as its mechanical injection and needs the engine to be turning to deliver fuel. Here's my tips from when I've had problems with my 16v:

1.  Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key to position 1? Its a 1 second "buzz" noise from the back of the car.
2.  If you can hear it, turn the key on-off ten times, but only to position 1 so you keep re-priming the pump (but not strating the engine). This ensures you've got plenty of fuel pressure in the system. Then try and start it properly.
3.  Having the throttle slightly open while starting can help it catch.
4.  Have a look under the bonnet for any vac pipes that may have popped off. Look primarily around the airbox (behind the drivers headlight).
5.  If its struggling to turn over, or maybe the lights dim significantly when your turning it over it may be your battery  =  Jump start!
6.  Once mine wouldn't start no matter what I did, including trying a jump start. It only started following a bump start, and was fine ever since.
7.  If its trying to start but won't, check for dampness thoughout the ignition system.
8.  Just a thought but worth asking... Has it got plenty of fuel in it?

[luked]

Cheers for help.

Had a look this morning

- It aint the battery (jump starting didnt work)
- Spark plugs spark (so guessing there fine)
- Fuel is fine - well was no where near red yesterday (1/4 tank full)
- And fuel pump is making the noise on 1st ignition start-up. (tryed your technique conker but no luck)


Proper confused now  would call RAC but doesnt cover me for home-start. so its either £65 upgrade or push it 1/2 mile out.  bugga.

[The Mighty Elvi]

You've got the same issue as me.  I've quoted £40 + vat for a distributor from a car dismantler, but I'm going to replace the ignition switch first as it's only a tenner.  I've already replaced the fuel filter and battery and cleaned all earths.

[mattkh]

Hi
Put new plugs in. Put up a picture, a birds eye view of the engine.

[rubjonny]

get a tin of easy start, pop off the rubber boot and spray a load down it, then put it back on.  if the car coughs a bit and almost starts then you can be reasonably sure its a fuel delivery problem, in that case replace the fuel filter.

[Ben Lessani]

Remember to reconnect the rubber though, I can't be bothered reading the whole thread, but if its a K-Jet, it relies on air pressure to deliver the fuel.

I had a stupid moment where I sprayed some easy start in without reconnecting the rubber (so that I could spray more in if needs be) and it wouldn't start ... for the obvious reason, without a vacuum, the K-Jet won't deliver fuel.