Volkswagen Golf III (1992 - 1997) - 96 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Tue 5 Aug 2008 22:07

96 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - garethewq

Hello,

My VW Golf Driver 1.8 has occasionally had this problem which is now constant, whereby the engine would fire up on ignition, then a second later die. I try repeatedly to start, the car and with no luck. Yet, some days it just works. Really puzzling. Spoke to garage which advised me to get a new key cut as it could be faulty. I did this, yet the problem continues with old and new key. Is it the receiver or the immobiliser? Somehow not recognising the key? Or is it faulty wiring somewhere, a fuse?

Also when the car has a good day, and fires up it's absolutely perfect. Doesn't splutter or anything.

Cheers for any help!

Gareth

Edited by Pugugly on 05/09/2008 at 22:42

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Tue 5 Aug 2008 22:16

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Screwloose

Gareth

When it initially starts; can you rev it up before it cuts dead?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Tue 5 Aug 2008 22:27

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - garethewq

Yes, I can start the car and floor it. Probably get to around 4-5 rpms, then it's like the power turns off the engine and it drops dead.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Tue 5 Aug 2008 23:39

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Screwloose

That's almost certainly the immob then.

Follow the cable back from the key-reader until it reaches a small box under the dash; carefully remove the two plugs from that unit and clean the tiny terminal pins and plugs with proprietory electrical contact cleaner.

If that doesn't work; try changing the key-reader coil.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 6 Aug 2008 21:49

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - garethewq

Thanks for that,

I've looked underneath, and apart from fuse boxes. I found one box todo the automatic locking and another which looks rather suspicious. On the front it reads, SG20E - Voltage 12V DC, negative earth, current 15mA. I've included two pictures as well.

picasaweb.google.com/woneaecho/UntitledAlbum/photo...8

picasaweb.google.com/woneaecho/UntitledAlbum/photo...2

There's a small black wire, followed by a White (R), Red (T), and a another black cable. Just wondering the small black I've got in my hand in the pic wasn't attached to anything. Looks like an earth cable. Could this cause a problem? I can take out the other three cables for cleaning, but I just want to make doubly sure first.

Thanks

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 6 Aug 2008 22:09

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Screwloose

Can't get the pictures to show anything useful - just a music list?

That sounds a bit like an aftermarket alarm.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 6 Aug 2008 22:25

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - 659FBE

Pictures download OK here (firefox).

Difficult to comment on immobiliser box, but I'd say it looks OE.

659.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 6 Aug 2008 22:40

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - topbloke

thats a sigma alarm control unit and the black lead is the ariel

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 7 Aug 2008 01:25

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Screwloose

Follow the key-reader cable to locate the immob. It's in the lower dash driver's side.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 22 Aug 2008 20:58

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Mueller

Hello
I would really like to hear if a solution to this problem has been found. Have same prob. with 1995 Golf ÍII. Occasionally it dies imidiately after starting, it will rev up to 3000 - 4000 rpm, and then dies. This can happen up to 20 times after each other, then one can take a walk for 15 minutes, and when getting back, the engine might start on the first try. It might run for months without showing any problem and then showing problem several times within short time. Fuel pump has been changed. When trying to start with fuel pump relay removed, it shows no life at all, so i don't believe the relay is faulty.
1.8 litre ADZ engine. Where is the key-reader mounted, probably close to the key?

Regards from Denmark
Kurt

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 22 Aug 2008 21:06

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Screwloose

Kurt

Yes; it's a ring of black plastic around the actual lock with a black, screened, lead going under the dash to the immobilizer unit.

If yours will rev up and then cut; it's nearly certain that it's an immobilizer issue. Follow the instructions above; you fault could well be the immob plug[s] too.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 23 Aug 2008 17:47

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Mueller

Hi Screwloose

Thanks for the advise, found my immobilizer, and when removing the cable from the key-reader, i experience exact the same behavior as when the error occours. Cleaned the contacts and checked the soldering of the pins into the printed circuit board, which where were ok. Now i'll have to wait some month to see if the error reoccours, if so i probably need to replace the key-reader.

Thanks again
Kurt

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 23 Aug 2008 21:11

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Railroad.

I've come across this quite a few times on VWs, and it does sound very much like an immobiliser fault. The system will allow the engine to start, but then switches off the ignition module and fuel injectors after a second or so.

When it does it again try pushing the car just a few yards to a different location and try starting it again. I don't know why but it nearly always works.......

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sun 24 Aug 2008 08:22

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Mapengo

What you're talking about Railroad is interference from wireless doorbells, home internet wireless networks and such things. Quite common for older cars to be confused by these things.
There is a 2003 micra in our family that suffers exactly the same problem when parked a foot too close to the front door :)

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sun 24 Aug 2008 10:23

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - Railroad.

So that's what it is eh? That's very interesting.

I remember once going to a Golf in a garden centre car park one afternoon. It would start and cut straight out. I checked the hall sensor and that was working properly, but both fuel system and ignition system would cut out together. I pushed it about ten yards, and hey presto.

Another was also on a Golf outside someone's house. Same thing again, pushed it a few yards and bingo. And these are two of quite a few I've seen......

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 5 Sep 2008 22:15

1996 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - garethewq

Hello,

I've solved the problem, and believe or not it's not the immobiliser. I took it into a register VW garage, and they ran the system diagnostics on it. Nothing came up either , and they said it could either be the temp sensor or the step motor. Apparently if the temp sensor is faulty, then the engine management system might thinks the car is overheating. Hence the cut out. So I replaced the temp sensor, and hey presto! Car has been running beautifully since. Very pleased. E B Jones, specialists in Liverpool. Couldn't be more helpful. Hope this helps other people with the problem.

Railroad: It possibly sounds like your starter motor is faulty, and it is not engaging properly.

Gareth

Edited by garethewq on 05/09/2008 at 22:16

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Tue 3 Jan 2012 19:26

96 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - drunkasanewt

Hi Gareth,

Sorry to bump such an old post but I need to know if this temp sensor fix lasted more than a few weeks.

We have the same problem on a 2005 Beetle that has been bugging us for the last 3 years. It is so intermittent, I never know if its fixed or not. It can fail 10 times in 1 week but then work for 6 to 8 months without issue. Each time it fails we must dis-/re-connect the battery and my partner can't even open the bonnet, let-a-lone use a spanner!

Please let us know how its going after all these years.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 10 Apr 2013 15:05

96 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - twiggy198716

Hi all

After reading all these posts I would just like to add that I have had the same problems with my 1997 polo cl 1.4 , it finally gave up on me today despite the fact I had changed the HT Lead, distributed cap, battery, temp sensor and sparks and full service

So I took it to local garage who done a diagnostics and fount the issue to be the starter module not working properley, meaning that although the car would start it could not maintain and would cut out again, the started to happen just in cold or wet weather then would be fine the rest of the day.

Until today were it started moved a few yards then died repeatedly all the way to the garage(took ages to get there lol)

Hope this help only going to cost me £80 to sort I will let you know the outcome once I get the car back

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 11 Jan 2014 12:08

96 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - auto man

i got a golf jumbo it starts uo rev to about 3000rvs and cut out,while the ign is on there are no spark and the feul pump are of,you can try and try to start it and stil will not work,switch of the car strat up and rev to 3000revs and cut out again,i have removed the immobilisar and still the same prob,start up rev up cut out no spark and no feuel pump,What can the prob be?maybe the heat sensor or the ecu??Plz help im going to burn the car

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 4 Dec 2015 22:29

96 1.8 starts then dies after about two seconds - goodegg

Dear garethewq,

Have just read you`r post about golf 3 1.8 starting then cutting straight out,

have same problem with mine. Today had to call RAC out, it seem`s that the

immobiliser did not recognise my key! RAC man said immobiliser needs Reboot.

First you Must Remove the Key( if you do not, Key code will be wiped) then

Disconect Negative Earth strap to Battery, He left it off maybe 15/20 seconds,

then reconnected strap, Job done!

After reading the other Posts i realise this may not help everyone, but for those like myself keeping a 19 year old Car going, what a Great Quick Free fix.

hope it helps

Goodegg.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Ask Honest John

Sell Your Car

Real MPG

Fuel Calculator