Hi All,
Great forum and have to say am a newbie to it...hopefully this will be a lasting relationship heh heh.
Right then, the nitty gritty - the car is a 1997 VW Golf mk3 1.6CL (133+k miles) which I've owned for roughly 2 months and in that time I've had endless starting problems with it...
Initially the starter motor gave up so I reconditioned it - end of probs (so I thought) once the cold/wet weather began the car struggled to start but once it had then it was ok for the rest of the day.
I duly replaced the coil-pack, HT leads, plugs, dizzy cap and rotor (there was evidence of arcking on the rotor and 2 of the HT leads) I still endured the non start on cold/wet days ( in the dry no problems...) I had the battery checked by a well-known motor accessory store it showed that the battery was at 13.5 volts but only 47% starting capacity.
I had found that the car would start by using a "boost pack" so using that finding I replaced the battery today (24/11/09) after charging the "new" battery for an hour (one never knows how long the batteries are laying "dormant" in the stores for) the car momentarily showed signs of its old tricks i.e not starting then lo n behold she fired up.
I'm of the mind that the ECU relay may be at fault having scrolled thru' annuls of forums but a) where is the ECU relay - unable to locate near fuse box under dashboard on o/s and b) are there any other faults that could be occurring? Fuel pump primes readily and all lights etc are as they should be as is fuse number 15 (10A) Engine Electronics- any help = greatly appreciated
Regards and otherwise happy motoring
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hey,
Questions!
a) Does it crank at normal speed when you try to start it?
b) Does it eventually start if you keep cranking it?
c) Have you checked the grounds for the ECU and the body <-> Engine <-> Battery?
d) Fuel pump relays are a common failure on the mk3's
e) Have you checked for spark & fuel when it doesn't start?
The fuse box should be in the drivers footwell on the underside of the dash. Should be some green push clips to release the panel.
James
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Hi James,
Thanks for the response and in answer to your questions...
a) yes
b) no, battery faded but started with a "boost"
c) yes - cleaned and checked for any breakages
d) still trying to locate relay for the fuel pump but one can hear pump priming, have found the fuse box and some relays but not the ECU as the relay numbers in the car are from the top: 72,blank 18,blank 191, and from the bottom 99.,36,blank 53, and 167 have read that the ECU relay is 30...
e) yes, good spark and fuel.
It really is an annoying problem, it only happens when it's been raining overnight. Once it has started then its fine for the rest of the day, when its been a dry night it starts first crank/turn of the ignition key - I'm at my wits end. Hall sensor (on distributor) is fine too.
D@mn process of illimination is doing my head in har har
Mark
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Mark,
Yes an odd one. It all seems centered arround the battery really though doesn't it?
Have you tried a voltage check between the engine & the negative post on the battery? If there is more than 0.5v difference - might show a bad ground cable. You need the engine running, all lights on, heated windows, fans etc to produce a load.
I think (from memory) the Fuel pump relay is 167 - its the bottom right one.
Have a look at : faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/Campingart/jettatech...m
James
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James,
Great link - thank you muchly!
I've found, from the diagram in the link, what could be the ECU relay but am unsure as on another forum someone mentioned that the ECU relay was under the carpet near the driver's door - hmmm the mind boggles!
I guess that I'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings as the car has been starting as it should after the initial hesitation this morning - but that is just a mirror-image of the usual problem - ugh! Sod's law tho' it probably won't rain tonight heh heh1
Anyway, once again thank you for the support and help - watch this space eh!
Mark
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Hi James,
Long time...well just over a week!
Update:
I installed a new battery and lo n behold the car started as it should for2days :) there was me all smiles and a happy dubber - then it went wrong again. Rain, and it struggles to start but cranks over far better with a new battery. It does eventually start tho just not at 1st turn of the key!
I'm at a loss - I suspect that it could be a duff coil pack but as there's no-one around to help me check for "sparking" from it i can't really tell.
It's the most frustrating thing because it only does it first thing then is fine for the rest of the day - almost as if something has dried out in the process of driving but the initial prob is the start as I've mentioned before in previous threads.
A reminder: new rotor and dizzy cap, new HT leads, and coil pack (tho now suspect!) plugs
Thanks for the links
Peace
Mark
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have you tried the alternator? it may be due to water leakage that you may have a problem starting it, the battery having about half the charge looks to me the alternator not charging enough. and not enough voltage means that the alternator not supplying enough juice
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