HELP! My 1999 plate VW Golf has had intermitten starting problems since we bought it 6 months ago. Numerous breakdowns each leading to a "repair" at garages but no cure. Today was the final straw, thirty miles from home turned engine off for ten minutes whilst in a shop then tried to start the car turned key the engine didn't fire up. Breakdown came again! thought it was coil...no it wasn't. £150 spent no cure but they were great and did try. Garage thinks it was to do with ignition key and onboard computers and recommended that VW specialist garage take a look. Rang them and basically they didn't show any thought or interest in my problem only telling me the labour costs are £85 an hour. Yes I need to have the car fixed but can anyone please help me!!!
VW Golf starting problems...help!!!
- Thread starter treacle24
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Its a mk 4 1.6 S. Since we have had it it has had new battery, new temperature sensor and new flywheel sensor. None has made any difference. Thanks for trying to help me, its much appreciated! It does turn over and then nothing!
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When the car is not starting. Is there a picture of a key flashing on the clocks.
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Did they actually change the coil, my sons exhibited the exact same fault
Sometimes it would sometimes it wouldnt
A new/secondhand coil later and its not let him down yet (Touchwood
)
Sometimes it would sometimes it wouldnt
A new/secondhand coil later and its not let him down yet (Touchwood
)Teacle24 - my Golf is doing the exact same thing and has been since last summer. We have replaced the lambda sensor and cleaned out the throttle body which has made some difference and it doesnt do it so often. However I don't know whether its a temperature thing and its just not been so bad over winter as it started having problems in the warm weather last summer. Might just be a coincidence though!
Tonight however it cut out completely and an Oil Pressure warning came up on the dash and said to stop the car immediately. I called the RAC out and their fault reader computer thingy showed the car had registered a faulty Crank Position sensor although on his machine all sensors were working fine??!! The RAC guy didn't know why the Oil Pressure warning light came on though as that wouldnt tally with a faulty Crank Position sensor and he thought it might be a faulty temperature sensor. We managed to get the car home but he advised not using it and to to take it to a VW dealer which I am very reluctant to do as I dont want to get hit with a massive repair bill which may not sort the problem. Anyone any ideas?? Not sure if the intermitent starting problem and tonights problem are linked.....
Tonight however it cut out completely and an Oil Pressure warning came up on the dash and said to stop the car immediately. I called the RAC out and their fault reader computer thingy showed the car had registered a faulty Crank Position sensor although on his machine all sensors were working fine??!! The RAC guy didn't know why the Oil Pressure warning light came on though as that wouldnt tally with a faulty Crank Position sensor and he thought it might be a faulty temperature sensor. We managed to get the car home but he advised not using it and to to take it to a VW dealer which I am very reluctant to do as I dont want to get hit with a massive repair bill which may not sort the problem. Anyone any ideas?? Not sure if the intermitent starting problem and tonights problem are linked.....
All. Had a similar problem on my VR6 (1997 P reg). Had intermitent starting issues, then one day the ar just wouldn't start at all. Engine would fire up for a second, but the revs instantly drop and dies. AA towed me to the local independent VW specialist and instantly diagnosed it as faulty VW (factory fitted) immobiliser unit. (The oil light flashes because the dash thinks the car has started, but can't see any oil pressure!!)
Anyway, unit was £105 + VAT, hour's labour to fit it, but both keys have to be "reset" to the new unit at a geniune VW garage (sends the data down a secure line). But that was only an extra £35. All in all, was about £250 to get sorted.
No problems since. The mechanic said its a common fault with VWs of a certain age. And there's no way of diconnecting it as it feeds into the start-up logic of the car.
Hope this helps. Should be worth looking at anyway.
Anyway, unit was £105 + VAT, hour's labour to fit it, but both keys have to be "reset" to the new unit at a geniune VW garage (sends the data down a secure line). But that was only an extra £35. All in all, was about £250 to get sorted.
No problems since. The mechanic said its a common fault with VWs of a certain age. And there's no way of diconnecting it as it feeds into the start-up logic of the car.
Hope this helps. Should be worth looking at anyway.
i took my van to the mechanic and he sorted the handbrake cable and put in new brake pads , i went paid him took it home and parked it up.
next day it wouldn't start as before , the lights would all come on but on turning the key further to start, didn't turn over, nothing,... that is for about 7/8 times, then it started.
i took it to another mechanic who looked at it and came to the conclusion it is the ignition switch under the barrel which isn't making a connection.
when the key is turned with a bit of force the van starts ok.
is this the correct diagnosis or is he wrong??
April 2009
next day it wouldn't start as before , the lights would all come on but on turning the key further to start, didn't turn over, nothing,... that is for about 7/8 times, then it started.
i took it to another mechanic who looked at it and came to the conclusion it is the ignition switch under the barrel which isn't making a connection.
when the key is turned with a bit of force the van starts ok.
is this the correct diagnosis or is he wrong??
April 2009
I chaged the igntion switch and it still did it (not start) the next day, and this is when the car has been turn off for a few mins never from cold.
Addtionaly thinking about it, I have had problems with the alarm/central lock which is connected, in that the remote would not lock the car, so had to lock manualy, but on return would un lock car.
These type of alarms where a VW spec (scorpion alarms) fitted as a VW option but are in effect an after marcet item, but badged as VW.
Comon fault I am now told for cars of this age and spec.
Addtionaly thinking about it, I have had problems with the alarm/central lock which is connected, in that the remote would not lock the car, so had to lock manualy, but on return would un lock car.
These type of alarms where a VW spec (scorpion alarms) fitted as a VW option but are in effect an after marcet item, but badged as VW.
Comon fault I am now told for cars of this age and spec.
The immobiliser is a chip/transponder in the key and has nothing to do with the remote part of it. The problem could be with the pick up ring around the ignition barrel or the lead from it. I have a mk3 golf that would not start and the fault was with the ring wiring picking up interference from surrounding wires.
Not on my car. The key is just that a key. The remote is after market.
Problem is solved and confirmed as the starter circuit in the alarm unit. This has now been by-passed and the fault (so far) has not come back
Problem is solved and confirmed as the starter circuit in the alarm unit. This has now been by-passed and the fault (so far) has not come back
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