Starting

Hi,

Last wednesday my mk1 took 2 turns of the key to start ! The first turn the engine turned over but did not kick in, send turn it kicked in.  Thursday the same again only 3 turns with the key with it turning over and not starting. Friday again but with 4/5 turns of the key.

By saturday morning the car was struggling to turn over and start so i called the AA. He tested the battery and it came back absolutly and sods law would have it that as soon as he statred the car it fire right up!

His advice was to run it for a but and the problem should not persist. He also said that there was nothing wrong with the car and it looked in mint condition.  Good key sounds, good electrics etc.

Monday morning and work arrived and after numerous turns of the key it did not start again with the engine turning over strong with the initial turns of the key but finally not turning over and sounding like the ignition was fine but nothing to turn the engine over.

Monday evening car started 3rd time so I took it for a good long drive to run it in a bit.  

Tuesday morning car did not start again.  Again initial turns of the key made the engine turn over and sound like it was just about to kick in but to no prevail !

Any help, ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.  This car is in great condition, just 100k on the clock, great history, well kept and garaged every night without fail.

Fuel pump is working fine as I can hear it before key is turned
Could this be a morning thing and if yes why only the morning?

Thanks in advance for any help you may have.

Hoddo

It's that time of year, cold and damp, time to change the HT leads, spark plugs, dizzy and rotor arm, points if you have them.

If the problem is intermittent this is a sure bet. And cheapest place to start.

Peter.

Are there any other problems with the car?
Does it run and idle well once it has started?

As Pete says, it could just be due new plugs and leads etc, though perhaps the timing is slightly out meaning it will run, but is hard to start?

It has always statred fine. Up to around 1000rpm after initially fired up then drops to around 850 when idle.  Nothing odd really

Once going it has been a little jumpy (not often) at low revs but it does not last more than a mile or so.

To be honest been slightly big headed its a v.good condition and has run fine problem free its whole life.

This dinner time I went home and she started up first time without pause!

So why then 4hours earlier does she fail to turn over?

You got another battery you can try on it for a couple of days?

No but at the end of the day it is not the worlds most financially burdening cost is it!

Would you think it would make much difference? Educate me as i am all ears.  Why would the battery be influencing the startin the mornings and not the afternoon?

Hoddo said

This dinner time I went home and she started up first time without pause!

So why then 4hours earlier does she fail to turn over?

In a word "damp"

crazyquiff said

Hoddo said

This dinner time I went home and she started up first time without pause!

So why then 4hours earlier does she fail to turn over?

In a word "damp"

Best way to over come "DAMP" first thing in the morning when i have to fire her up?

damp start spray over the HT leads ettc

Batteries can become very tempromental if on their way out - IE a cell has dried out and fried…

Caused me no end of probs in my old Mk3 gti… New battery and all was fine.

AL_Mk1 said

Batteries can become very tempromental if on their way out - IE a cell has dried out and fried…

Caused me no end of probs in my old Mk3 gti… New battery and all was fine.

Sounds like my kind of problem so i shall have a look into this.

Where is the best place to get a new battery for my vw? and how much should I be paying

I got one from GSF (German Swedish and French car parts) and paid about ?30 I think. You could buy brand names such as BOSCH and pay a lot more if you wanted though…

If you are unsure of the age of the battery, then it is not a bad thing to replace anyway…

Quoting myself now!

It's that time of year, cold and damp, time to change the HT leads, spark plugs, dizzy and rotor arm, points if you have them.

Rich and his damp start spray will work for a bit but eventually something will break down altogether.

Peter.