Getting Back on the Road After 17 Years

Hi All,

My 1983 Golf MK1 GTI Convertible  has been off the road for 17 Years!!

Now the time has come  to get the love of my life back on the road !!

But where do I start ?

Bit more info - Engine hasn't been turned over at all, it's only been rolled in and out of the garage a couple of times over the years.

Any advice would be greatly received..

Thanks

Mark

Welcome along.

First thing to do is to check the state of the cambelt. Take the covers off on the left hand side of the engine and have a look. If it's perished or looks dodgy then replace it.

After that check the engines not seized by sticking a spanner on the crank bolt and see if you can spin the engine over. You might need to remove the spark plugs.

Change the oil and filter, remove the fuel from the tank and give the injection system a clean.

Replace the battery and add some new, clean fuel to the tank and prime the system.

Stick the key in and give it go!  

Good luck

Ian

Before you get jiggy on the road replace the tires.

They will be dry rotted, and have flat spots.

As other have said… 19mm socket on the crank bolt, cam belt end and turn the engine over by hand.

look inside the fuel tank for rust and remove all the old fuel.

welcome and good luck mate

Hi there Im embarking on the same today - although mine only be static for 3 years. Mine's auto and convertible 1982.

It rolls fine and despite being plugged in to a fully charged brand new battery it won't even turn over. The starter tries to turn, kind of gets about half a rev and then stops. Occasionally does a full turn of the engine, but then nah.

I have squirted easi start in, and it did twice fire and turned over enough to pull fuel into the filter. But it feels like torture so decided I'd better ask before busting something.

With the easi start it did seem to run freely, and turn over ok. It seems the auto is 'blessed' with a hideous access to the starter motor so I thought I'd check before doing any more.

Any thoughts on why the starter is so super slow and gutless, even with a fully charged battery AND plugged into a battery charger at the same time. Does this mean starter is done for? Anything I can do to test it?

Thank you!

Bad engine, bad starter bad grounds and or power wires to the starter.

Can you turn the engine over easily by hand?

Argoman - with the starter - take the all the leads that go to it - and clean them. i had the same issue on my Campaign - was about to shell out for a new starter based on what the garage told me - but took the ground lead off - sanded off corrosion. Bingo - works  great now!

Good luck with it!

Briano1234 said

Bad engine, bad starter bad grounds and or power wires to the starter.

Can you turn the engine over easily by hand?

Engine turns over easily by hand, well pretty easily. When last run it was really perky so I'm pretty sure engine is fine. Wasnt sure if a starter can 'seize'.

bytor said

Argoman - with the starter - take the all the leads that go to it - and clean them. i had the same issue on my Campaign - was about to shell out for a new starter based on what the garage told me - but took the ground lead off - sanded off corrosion. Bingo - works  great now!

Good luck with it!

Will do that. Good tip and fingers crossed. I can barely see the blasted starter motor so Im dreading having to get it out. Threads I've read seem to say the gearbox / engine will fall on me if I do - assuming I can actually get access to it which right now looks impossible. I'm used to working on landrovers. Thank you!

Starter could be naff as others say clean all connections. The coil could also be naff so not sending enough spark. Then there are the plugs them selves give them a wire brush. But more importantly try to start the engine with all the plugs out. This will fire up the oil pump sending oil all around the engine. Starting an engine that has sat for that amount of time everything will be dry and cause you a heap of problems. I know this first hand with my mk2 escort that sat for over 20 years


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Sorry for the delay in replying to you all…

Progress so far.

Oil and filter changed
Spark plugs replaced
Battery replaced
Old petrol removed
New petrol added
Manual turned crackshaft (all good)

But it won't start, I've checked and I getting a spark but from what I can see and smell no petrol is coming through..


Any idea guys


 

Can you hear the pump priming? As you turn the ignition on (before you turn the car over) you should hear a buzz from the rear - if not you may have a duff fuel pump relay or a duff pump.

Thanks for replying..

No can't hear the pump priming but then again I don't ever remember hearing it !

Then again that  was 17 years ago

Is it injected or carb?

If it's a carb engine then it's a mechanical fuel pump on the front of the engine, remove the fuel feed from the carb and see if fuel squirts out when cranking ( be careful of fire risk!

jazzydog said

Is it injected or carb?

If it's a carb engine then it's a mechanical fuel pump on the front of the engine, remove the fuel feed from the carb and see if fuel squirts out when cranking ( be careful of fire risk!

You can always use a rag to catch the fuel

According to post title it's a GTI - so assume it's got fuel injection.

All  GTIs will make a buzz from the rear when priming - if it's not priming you are getting no pressure - no petrol.

Chances are it will be the relay - you can jump this - just google or search this site - just remember not to drive the car jumped - it's purely to get the car started - get yourself a new relay. When replacing the relay check the fuse box - these cars have a habit of developing leaks at the windscreen whereby water runs on to the fuse box and cause all sorts of unpleasantness!!

Check the fuel filler neck as well - as if that is badly corroded you may have rust in the fuel system - costly and a PITA to sort out.