starter motor problems

ive just tried to start my engine for the first time, but the stater motor wont go?

so i went round with a volt meter and when you turn the key i get 12v to solenoid and the is a 12v line going to main solenoid pin

so i tried to connect another 12v line from battery to the pin that get 12v when you turn key and it went but doesnt go when connected to the ignition pin 50 line

what could be going wrong?

bad earths?

just swapped the motor and still nothing

sounds like a bad earth dude.  Connect a jump lead to the engine and run it to the negative side of the battery - if it goes then you know you have a bad earth.

cool ill try that in the morning, does the starter motor earth through the main earth lead that attaches to the gearbox as i gave that a good wirebrush

it does indeed. big fat earth lead that goes from gearbox to body then onto battery.  How did you get on?

nope nothing, clipped one end onto bellhousing next to starter motor and other end to negative battery terminal but nothing,

across the battery there is 12.8v and same from main solenoid terminal

what next?

you can try running a wire direct from battery positive to the solenoid terminal thus ruling out any faults in the ignition switch wiring.  If it still dont go its possible your starter is knackerd.  Sometimes the braided wire degrades/corrodes  and doesnt make a circuit, other times you can get bad windings etc.

Does it click at all when trying to start it?

Did you have much luck with this? I'm having a similar problem, I've just completed an aaz conversion. My starter motor just turns really slowly, brand new battery too! It must just be a bad earth but I can work out where. I have a copper braid from battery to chassis leg to gearbox mount, then A lead from the same nut on the gearbox mount to the gearbox bell housing. I just can't work it out!

just had this problem on my mk2 gti, have a look at the short braid between the starter and the solenoid, mine was so thin it couldnt get enough power, bodged it back together and it works a treat

Hahaha believe it or not, im using a 1.6D starter motor because my aaz starter had the snapped earth like yours!
How did you repair it? I might give it a go tomorrow. I ran a direct earth from negative to gearbox housing and still no luck. Could it be that I'm using the 1.6D starter? Thanks.

ended up swapping it, works ok now

thanks for all the suggestions