Wont Crank/Turnover

I have a 1985 Mk1 Golf GL Cabriolet 1.6 carburettor engine, completely standard.

Recently the car has intermittently started to fail to crank/turnover. On the turn of the key, it will engage and partly crank/turnover but not a full turnover, if I continue to repeatedly turn the key, again and again, it will eventually turnover and start. the amount of turnover will vary on each turn of the key generally getting longer until it fires.

Any ideas what this maybe?  It almost sounds like its seized but will turn eventually turnover.

The battery is new, so could this be the starter motor?


Thanks in advance for your help.

either a bad starter motor or a bad ignition switch.

You can take the starter off and have it tested, or
Car in Neutral, e-brake full on key in and ON run.

Take a wire of sufficient gauge and jumper from the battery to the solenoid pick on the starter little wire on the left of the solenoid, of the starter spins fast then you are looking at an ignition switch.  If the starter is sluggish then you are looking at the starter.

Make sure that your battery to frame and frame to engine grounds are clean and tight, as well as no corrosion on the starter to battery wire.

A failing ignition switch gives the same symtoms of a duff starter, cheap and easy to replace if indoubt;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-MK2-1-8-GTI-IGNITION-STARTER-SWITCH-C403-/190285739353

https://www.classic-vw.co.uk/ignition-switch-6-pin-mk1-golf-jetta-scirocco-caddy-171905865--111905865l-5194-p.asp

unplug ignition switch and loop a thick wire between the red and red/black. if it cranks over lovely its ignition switch.

if it does the same thing its ignition switch wiring, a bad alarm/immobiliser, bad starter, or bad battery cabling.

1st fix would be unbolt all the battery and alternator cabling, buff everything till shiny and refit. dont forget the spade(s) on starter motor.

corrosion can build between gearbox and the bracket the earth bolts to, later mk2 golf moved the main earth to a stud on the end of one of the bolts holding gearbox to engine, you could do the same.

to test if the gearbox earth is bad put a jump lead between battery negative and one of the bolts holding starter to engine, see if it improves.