Re: Headlight problems & not starting

["Wm. Josiah Erikson" <josiah@gsinet.net>]

The headlights in a Scirocco are not relayed (from the factory, anyway)- it must
be your wiring. I can't think of anything else it would be... you could check to
make sure you're getting power at the fuse, and then work your way out from
there... There should be four separate fuses four your headlights, I think.
I've never had a car that didn't require a little blip of the throttle to make
the OXS and the alternator lights go off- I wouldn't say that that has anything
to do with your hard starting problem. Hard starting problems are so difficult
to diagnose without more information. Basically, either you're not getting
enough spark (or no spark) or you're not getting enough fuel. Sometimes people
have put extra grounding straps on their cars and it has fixed their hard
starting problem. Our cars have lousy ground anyway, so it's always a good idea
to ground the battery to the block, and the block to the chassis, or in whatever
combination you feel like.
    Good luck!
    -Josiah


John Woodward wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I have a couple problems that I hope you might be able to help me with.
>
> First, the passenger-side low-beam headlight on my '81 Scirocco has ceased
> to function.  The high beam goes on, but not the low beam.  I've checked the
> bulb (which works perfectly in the driver's side) as well as the fuse (I
> even took it out and cleaned the contacts).  I've check as much of the
> wiring as I can see easily (the connector on the back of the light, etc.).
> The problem seems to be intermittent, too--it worked for about a week but
> hasn't worked since.
>
> My dad (the original owner of the car) swears that some of the relays under
> the dash control the headlights and that the lights have occasionally not
> gone on at all unless he tapped the relays.  I can't understand why the
> passenger low-beam would be separate from the driver-side, though.
>
> Also, I've started having trouble getting the car to start.  The starter
> turns the engine over at the normal speed, but the engine won't start.  It
> doesn't seem to be related to temperature--it happens both when the engine
> is cold and warmed up.  The car got a complete tune-up a few months ago
> (plugs, cap, rotor, etc.) so I don't think that's the problem.
>
> About the same time this started, my OXS idiot light started staying on
> after I started the engine (until I sped the engine up).  I mentioned this
> at the VW dealership the other day and the guy said that "Sciroccos are
> notorious for needing a little extra throttle at startup to make the fuel
> injection system work properly."  Is this true or is there something wrong?
> Neither of these things (not starting and OXS idiot light) has been a
> problem before (the car has over 216,000 original miles on it without ANY
> problems).
>
> If anyone has any suggestions for things I might try to get my light working
> again and getting the engine to start normally, I'd REALLY appreciate
> hearing them.  (The last thing I need is to get stranded somewhere or to get
> a "fix-it" ticket!)
>
> Thanks in advance for your help; I've really enjoyed all the information
> that's available on the list!
>
> John Woodward: <http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~jwoodwar>
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