Trouble starting

[sciroccos at earthlink.net (Jim Ruffi)]

<lurking still off>

Sorry, but I should have elaborated.  I totally agree with Chuck.  The
ignition switch is the first thing I would check and, in my case, the first
thing I did check.  The switch was fine.  The PO replaced the distributor,
plug wires and an unknown amount of other items in an effort to solve my
problem.  The seller (who was NOT the PO) didn't want me to come on a cold
day, as he said it would be a bad idea to try to start the car on a cold
(January) day.  He didn't have the balls to tell me it had an ignition
problem.

I checked my ignition switch first, then dove into the Bentley/diagrams.
Everything checked out, except for one thing (can't recall what) that led
nowhere, as far as diagnosis.  It didn't make sense.  So, on a bit of a
whim, I replaced the cable with a NOS one I had and it fired right up.

Soooo, I absolutely agree with Eric that all Scirocco battery cables should
be replaced when you take ownership of a new one or if you've been driving
yours for 15 years plus and haven't replaced the cables.  Plopped a new one
on the 85 in the first week of ownership for good measure.

I also agree with his budget cable suggestion.  Here are the dimensions of
the stock ground wire.

Center of battery post to frame connection: 15 inches
Frame connection to trans mount: 7 3/4 inches

Basic replacement procedure:

Remove the battery
Remove the boot between the airmeter and the throttle body
Unclip the top airbox half from the bottom
Unclip the bottom airbox half from the body
Struggle with and remove bottom half from vehicle
You should be able to access the two bolts that hold the strap to the body
and the trans.

</back to lurking>


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Chuck Blue [mailto:sukchew@cox.net]
>Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 6:58 PM
>To: car; Mike Smith
>Cc: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>Subject: Re: Trouble starting
>
>
>I think I'll go in a different direction.The Ing/starter switch has a
>contact that is hot when the starter is engaged.If It is not hot then you
>are attempting to catch the Ing spark on the engine spin down.make
>sure that
>you have voltage from the starter switch to the coil while
>cranking.It might
>be a ground but I just thought that I would confuse things a bit.
>ole blue