my mk1 won't start

[nlowe79 at gmail.com (Nate Lowe)]

Ok, I'm back in town and monkeyed with the car last night some. I cleaned up
the connectors to the solenoid and cleaned up all my grounds (even though
they didn't look like they needed it). I tried to get to the connection by
the firewall, but the connector wouldn't come apart and it was getting dark
so I skipped it for now. I also can't get any measurements while starting
since I'm going solo on this.

I havn't had the car not start since then (tried it a few times), but
sometimes I get a half second pause where the lights are on but nothing
happens before it starts to crank. So I think the next step is to replace
that connector Peter mentioned. Is there any reason to keep that plug there
rather than just doing a permanent connection?


On 7/7/06, Peter <peter@thescirocco.com> wrote:
>
> How much power do you have at the solenoid, when you try to start it?
>
> Check the solenoid wire connection right by the firewall...
> It's a spade terminal connection, that usually corrodes, it can be cut out
> of the way, and connected back together with a butt connector. Just follow
> the wire from the solenoid, and you'll see what I'm talking about.
> It could also be the ignition switch, or starter...
>
>
> Peter-302.832.8989
> http://thescirocco.com/
>
> Please! Include the previous text in your reply...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nate Lowe [mailto:nlowe79@gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 10:34 PM
> To: julie@menloparkrandd.com
> Cc: Scirocco List
> Subject: SPAM-LOW: Re: my mk1 won't start
>
> I plan on doing that first since I'm really hoping that's all it is. I'll
> probably just clean and crimp all the connections to the starter and
> solenoid to be sure I didn't miss anything.
>
> To address your suggestions in case that doesn't work though.
> I'll check voltages at all the wires running to the solenoid and the
> starter. I'm assuming the fat one direct to the starter from the pos
> battery
> terminal should be 12V (obviously) and the others should be what? The
> Bentley says 7V for terminal 50, I'm assuming that's the quick connect on
> the solenoid. If cleaning the connections doesn't work I'll check the
> voltages and report back.
> Also, is
> this<
> http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volkswagen/Scirocco/EngineElectrical/197
> /1>the
> permanent magnet starter you're reccommending? I'm sure it's nice, but for
> $142.22+shipping I'll definately try and rule out wiring first ;)
>
> I'm going to be away for the rest of the weekend and can't keep working on
> the car, but at least I know a couple ways to get it started and get me to
> work on Monday. I'll clean things up and check voltages if necessary then
> and report back. Thanks for all the help!
> Nate
>
> On 7/6/06, julie@menloparkrandd.com <julie@menloparkrandd.com> wrote:
> >
> > Dan wrote the blow:
> >
> > Ohh, ohhh. Try this. I've done it my self the night before the trip to
> > Cincy.
> >
> >
> > >To be just a little more clear there is a ~1/8" diameter red wire
> > >that
> > has a
> > >quick connnect spade lug on the end of the starter solenoid. This is
> > >the wire that goes to the starter position of the ignition switch.
> > >i.e. it provides the current to pull in the solenoid and power the
> starter motor.
> > >Pull the quick connect off of the solenoid, crimp it just a bit with
> > >a
> > pair
> > >of pliers and reinstall on the solenoid.
> > >Worked for me 7 years ago.
> > >Dan
> > >
> > >From: <julie@menloparkrandd.com>
> > >Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 7:31 PM
> > >Subject: Re: my mk1 won't start
> > >
> > >
> > >> There is a heavy gauge wire on a slip on spade. Short this to the
> > >> cable
> > of
> > >> the battery connector.
> > >> Umm. Make sure the tranny is in neutral ok?
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>-----Original Message-----
> > >>>From: Nate Lowe [mailto:nlowe79@gmail.com]
> > >>>Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2006 06:47 PM
> > >>>To: 'Scirocco List'
> > >>>Subject: my mk1 won't start
> > >>>
> > >>>Help!
> > >>>My car won't start under its own power. When I turn the key to the
> > start
> > >>>position, all the lights come on nice and bright and the voltmeter
> > reads
> > >>>12V, nothing else happens. No clicks, no starter spinning, nothing.
> > >>>I
> > got
> > >>>it
> > >>>to start at work by getting a couple guys to push my and then
> > >>>dumping
> > the
> > >>>clutch. It ran fine after that, but as soon as I shut it off at my
> > >>>apartment the same thing happened when I tried to start it again.
> > >>>
> > >>>I did some searching in my repair manuals, and it looks like it's
> > either
> > >>>the
> > >>>solenoid, the ignition switch, or the wiring between the two. I'm
> > supposed
> > >>>to bridge starter terminals 30 and 50, but I'm not sure where
> > >>>exactly those are.
> > >>>
> > >>>Any other ideas for things to check if this doesn't work are also
> > welcome.
> > >>>TIA
> > >>>Nate
> > >>>_______________________________________________
> > >>>Scirocco-l mailing list
> > >>>Scirocco-l@scirocco.org
> > >>>http://neubayern.net/mailman/listinfo/scirocco-l
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
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