mk2 Golf gti 16v will not start

[Dan Hallifax]

Hi my mk2 Golf gti 16v will not start. It was fine yesterday after 200 miles of driving and nothing for the two months I've had the car, then today it is just turning over and wont fire. there is spark and the fuel pump seems OK. It seems like the immobilizer, I've disconected then re-connected the battery to re-set this, and no joy. Any ideas?

[boyt]

have you try your spare key? you need to get it plugged in to see if any fault codes, where abouts are you?

andy

[racin snake]

hiya ..i dont think it will be the immo if you are getting a spark and fuel ?
if you have a rev counter see if it moves when cranking
also check the timing belt as it may have slipped or snapped
also advise having the codes read .

[johnwintle]

Mk2 Golf 16v won't have any codes as there is no diagnostic socket...back to basics.
There was also no factory immobiliser, there may have been a very basic alarm at some point offered.

The chances are that if you have an immobiliser it is definately aftermarket, but as suggested it is unlikely that this is the problem as you are getting spark and fuel.
Is your distributor cap and rotor arm OK? have they been replaced recently?

Do you have a VW specialist local to where you live?

[racin snake]

are you sure they don't have the 2x2 diagnostic port ? what year ?

[johnwintle]

If this is a Mk2 16v then I am 99.9% sure there is no diagnostic capability, and in almost 20 years around mk2's I haven't seen one with it. The USA market models may be different but if we are talking about a UK/European one that is what I am basing it on.
The Mk3 GTI 16v is a different animal, as this had dagnostic capabilities build in from the start.

[racin snake]

my apologies . i thought they were very well into the diagnostic before then ?

[towcestervag]

my apologies . i thought they were very well into the diagnostic before then ?
just to let you know mk2 16v golfs suffered from bad engine earths causing the car to turn over but not start engine ecu reqs more than 10 volts to work properly clean main earth to gearbox and the one below battery

[David8831]

I just wanted to resurrect this post because I too have a Mk2 16V that won't start after 12 months in the garage. Never had this problem previously. I'm suspecting the fuel pump because when I loosen the feed into the metering unit I only seem to be getting residue fuel coming out. There is power to the fuel pump but I can't hear it running. The plugs also aren't wet after prolonged attempts to start. All suggesting a dead fuel pump.

The 3 Phillips head screws that secure the fuel pump are very rusty so not easy to remove lying on my back on the garage floor!

Any suggestions would be gratefully welcomed........