1999 Golf GTI T, unusual noise from front offside wheel and sporadic starting issue.

[jpmk4]

Hi All, so I have at last become the owner of a GTI. The Car was purchased in UK last week and then driven back to Italy where I work at the moment.

For 48 hrs in Uk the car drove faultlessly with no problems. Time to board the ferry and although the engine turned over just fine it just would not fire. Panicked a bit, could see nothing disconnected or loose then hey presto 20 mins later it started without a problem, unfortunately since getting the car home it has done this a few more times, is this an electrical or immobiliser issue??.

So driving down thru france and probably been going for about 4 hours when I notice what can only be described as a rubbing noise from front offside wheel, quite a high pitched noise but upon inspection everything seemed okay, throughout the journey this then also developed a clicking noise too, so we have the whiney rubbing noise and clicking noise all from same place. The only thing I can think is poss cv joint/driveshaft issue?? I am pretty sure it is not brakes etc but some advice on these 2 issues would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.jp

[micheal balbrig]

The noise may possibly have been a road chipping caught in brake assy.
An immo. issue normally allows start up but shut down in seconds.A key symbol would also show in dash.
A vcds scan would be helpful.

[Crasher]

The factory immobilser would not cause a total non start problem, it is run and cut. I would suspect the crank speed sensor, get a fault code read done. Didn't you have the (seventeen year old) car inspected and serviced it before driving half way across Europe?