2.0 Conv - Intermittant non start

[JohnnyD99]

Hi there! A friend of mine has a T reg 2.0 auto convertable which has a tendancy not to start sometimes, the fault is apparant from cold but not everytime, can take 3 or 4 attempts to start the car and when it fires up smells rich, indicating no/poor spark?

I recently used a friends Snap on diagnostic reader to check for fault codes but the memory was clean and replaced spark plugs, cap, rotor arm, leads and the temp sensor on the front of the engine. I also recently replaced the breather pipes as they had compleatly deteriorated.

Does anyone have any help or input to help me cure the problem? Btw I searched through the forum and did'nt find anything relavent to this car/engine etc so any further suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks.

[Crasher]

To be absolutely correct, you have this question in the wrong section; the car is a Golf 3, not a Golf 4. The engine will be an AGG and usually the symptoms you describe are the coolant temperature sensor so I would replace that first. When it refuses to start, do the dash warning lights stay on or go out?

[JohnnyD99]

Ah right sorry, I did wonder as I know the mk4 conv is a facelifted mk3, sorry for any confusion or missunderstanding. I have replaced the temp sensor as a friend of mine had similar problems on her mk3 conv with the same problems, that car has been fine since but not this one. Am I right in saying your reffereng to the temp sensor in front of the engine by the top hose? I fitted one from ECP, are these normally ok or am I best fitting a OEM part?

I can't answer the dash light question as the car has never miss behaved when i've been looking at it. What should I be looking for interms of the dash lights?

Thanks for the reply and help.

[Crasher]

The sensors from ECP are fine. Ask her to check the dash lights each time she tries to start the car, if they stay on whilst cranking and the car is not starting, that means the ignition switch is OK, if the lights go out, replace the ignition switch.

[JohnnyD99]

Thanks alot for your advice mate, much appriciated, i'll pass on the info, you know how it is though, always better to experiance the problems yourself but sods lever thats not always the case.

If for arguements sake the dash lights stay on what would my next port of call be, i've read a couple of threads in the mk3 section regarding the ecu relay and crank sensors, could either of these be a possible cause of my issues?

[Crasher]

If the dash lights stay on I would replace the ECU relay next, position 3 (upper row third from the left) with 30 printed on top, part number 165 906 381.

[JohnnyD99]

Thanks alot for your help, i'll report back when I know more, one last thing, how much is the relay from VW, any idea?

Thanks again for all your help, regards John