1996 golf gti engine not firing

[golfan]

Hi, went to work yesterday. Car started fine. ON the way home stopped at supermarket. When I went to restart car, it was completely dead. Pressed immobiliser many times to get lights up on dash. Nothing. Finally after about half an hour, pressed immobiliser, lights on car started, off I went. 20 mins later, stopped for petrol, tried to start car, just turning over but not firing up. RAC man couldnt find any of the simple things that could be the fault. THen towed it to garage, where they have said its the distributor and will be £500. I still think it's immobiliser, and wondering if they are guessing or wrong. Pretty expensive if so. PLease please anyone with ideas or had similiar problems? THanks in advance

[tornadored7]

Sounds similar to a problem that I once experienced, on a Golf MK3 TDI.

When turning the ingnition key, the starter would turn but the engine wouldn't start. The problem is documented in this thread (note: this thread relates to a TDI engine not a GTI engine).

1.9 TDi does not start Heeeelp (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7220)

The underlying cause was eventually determined to be a faulty ignition switch, which was a fairly involved job to replace.

Your symptoms;


Pressed immobiliser many times to get lights up on dash. Nothing. ...
... tried to start car, just turning over but not firing up.


Seem to suggest that the problem is an intermittent electrical issue, perhaps with the ignition switch, immobiliser, relay or a corroded electrical contact/fuse.

Personally, I can't relate a Distributor issue to no Dashboard lights illuminating, and would suggest investigating electrical issues first.

Regards,
TR7

P.S.
You might get a better targeted response if you posted this thread in the correct forum section;

Golf MK3 - 1993 - 1999 (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=172)