Coupé 2.0E 1996 coughs but won't start :-(

[RolfTheGolf]

Hi,

I've seen a few posts along similar lines but they don't quite seem to be the same so here goes:

Having sold my Golf because he kept dying and I needed a reliable car, I bought my Coupe in April, and he has been great. My heater recently stopped working on 3 (the only thing he'd been working on before) as the Diode on the resistor pack had burnt out. We soldered in a new one but then realised the fan was not turning (unfortunately we did this by bypassing the resistor and as a result blew the fuse of the Cigarette lighter... probably best not to ask).

As the heater had been broken I didn't drive anywhere for about 10 days / 2 weeks (all it has done here is rain and I couldn't see out of the windscreen even if I opened my windows so I just didn't drive as I'm on holiday from work).

Yesterday after we'd been looking at the fan I went to start it for the first time in 10 days / 2 weeks I turned the key and the engine was trying desperately to start but it just wouldn't, would just keep cranking but seemed like no spark.

When we investigated, I had to replace the Dizzy and rotor arm (worst I've ever seen), so we did, and still nothing. My dad thinks it might be that we blew something else when we blew the cig lighter fuse but I can't see how? He also thinks it could be something to do with the immobiliser, but when my immobiliser is on it won't even let you turn the key let alone crank.

The car was SPOT ON and working perfectly before this period of non-driving. Does anyone have any ideas?! They'd be welcomed (especially if they are cheap as I am skint at the moment :-( ).

Many thanks for taking time to read this,

Lol.

[RolfTheGolf]

Forgot to mention, when he looked yesterday Dad said there was a spark.
So I don't understand why it isn't "going".

[frankiea3]

have you checked to make sure your getting fuel as well as a spark? if youre getting fuel and spark make sure theres compresion,if you dont have a comp tester you can tell by the way it turns over,does it turn over really quickly?when you replaced the dizzy cap did you put the leads back on in the correct firing order,if not this could cause your probs.also check basic things like lead and plug conditions.

[RolfTheGolf]

Hi mate, thanks for your reply,
Turns over at a normal speed and def got the firing order right, will check other things today and report back later. This is the newest engine I've worked on and it confuses the hell out of me! Used to mark2 Golfs and MGB GT...

[RolfTheGolf]

I've come to the conclusion that I can't do anything on that engine as it totally confuses me. Part of me wishes I had my ancient Golf back but he didn't bloody work either.

If you have time (I totally understand if you don't) could you just describe how to check those things (some things i have no idea where they are in this engine and the fact that there is no manual for this car is really hampering me). Usually my Dad helps me out but the reason I bought a newer car is because he is getting too fragile to help.

I would pay to get it sorted but a) I have no money thanks to work being total assholes - don't go in to education kids, it's not as secure as people perceive it to be (sorry for the rant), and b) I can't get hold of my usual mechanic, who I trust.

I don't think it's getting fuel because I can't smell ANY fuel, and normally when you turn over any car for too long you can smell it, even just when you try to start it up. I wouldn't know where to start looking at compression even if I was getting fuel.

What do we think, my fuel pump has gone? :-(

Sorry to be so totally useless. The MGB is a doddle compared to this bad-boy :-(

[scotty33]

If it's any help, Haynes print a manual for the late 100/early a6 which also had the 2.0 ABK engine. Should be a good place to start?
Other than that, it could be the fuel pump, but could also be a fuel pump relay problem. The relay may be one of those in the fusebox? If you take a spark plug out, see if its wet (with petrol). Also a compression test is done by placing a tester over the empty spark plug hole and turning the engine over. You would need to get a compression tester to do this

[RolfTheGolf]

I shall definitely get the Haynes manual, it was a huge help with my Golf! I shall have another look at him today, I'm hoping at least I can suss the problem, even if I can't fix it.

Thank you for your help,
Lauren.

[RolfTheGolf]

Thanks to those who helped, I bit the bullet and took it (towed it with a transit!) to my mechanic who spent hours sorting it. It's now sorted, thanks for the suggestions :-)

Lol.