Has trouble starting in the sun

[Crazy L]

OK, sounds silly, let me explain.

Right, so I'm back with Mk2 after a number of years. Recently bought an 87 8v GTi. Had it about 5 weeks. Starts every time, until now.

I was out yesterday afternoon (sunday), and it was hot. I went to come home, car wouldn't crank. I had all the other noises, but no starter motor. Anyway, turned out to be a loose spade connector on RH end of starter motor, got home, tightened the spade, popped it on, all good.

Went to work this morning, still cool at half 6. Started no probs. Went to come home at 4pm though and it took a few turns of the key for her to crank. Could it be a dodgy red/black wire? Starter motor looks recent so would think it's not that, but that's the thing with electrics.

Any ideas are much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance

[Crazy L]

Furthermore, after I typed the above post, I went back out to the car, turned the key, it didn't start, did it again, nothing, and again a third time, she turned over and started.
Switched it off, turned key another dozen times and nothing. A couple of hours later, went back out. Started 1st time, 2nd time, it didn't. I can hear relays clicking so I'm guessing they're doing their job.

Funny how all this started yesterday, before that, Like I said, happy as Larry.

[Crazy L]

Right, Day 3. Got home from work, tried the car, not turning over. Gave the starter motor a few whacks with a mallet, still nothing. Shut the bonnet and locked up. A bit pressed for time this evening. Stater relay? how does one check that?

[Crasher]

Could be ignition switch which is easy to test by shorting across from the line 30 red to the line 50 red/black. There are some very dodgy Chinese starter motors around that were new outright but they are outright rubbish, quite distinctive looking. Has it got an immobilisers?

[Crazy L]

Thanks Crasher. I jumped the two connectors and it turned over. I also tried direct from battery to solenoid tab, again, turns over, so I'm thinking starter is fine. Next up, I hooked up multi meter to battery negative, and red/black spade going to solenoid. 2 Volts when I turn the key. I did have a jiggle and got 12 but that only happened once.

It has a cobra thing on it. The previous guy had never used it and in the 5 weeks I've had it, neither have I. The window stickers were well old and the Thatcham website doesn't even list that manufacturer. It all happened very quickly from intermittent to full on.
Am I right in that the red/black goes to the ignition?

Clearly has nothing to do with the sun whatsoever.

[Crasher]

I would follow the black red from ignition switch to fuse box and check for an intercept but it seems likly the switch has failed.

[swalker]

small hijack sorry - on the cheap Chinese starter motors, we have a new guy started with us came from schrader, TPMS people. He said that they had a contract with a company to dispose of sensors that failed test. Turned out these were recycled by shipping them to the far east where they were swiftly put back on the market sold as new working OEM sensors!!

but back to the post, yeah my first though was the ignition switch - do you have, or do you know if the last owner had, a big bunch of keys? these would mechanically stress the switch out.

[mickeybo]

My money is certainly on a faulty relay which is easily checked out

[Crasher]

The type 19 does not have a starter relay for manual transmission, the line 50 feed is direct from the ignition switch at terminal 50 via a 6mm csa red/black wire to the terminal 50 on the starter solenoid.