Urgent help required - car won't start!

TrickyWicky

Warning lights coming on then going off is normal.

This is one of a few things:
Dead ignition coil
No fuel supply
Dead spark plugs

To check the fuel supply, remove a spark plug and crank the engine - you should see the fuel mixture being pumped out of the spark plug hole (and be able to smell it). IF there is no fine spray being pumped out then you have a duff fuel relay, fuse or pump.

To test the coil you'll need to know its resistance and have a multimeter to test it.

To test the plugs (unlikely) you'll need to have a helper. One of you needs to touch the plug against the engine block (using something that doesn't conduct electricity to hold it) while trying to crank it. You should see a tiny spark there that is regular and timely. Be sure to pull out the fuel pump relay first though so that no fuel is pumped out of the hole (or you may need the local brigade to come out).

Ignition coil would be my best guess. I used to think there was no way they could just fail until it happened to me. I had an engine out of a car and it refused to start when it went back in. The coil was never touched but somehow it had given up the ghost and died. When replaced the car started instantly.

fivetide

If your neighbour has the same car/engine etc and a bit of knowledge he may be able to help.

He might also be able to swap a coil pack from his car to see if this is the issue.

5t.

hewhoisnotintheknow

fivetide wrote: »

If your neighbour has the same car/engine etc and a bit of knowledge he may be able to help.

He might also be able to swap a coil pack from his car to see if this is the issue.

5t.

whilst this is true, i find it sensible not to disturb a working car that doesnt belong to you, fiddling often upsets something that causes a fault

either get the correct breakdown cover (one that actually covers you when you break down) or call a mechanic out

vax2002

if its a 1.8 16v then the coil pack is a reoccurring issue, I have two old ones in the shed.
Where are you someone may have a vagcom scanner locally.

hewhoisnotintheknow

vax2002 wrote: »

if its a 1.8 16v then the coil pack is a reoccurring issue, I have two old ones in the shed.
Where are you someone may have a vagcom scanner locally.

a known fault on a vw???

LoveChild

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

whilst this is true, i find it sensible not to disturb a working car that doesnt belong to you, fiddling often upsets something that causes a fault

either get the correct breakdown cover (one that actually covers you when you break down) or call a mechanic out

Just spoke to my sister. She's going to get her other half to pop in on the way home and see if he can start it.

All this talk of fuel pipes, immobilisors, scanners, coils has gone straight over my head sorry.

Had to call work and explain I couldn't come in, so lost a days pay too

vax2002

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

a known fault on a vw???

VW coil pack 582,000 results
Volkswagen coil pack another 430,000
Depends what you call known ?
Over a million people certainly know of it enough to post on the internet, how many more have read it.

Jamie_Carter

Sounds like the coil pack is probably the problem then. However testing the spark doesn't determine if it is the coil pack or immobiliser.

Does anyone know if there are any known faults with VW immobilisers?

I would go for the RAC upgrade before you splash out.

fivetide

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

I would go for the RAC upgrade before you splash out.

I would extra go for the towing it to the local supermarket before spending another £49 on home start.

5t.

LoveChild

fivetide wrote: »

I would extra go for the towing it to the local supermarket before spending another £49 on home start.

5t.

Would a local garage be better equipped to help me start my car? :huh:

Anyway BIL has just arrived. I'm sure he'll get it started for me