Engine wont start-help

[gearyboy]

Did a two minute journey to the local garage, went inside then started to go to work, suddenly lost power and seemed like it was running on 3 spark plugs, limped towards home pulled over. I left engine running and popped the bonnet to have a look. Within seconds the engine stopped running. Engine wont start now, it just back fires occassionally now but wont start. I got the other halfand i pushed it home. Now im at work I am thinking what it could be?? Please could you help me, I need my rock back asap. Hope its something simple!! Ooooppps its a 1992 'j' reg 1.8i with 79k on it. Full sevice around 6months ago

Cheers Matt

[NiceOne]

I have had something similar, on my particular issue a thin vacuum hose had popped off that goes between the dizzy and what i think is the brake servo non-return valve, try that if you cant find what i mean i could get a picture for you

[gearyboy]

I have had something similar, on my particular issue a thin vacuum hose had popped off that goes between the dizzy and what i think is the brake servo non-return valve, try that if you cant find what i mean i could get a picture for you

If it is the one i spotted this afternoon, does the pipe go towards the dashboard? mine is a white hose that is attached to nothing!

[gearyboy]

Right this afternoon i have checked that fuel is pumping through and i am getting a spark from all the HT leads. to be honest it doesnt sound very nice when trying to start, any ideas?? Just sounds strange from the bottom of the engine, might just be the exhaust which is about to fall off lol

[gearyboy]

Noticed as well when trying to start it today no back fires at all, just continual turning over

[NiceOne]

Post Deleted because it was a different system

[NiceOne]

i found this info, below is the etka diagram for the 1.8 gti vacuum system it is slightly different to the carb, on the injection there are 2 valves that could cause the problem you are having numbers 19 and 20 in the pictures the part numbers are

19 - 171 919 825 this is a vacuum switch
20 - 055 905 291 A this is the non-return valve



The vacuum switch will be about £20 and the valve about £10 from VW, i would check the valve first its a cheap part try them from eurocarparts they seem to be really cheap

[PeteGLi]

I have had something similar, on my particular issue a thin vacuum hose had popped off that goes between the dizzy and what i think is the brake servo non-return valve, try that if you cant find what i mean i could get a picture for you

If it is the one i spotted this afternoon, does the pipe go towards the dashboard? mine is a white hose that is attached to nothing!

The thin white vacuum hose that goes through the bulkhead to the dashboard will connect to the valve in the vacuum line from the inlet manifold to the brake servo.

If you have it, there may be a yellow vacuum hose that connects from the same valve in front of the inlet manifold to a vacuum unit on the front corner of the airbox.

The black vacuum tube from the vacuum retard unit on the distributor attaches to the back of the throttle body and has NO valves anywhere in its line.

[NiceOne]

From what Petegli has said sounds like its the white hose thats the problem, if thats not connected it would almost certainly cause the problems you are describing, any drop in pressure within the vacuum system will cause the engine to not run correctly if at all.

[gearyboy]

An update, i attached the white pipe and again tried to start it with no improvement, any ideas??

[the edmundator]

might just be the exhaust which is about to fall off lol

At what point in the exhaust system is the break? I can't imagine the engine will run very well with no exhaust.

Was the car running completely normally before this incident? Were there any faults at all?

[gearyboy]

just the mid and back box needs replacing, its blowing badly thats all, i was a bit ott with the 'falling off'

No faults what so ever before hand, it was running great