Non-starting... may or may not be electrics

[the edmundator]

My car won't start.

It stopped on the way home from picking it up last weekend, doing about 70 on the M5 it just slowed down and then refused to start again. The RAC chap diagnosed it as a buggered coil, which seemed to be right as replacing the coil got it running again on Tuesday.

Decided to go for a spin this afternoon, only for the car to stall shortly after starting and idling for a bit, never to start again.

There appears to be fuel getting the carb and I'm pretty sure there is a spark as very occasionally it will run for a couple of seconds, then stall again.

I have replaced the battery, coil, HT leads, spark plugs, rotor arm and distributor cap and the situation is the same.

Any ideas why it won't start?

{EDIT} I am mildly concerned my engine might have lunched itself, although the fact that it has idled successfully since stopping on the motorway makes me think this is less likely. The car hasn't been run properly for some years, so I am worried about nasty things happening.

[Risocco]

Dizzy itself OK dude? Quite rare for them to go but one went on my MK2 Golf. Exactlly the same would run, then cut out and not fire for ten mins or so. Then repeat.

Alex

[the edmundator]

How do I test the distributor? Wouldn't be surprised if it's rogered given the lack of use the car's had over the past 10 years.

[kariba]

Which rocco is it?

Inj or carb?

[the edmundator]

It's carb 1.8

[kariba]

Dont know if the RAC bloke would have done this...
Check the feed to the coil and the earth from the coil. Start with the basics!

[Junglist]

This may be useless to you or the simple answer to your prayers (probably the former!) I had this happen and it turned out, inexplicably, to be the fuse for the horn! Replaced it, everything perfect since. Beats me why but that's what happened.

[hyperdrinky]

I have had quite a few similar breakdowns in the past with my Mk2 1.8 EX.

In the first instance my car would run fine for a while then cut out when I accelerated. It turned out that the centre shaft bearings had worn to such an extent that the rotor arm was striking the points and had broken part of the arm. Check this by removing the cap and arm and wiggle the shaft. There should be no lateral movement. The only way to sort this is to buy a new unit. I'm on my second just now as the aftermarket ones don't seem to last as long as the proper VW ones.

The latest breakdown issue I had was down to crud in the carb. I took it off the car, broke it down (carefully) and cleaned it with carb cleaner. Sorted the problem out. With the Pierburg 2E2 there can be any number of issues that might be causing problems though.

[the edmundator]

I've got a new distributor as they aren't too expensive. When I've got a moment I'll fit it and see if that sorts out the problem. If not, I might need a hand.

[dingodub]

Hey all, having the same issue with non stater. It happened a few years ago and it turned out to be the fuel relay. Same thing has happened again. Sue used to turn over first time on a jump, now though I'm not getting the 'buzz' from under the car when I turn the key?

I got a box of spare relays from flea-bay today, what number is the fuel one and where should it go in the box?

Cheers

David

[KindredSpirit]

Had the same thing happen with my '86 GTX Injection. The fuel pump relay went. I had it repaired and it lasted a while longer. In the end though, I had to byp-ass the relay as the circuit board had a bad connection. I think (not quite sure) that the relay is number 17.
Also I had to have a new fuel pump - this gives similar symptoms. They are becoming rare as hens' teeth.

[Joe87]

dingogub - It goes in socket 2 for fuel injection models, that's the second one along in the middle row. I'm not sure about carb models though. If you can't hear the pump priming then it's almost certainly the relay - I had exactly the same problem.

Edmundator - could be worth checking the fuel pump. Assuming carb models have them (I guess they do)? Mine would work intermittently, although you said there seems to be fuel getting to the carb, but perhaps it's not all the time? Does the engine fire? If not you could try taking out a spark plug, putting a small amount of petrol into the cylinder, putting the spark back in and turning the engine over to see if it fires - at least that way you'll know if you have a spark/fuel is getting the the engine.

[Junglist]

No fuel pump on carb. far as I know..

[Risocco]

Nah, you got two pumps. One in the tank, and one bolted to the face of the block, by the dipstick.

Alex

[the edmundator]

I think carb cars just have a mechanical pump, turned by the engine.

I don't think fuel supply is my problem. I think it's timing +/- earthing.