Scirocco Register

Hello,

I have an '89 Scirocco GT Auto, with a manual choke (carb was replaced a year ago).

Essentially: key in ignition, lights on, and nothing happens (apart from the telltale click from the solenoid). I've charged the battery, I've tried a different battery, and it's the same situation.

Reading online the chances are the starter motor's died, although I'm curious what else I should check in addition to this.

I'm wondering if this would also be behind my problems starting the car over the past 4-6 months - more and more often I'd have to turn the engine over for a minute, before it would eventually kick into life.

I'm hoping it is the starter motor, as anything more complex would probably see me selling it after 8 years of ownership, because I'm really starting to tear my hair out.

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.

If your handy with a spanner and a screwdriver strip your starter and check the motor brushes. These will be much cheaper to replace than the motor itself.

Ben.

Another tip, have someone tap the starter with a hammer while you try and turn it over.

Why doe you turn on your lights first ? or do you mean the dash lights light up ?.

Joost

Joost - I mean the dash lights / headlights / blowers all work, so the battery seems fine.

I may not be mechanically minded, and I like to think I've got a fair amount of common sense, but... I just don't know where to look for the starter motor! You may laugh, but it's a completely different setup to the Haynes manual, and bearing in mind it's a 1989 GT Auto, where the heck am I supposed to be looking? I may be having a blonde moment, but I don't know where I'm looking. Any help, please? I'm all set to give up on the ******* car.

Follow the passenger side drive shaft.

That is well hinden compared to a manual gearbox car, I can see why you was having problems finding it!

Thank you for the advice.

Well, two months after it last moved, I'd arranged my mechanic mate to tow it away today and work his magic - and it sprang into life without a second thought. F***ing thing...

I drove it to the mechanic anyway as something's clearly wrong (probably starter motor), plus I need to get it checked out and ready for winter, so bracing myself for another assault on the wallet...