[Faisal]

I tried starting the golf this morning and the engine rotated a couple of times really slowly but wouldn't start. Left it (nicked my dad's bora instead), and just tried it again. It won't rotate or turnover at all now....also the ABS light has come on. Whats that about!?

When i try starting it i hear some whirring, not from the engine (fuel pump?) all the dash lights blink, and for some reason there's some interference type sound coming from the front left tweeter!

Car hasn't been driven since mon, not that long! I've noticed in the past it has taken a while for the engine to start sometimes, but it has always started even when the engine sounds like its rotating very slowly for a couple of seconds.

I hope a jump start works tomorrow morning.

[]

 

[Faisal]

Bugger, not the battery. Can any1 help?

Is a dodgy starter motor an issue on golf's?....It looks like mine has had a replacement starter motor

Some1 help!

 

[nudda]

I got thie twice cos my amp sucked the battery dry ... got the whirring sound ... charged up my battery and I was all go.

 

[Faisal]

Sorry to dig up this post again, but the car's still not starting. I'd really appreciate some more advice.

What voltage should a healthy battery read? I checked it today and it was reading 12.27 volts, is this good or bad?

I also phoned up the guy I bought it from and he said the starter motor was changed 12 months ago, as I suspected since it looks new. My dad had it out of the car to test it with the battery, the motor works when connected directly to the battery, is there any way of checking the solenoid? It's a genuine VW starter motor.

I tried starting it again after re-fitting the starter today...absolutely nothing! I'm not sure if I could still hear the starter/solenoid "click" today (loud outside), but when i tried starting with the headlights on, they and the dash-lights dimmed completely. I would've thought battery was at fault, but its reading over 12V and the little indicator on it is (darkish) green? Green = good battery?

I'm going to try charging the battery for longer and see if that makes any difference. I don't want to shell out for a new starter or battery only to find it wasn't at fault. Could it be anything else?

 

[Royster]

Sounds like you could do with a local VAG-COM user to visit... Hope you get it sorted soon...

 

[ct.p]

If your dad has a Bora, why not try swapping the batteries over to be sure ?

Batteries are funny things and can show what appears full voltage with no load. Try checking the voltage across the battery terminals while your dad turns the key. I would guess it'll drop below 7 volts indicating battery failure once there is a load on it. Are the headlights bright ?

How old is the battery, typical working life is anywhere between 3 and 5 years depending on what life it's led.

Best bet is to swap with your dad's bora battery and simply never give it back i'd say......

Just deny any thing to do with it and make up some excuse about cleaning sulphate off the plates or some other rubbish....

 

[gfunk]

not trying to be funny but my dad a similar problem with his car... he phoned the AA and they came... the bloke had a look... went to his van and got out a hammer! my dad was very bemused and the bloke biffed the starter motor! to his amazement it started first time and it hasnt been a problem yet! just a thought...

 

[RaT]

This sounds very much like the battery. If the engine turns over (even slowly) its unlikely to be the starter. As posted above, check the battery voltage under load. i have found the modern batteries can show a good voltage (although 12.7 is slightly low) when not under load, but load them up ie whn starting and the voltage drops right down. As mentioned above best thing would be to swop batteries with the bora and try. Or give your one a good charge. However if the battery is knackered inside, then even with a good charge it might not have the capacity to start the engine. I had a similar problem with mine, charged it and it worked for abut 2 weeks then suddenly died again. After putting a new battery in its been fine.

Good luck and let us know what it was..

 

[j7uen]

Sounds like the same problem I had with mine, mate of mine took my battery for a good charge where he works and it's been ok since.

 

[BlahBlahMan]

I've just replaced my battery. It went flat after a fortnight away in the summer and i had to get a jump from another vehicle. It was fine after that but one morning, same symptons as you. I got the car started (a trick is to switch the lights on for 20-30 seconds to warm the battery through, turn the lights off and try the engine again).

Anyway, took it to a garage, battery checked out OK for voltage and recovery after load (250amp) but a week later same thing happened. I replaced the battery and hey presto no worries at all now.

I think that batteries at the end of their life show pretty strange and inconsistant behaviour. Replace the battery (about ?50) and you'll be OK for the rest of the winter.

 

[Faisal]

A big thanks for all the replies....i'll try nicking my dad's battery then to see if that works. g-funk, we tried smacking the starter to see if it was just stuck, that didn't work!

Fingers crossed!

 

[ct.p]

Blah,

That so called trick of warming the battery will do nothing except further reduce it's capacity to start the car.

I'd heard this as well, but it's folk-law so to speak, have a look at this :-

(in fact it's basically a 'all you will ever need to know.....)

http://www.diy-nos.freeserve.co.uk/battery-myths.htm

 

[BlahBlahMan]

Thanks ct.p, some good info there. I stand corrected.

 

[ct.p]

No problem

Quite interesting in your circumstances is the 'airport' time designed into cars / batteries..... did you read that bit ?

Also interesting how a battery lasts longer in a cold climate. I always thought it was the opposite until I looked at that site.

 

[jubbly]

Sounds like a battery with a dead cell to me it will have correct voltage but not enough amps to start the car!

Had a similar problem with my 1st AGU and Mk3

 

[Faisal]

It was the battery afterall!

I'd ruled it out because i'd tried charging it and then re-fitting but that didn't work. But just now, after a lot of swearing and struggling I moved the car off the drive and into a parking space so i could try a jump start from my dad's bora, and hey presto started first time!

Think i'll go get a new battery tmrw, was thinking of 66amp bosch one from GSF.....comes in at ?46 inc. 10% discount and VAT. Anyone got a better/cheaper recommendation?

 

[pope1]

Quote: posted by ct.p on 13/12/2004 14:28:38

Also interesting how a battery lasts longer in a cold climate. I always thought it was the opposite until I looked at that site.

That was quite a shock to me when I first came here. New European car with factory battery - approx 3 years. Local replacement batteries - 2 years almost to the day, regular as clockwork!

 

[trl]

When I lived in Saudi I was lucky to get 2 years out of a battery. It was always the same thing. Jump in the car, start the engine, all ok. Drive somewhere, engine off, out of car for a few minutes, back in car....nothing. It was as if someone had put a different battery in. But in the shade temps of 44c, and one week 50-55c would boil any battery.

Tony

 

[Caeclyd]

my dad was very bemused and the bloke biffed the starter motor

He biffed the solenoid in the starter. Once they start becoming stuck on a regular basis change the motor.