Author Topic: Not restarting once motor is warm (Read 3707 times)

catlin_cava · « **on:** April 14, 2009, 05:36:27 pm »

This is somethng that been slowly happing but i didn;t notice at first...The motor as warm and i had to shut it off in the drive thru and it tried to turn over....roughtly can't even consider it turning over and then NOTHING...won't even turn over....after 2 minutes starts right up...2 seconds later I stalled :oops: and same thing again...its been having some problems starting now and then...

AudiVWguy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2009, 08:17:47 pm »

I'm having a little trouble understanding. When you turn the key to engage the starter it does what? Nothing, clicks, turns over slowly. Trying to determine if we are to focus at the starting system or fuel system.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2009, 09:42:42 am »

Possibly a bad ground or + wire going to the starter.

Rabbit on Roids · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2009, 10:06:10 am »

my rabbit used to be picky sometimes when you would go to start it. but i replaced the + and - wires. just used some left over 4 ga i had from a past stereo install. ive never had it act up since. and i dont think its ever turned over this fast either.

catlin_cava · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:11:30 pm »

when i try and turn it over sometimes it turns over a really weird way and stops and won't turn over again. I think it may be the clutch safety switch, if the clutch isn't agaisnt the floor i won't turn over...where is thaat located?

Hey · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:56:54 pm »

It could be the hydraulic head (injection pump) .. try putting cold water on the head (where the injector lines comes out of the pump) and see if it helps restarting.

If it does... you will nead to change the hydraulic head... do you run WVO?

catlin_cava · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2009, 05:02:47 pm »

Would that cause the motor not to turn over?

burn_your_money · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:02:22 pm »

If it had a hard starting hot condition pouring water on the pump head will cool it and stop the fuel from bypassing. If it then starts then the head is bad.

Since yours isn't even cranking over that's not your problem.

Does your car have a clutch safety switch? I thought that came out on mk4s but I haven't seen that many running mk3s

You can do a voltage drop test on the cables to determine if there is a problem there.

fatmobile · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2009, 10:29:10 pm »

If it happens again;
unplug the glow plug sensor so the glow plugs will light up even when it's warm.

Sometimes that will get it started.

catlin_cava · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:05:45 am »

its got a safety switch on it, i'm think of how i can disconnect it.

clbanman · « **Reply #10 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:23:33 am »

With your engine hot, try connecting booster cables directly from the battery to the starter (using proper safety precautions - car in neutral, park brake on, etc.). If it turns over fine then, your problem is with your cables. If it still does the slow/abnormal thing then the problem is in the starter/engine. I have had similar issues caused by cables that had split sheathing and internal corrosion that created enough resistance with heat that the starter would not turn over. Using a multimeter to check for resistance didn't show the problem. The booster cable trick proved it out.

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:56:49 am »

Quote from: "clbanman"

With your engine hot, try connecting booster cables directly from the battery to the starter (using proper safety precautions - car in neutral, park brake on, etc.). If it turns over fine then, your problem is with your cables. If it still does the slow/abnormal thing then the problem is in the starter/engine. I have had similar issues caused by cables that had split sheathing and internal corrosion that created enough resistance with heat that the starter would not turn over. Using a multimeter to check for resistance didn't show the problem. The booster cable trick proved it out.

x2 man. Screw the electronic garbage and just jump the starter. that will really nail home what and where the issue is.

I had hot starting problems to the point where it would turn over and over and over while hot and never start. But it would roll start just fine.

I had to buy a new head.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #12 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:49:00 am »

The battery cable trick works well but the voltage drop test will show you exactly where the problem is. If the problem is with the connection between the cable clamps and the battery terminals then the cable trick will lead you in the wrong direction.

arb · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16, 2009, 05:11:41 am »

Quote from: "catlin_cava"

when i try and turn it over sometimes it turns over a really weird way and stops and won't turn over again. I think it may be the clutch safety switch, if the clutch isn't agaisnt the floor i won't turn over...where is thaat located?

What ? You haven't bypassed the clutch interlock switch ? ;-) Because I don't loan my cars out, I have mine by-passed. It take about 30 seconds if you have a scotch-lock. The switch is normally open and closes the connection to your starter when you press the clutch. It is a 2 wire switch, so just scotch-locking them together a couple inches from the switch will work. It also means you will be able to move the car a little in an emergency if you can't start it. It also means you could start in gear and bump something / someone. OK, its not technically a scothlok, but who uses Kleenex every time ?

catlin_cava · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:26:21 pm »

So its fixed...it was the safety switch. and I do thank yous for your help on how to bypass it. Whe i did my swap last summer i got left with a massive box of wires...and i found a female plug that fit the safety switch male plug and mad a mod to it..and connect and voila... :lol:

Author Topic: Not restarting once motor is warm (Read 3707 times)

AudiVWguy

Rabbit on Roids

arb