If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
92 GTI starter/solenoid problem
I have a 1992 automatic GTI which has the famous hot-start problem: when
the engine is hot, it will not start. There is no noise except the faint hum of the fuel pump (?). Once the engine cools down (was 15-30 minutes in the winter; now 1-2 hours in the summer--but probably the problem is getting worse too) it starts fine. Presumably this is because the solenoid gets hot, its resistance increases, and the terminal 50 voltage is then insufficient to engage it. Impatient with this, I cut the ignition cable that goes to to the starter ("Terminal 50") and have been starting the car by touching the end of this wire to the positive battery terminal (only ~4 times), in lieu of putting in a relay that will accomplish the same thing. However, I just tried this most recently, and nothing at all is happening, including no arc when I touch the terminal 50 cable (going to the starter(solenoid)) to the battery, as if it were an open circuit. Could the solenoid finally have fried? thanks, Tobin Fricke |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Time to replace the starter and make sure there is a heat shield on the
starter. "Tobin Fricke" > wrote in message F.Berkeley.EDU... >I have a 1992 automatic GTI which has the famous hot-start problem: when >the engine is hot, it will not start. There is no noise except the faint >hum of the fuel pump (?). Once the engine cools down (was 15-30 minutes in >the winter; now 1-2 hours in the summer--but probably the problem is >getting worse too) it starts fine. Presumably this is because the solenoid >gets hot, its resistance increases, and the terminal 50 voltage is then >insufficient to engage it. > > Impatient with this, I cut the ignition cable that goes to to the starter > ("Terminal 50") and have been starting the car by touching the end of this > wire to the positive battery terminal (only ~4 times), in lieu of putting > in a relay that will accomplish the same thing. However, I just tried > this most recently, and nothing at all is happening, including no arc when > I touch the terminal 50 cable (going to the starter(solenoid)) to the > battery, as if it were an open circuit. Could the solenoid finally have > fried? > > thanks, > Tobin Fricke |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Woodchuck" > wrote
> Time to replace the starter and make sure there is a heat shield on the > starter. With an automatic, maybe not for some people, but for me was a real bitch when I changed an automatic GolfGL A2, starter I think I had to pull the axle, the back engine mount - hold up the engine - there may be easier ways to do it. Stick-shift starter is easy to replace not automatic. I did it twice some years ago. The first time it took me hours. Harry |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Harry" > wrote in message
news:1122181499.02c685a7b633cf2d2699455db351e969@t eranews... > "Woodchuck" > wrote > >> Time to replace the starter and make sure there is a heat shield on the >> starter. > > With an automatic, maybe not for some people, but for me was a real bitch > when I changed an automatic GolfGL A2, starter > I think I had to pull the axle, the back engine mount - hold up the > engine - there may be easier ways to do it. Stick-shift starter is easy > to replace not automatic. I did it twice some years ago. The first time > it took me hours. how old is your battery? it could be on the weak side and just not putting out enough juice. the starter location and heat is a problem as well but a good battery should be able to overcome that. I eventually had this problem with my 5-speed GTI...when the car was warm the battery couldn't put out enough juice to overcome the resistance from the heat. it's a more frequent issue w/the automatics, but nevertheless a good battery should be able to handle it. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
On Sun, 24 Jul 2005, Matt B. wrote:
> how old is your battery? it could be on the weak side and just not putting > out enough juice. the starter location and heat is a problem as well but a > good battery should be able to overcome that. I eventually had this problem > with my 5-speed GTI...when the car was warm the battery couldn't put out > enough juice to overcome the resistance from the heat. it's a more frequent > issue w/the automatics, but nevertheless a good battery should be able to > handle it. Battery is fine. Solenoid seems dead, as if there is a break in the circuit somewhere (in the solenoid windings?). Tobin |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Sat, 23 Jul 2005, Woodchuck wrote:
> Time to replace the starter and make sure there is a heat shield on the > starter. What sort of heat shield should be used, and where is it obtained? thanks, Tobin |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On Sun, 24 Jul 2005, Harry wrote:
> With an automatic, maybe not for some people, but for me was a real > bitch when I changed an automatic GolfGL A2, starter I think I had to Yeah, it seems to be in the most inconvenient place possible. I'm going to leave this one to a well-equipped professional. (-: tobin |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I would try VW first for the heat shield since they made the car. If it's no
longer made then the junk yard. But check to see if yours is still OK. i.e. not missing or rusted away. "Tobin Fricke" > wrote in message F.Berkeley.EDU... > On Sat, 23 Jul 2005, Woodchuck wrote: > >> Time to replace the starter and make sure there is a heat shield on the >> starter. > > What sort of heat shield should be used, and where is it obtained? > > thanks, > Tobin > |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Tobin Fricke" > wrote
> What sort of heat shield should be used, and where is it obtained? It is a pressed-steel cover that goes over the starter. It has 3 mounting holes (if I remember correctly) when you loosen the starter the shield comes off too. One end of the shield where the mounting holes are, it comes down at a right-angle from the top cover part of the shield to be correctly positioned over the starter. I actually have an automatic starter laying around here when I changed my Golf from automatic to stick-shift - the starter is different with a stick so I had to change that too. Harry |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
98 Explorer - Cold Starting/ Idle Problem | tj | Ford Explorer | 6 | March 16th 05 03:22 AM |
rec.autos.makers.chrysler FAQ, Part 1/6 | Dr. David Zatz | Chrysler | 10 | December 18th 04 05:15 AM |
rec.autos.makers.chrysler FAQ, Part 1/6 | Dr. David Zatz | Chrysler | 10 | December 2nd 04 05:19 AM |
New *FREE* Corvette Discussion Forum | JLA ENTERPRISES TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATION | Corvette | 12 | November 30th 04 06:36 PM |
87 TBI Suburban bog / acceleration problem | Michael Vosk | 4x4 | 8 | September 29th 04 04:55 AM |