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

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

"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

"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.

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

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

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

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
>

"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