I have a 1995 Jetta GLX Vr6 that I picked up about a year ago.
-Manual
-153k
-european obdII (Got a mil on the dash right before it wouldnt start at all, but was unable to read it because no shops in my area had the right connector to fit) The starts were getting harder at this point.
Since the middle of summer I have been having a hard starting problem, not all the time but often enough to be annoying. In reading some of the fourms here it looked like it was the coolant sensor. So I replace that and nothing changed. The car was still drivable even though it didn't start the first time every time. pinning the gas pedal to the floor or feathering it seemed to help in the beginning. After a while this didn't even help. I would cycle and crank the ignition 15 or 20 times and eventually start.:banghead: I noticed that when cranking the engine would only fire if the lights on the dash flickered right after i turned the key over.(not sure what that means). I pulled it into my driveway a couple weeks ago and haven't been able to start it since.
Since it died I have:
- tested the crank sensor I had and it was reading 900ohms
- checked for spark at the plugs, NONE. Spark at the coil, NONE.
- checked for power to the coil, GOOD. checked the resistance in the coil module, GOOD.
- checked for a singal from the crank sensor to the injectors, NONE.
- checked for fuel pressure, GOOD.
- tested all the relays under the dash and the one in the engine compartment, GOOD.
- checked all the fuses, GOOD.
Everything seemed to point to the crank sensor and in talking to a couple of mechanics, was told that checking for resistance in the sensors wasnt that good of a test so I replaced it, STILL WONT START.
- Cleaned all of the electronic connections under the hood.
- Pulled the ECU and checked it for any kind of damage or bare wires, NONE.
There are a couple of interesting things that are also happening at the same time, the back windows are tempermental, only going up or down when they feel like it (since I bought the car). The trunk would only pop if I pressed the buttion a million times.
Also when the car did start it was easier to start in the morning when it was cooler.
Where is the ecu Relay? is that the one under the hood? I have read in these fourms that a bad one can cause similar no start problems, but nobody stated the location of this relay.
Also when I was looking over the engine bay when It died I noticed a small fuse block inline of the ground cable right off the battery. The thin piece of metal that connected the two ends of the ground cable was blown apart, but the 20amp and 5amp fuses that also reside in this block were intacked. I dont know what this thin peice of metal is, nor do any of the mechanics I know.
I feel stuck, like I suck, and I really need some direction so any help would be greatly appericated. The car only cost me $800 and $300 for the alternator it needed. Im really not trying to sink a ton of money into this car, so I really dont want to tow it to some hack job shop around here and get FU*KED for $500.
-Manual
-153k
-european obdII (Got a mil on the dash right before it wouldnt start at all, but was unable to read it because no shops in my area had the right connector to fit) The starts were getting harder at this point.
Since the middle of summer I have been having a hard starting problem, not all the time but often enough to be annoying. In reading some of the fourms here it looked like it was the coolant sensor. So I replace that and nothing changed. The car was still drivable even though it didn't start the first time every time. pinning the gas pedal to the floor or feathering it seemed to help in the beginning. After a while this didn't even help. I would cycle and crank the ignition 15 or 20 times and eventually start.:banghead: I noticed that when cranking the engine would only fire if the lights on the dash flickered right after i turned the key over.(not sure what that means). I pulled it into my driveway a couple weeks ago and haven't been able to start it since.
Since it died I have:
- tested the crank sensor I had and it was reading 900ohms
- checked for spark at the plugs, NONE. Spark at the coil, NONE.
- checked for power to the coil, GOOD. checked the resistance in the coil module, GOOD.
- checked for a singal from the crank sensor to the injectors, NONE.
- checked for fuel pressure, GOOD.
- tested all the relays under the dash and the one in the engine compartment, GOOD.
- checked all the fuses, GOOD.
Everything seemed to point to the crank sensor and in talking to a couple of mechanics, was told that checking for resistance in the sensors wasnt that good of a test so I replaced it, STILL WONT START.
- Cleaned all of the electronic connections under the hood.
- Pulled the ECU and checked it for any kind of damage or bare wires, NONE.
There are a couple of interesting things that are also happening at the same time, the back windows are tempermental, only going up or down when they feel like it (since I bought the car). The trunk would only pop if I pressed the buttion a million times.
Also when the car did start it was easier to start in the morning when it was cooler.
Where is the ecu Relay? is that the one under the hood? I have read in these fourms that a bad one can cause similar no start problems, but nobody stated the location of this relay.
Also when I was looking over the engine bay when It died I noticed a small fuse block inline of the ground cable right off the battery. The thin piece of metal that connected the two ends of the ground cable was blown apart, but the 20amp and 5amp fuses that also reside in this block were intacked. I dont know what this thin peice of metal is, nor do any of the mechanics I know.
I feel stuck, like I suck, and I really need some direction so any help would be greatly appericated. The car only cost me $800 and $300 for the alternator it needed. Im really not trying to sink a ton of money into this car, so I really dont want to tow it to some hack job shop around here and get FU*KED for $500.