Vehicular Help again

[Ruffyreborn]

More troubles with this car. Vehicles arent my specialty in life, so hopefully I can get some answers here.

First and foremost, this light is always on.

(sorry, ugly MS Paint drawing)

My first assumption was that is was a problem with the connection to the battery, but I think I might be wrong because Ive cleaned the cables and reconnected them snugly and whatnot. Thought it might also be the alternator, but I got a new one not too long ago, so I ruled that out...

Okay, the main problem is that sometimes the car has difficulty starting... The engine just doesnt turn over. I used to park the car on a hill with the nose down, because before last night, it would start 100% of the time that way, but last night it took a while.

I would always avoid parking on a hill with the nose up, because nearly 100% of the time, it wouldnt start. Every time Ive parked on a flat surface, it seems to start fine.

But really, any help just knowing what the technical problem is would be awesome. Thanks a ton.

 

[exodusamphi]

Looks like a check engine light to me.

What make/model/year is your car?

 

[Excim]

(sorry, ugly MS Paint drawing)

lol That picture looks just like a Volvo with an electrical ground problem. Volvos are a strange breed of autos, since instead of working off the "hot" connections, they are generally hooked up by grounds instead.

Okay, the main problem is that sometimes the car has difficulty starting... The engine just doesnt turn over. I used to park the car on a hill with the nose down, because before last night, it would start 100% of the time that way, but last night it took a while.

Sounds like your starter is loose. If you can find it, tighten up the casing bolts, and the tighten up the bolts around the base and mount.

I would always avoid parking on a hill with the nose up, because nearly 100% of the time, it wouldnt start. Every time Ive parked on a flat surface, it seems to start fine.

Your problem is either an electrical ground going to your starter, or the starter itself is loose, which is common in cars over 10 years old, or sometimes even newer.

When you turn your key on, even when the engine won't turn, do you still get all of your idiot lights to come on? If yes, then what do you normally have to do to get the car to start?

 

[Ruffyreborn]

Looks like a check engine light to me.

What make/model/year is your car?

its a 2001 VW golf

lol That picture looks just like a Volvo with an electrical ground problem. Volvos are a strange breed of autos, since instead of working off the "hot" connections, they are generally hooked up by grounds instead.



Sounds like your starter is loose. If you can find it, tighten up the casing bolts, and the tighten up the bolts around the base and mount.



Your problem is either an electrical ground going to your starter, or the starter itself is loose, which is common in cars over 10 years old, or sometimes even newer.

When you turn your key on, even when the engine won't turn, do you still get all of your idiot lights to come on? If yes, then what do you normally have to do to get the car to start?

idiot lights? Do you mean all of the little lights that are on the dash? (seatbelt, engine, brakes, fuel, etc?) If you mean that, nah, only a couple lights turn on, usually being that electrical one, the seatbelt light, the steering wheel light, and sometimes gas. I might be missing one or two.

To get it to start, I sometimes hold the engine down for a few seconds (bad, I know) but it starts after a while. Sometimes I just let the car sit with the key in it and wait a few minutes, then try it and sometimes it works. Its just kind of random.

Last night when I got it to start, it sputtered a bit and the headlights flickered from dim to bright a bit, and then it finally caught and was normal.

 

[Excim]

its a 2001 VW golf. Idiot lights? Do you mean all of the little lights that are on the dash? (seatbelt, engine, brakes, fuel, etc?) If you mean that, nah, only a couple lights turn on, usually being that electrical one, the seatbelt light, the steering wheel light, and sometimes gas. I might be missing one or two.

Those are your idiot lights, yep. Means you have power.

To get it to start, I sometimes hold the engine down for a few seconds (bad, I know) but it starts after a while. Sometimes I just let the car sit with the key in it and wait a few minutes, then try it and sometimes it works. Its just kind of random.

Do you mean you hold the "accelerator" down? All that does is give the fuel chamber a quick shot of fuel, which could lead to vapor lock.

Last night when I got it to start, it sputtered a bit and the headlights flickered from dim to bright a bit, and then it finally caught and was normal.

This sounds more like a fuel issue. But with an electronic fuel pump, if you have a bad ground this might happen. The dimming lights also point to an electrical issue. Being that it's a VW, you'd do well to bring it to a shop and let them find the problem.

Also, when you say the engine won't crank... do you mean it won't fire and run, or do you mean nothing happens at all when you turn the key? It would be very strange for nothing to happen when you turn the key, but then wait a few minutes and it's fine. In fact, that doesn't even make any sense to me at all! lol

 

[Lanien]

Is it just me, or is there no picture there? lol

Anyways, I have never actually worked on a VW before, but it sounds like the started or some sort of electical issue. Taking it to a VW shop or any good mechanic should be able to find it. But like Excim said, you are being a bit vague about the sound your car is making when you turn the ignition. Is it trying to turn over and just won't? Is it sputtering? Is it clicking? All point to different things so a little more help woudl be dandy.

Be careful not to flood your engine. I just noticed the part where you say you hold down the accelerator lol You will usually notice a strong smell of gas when you do. Not very good for your vehicle.

 

[Trippyhippy]

Something is slowly draining your battery. You probably have a short somewhere.

I doubt it has anything to do with your starter not being connected well, as that wouldn't affect your battery. That would just make a terrible grinding noise sometimes when you start it.

I believe you are correct in ruling out the alternater, as it seems to have no problem charging the battery after you start it.

It sounds like a fuel problem. When you park your car on a hill the fuel is running away from the motor. When you park it the other way where your fuel is running towards the motor it starts easier.

What could actually cause that would be leaking injectors. An injector is either open or closed, and it has to have electricity to open. If it doesn't close properly, or if it leaks, when you park on a hill, it will let it suck air in and let gas run back to the tank. When you park on a hill, the gas can't run back.

When you crank your car, your fuel pump runs for .3 seconds and then won't run again till your car starts.

That is also why it sputters when you first crank it. To correct the problem, put new fuel injectors on it.

It could possibly be a cracked fuel line. But chances are, you'd smell gas and see it spewing all over the place.

 

[Ruffyreborn]

Those are your idiot lights, yep. Means you have power.



Do you mean you hold the "accelerator" down? All that does is give the fuel chamber a quick shot of fuel, which could lead to vapor lock.



This sounds more like a fuel issue. But with an electronic fuel pump, if you have a bad ground this might happen. The dimming lights also point to an electrical issue. Being that it's a VW, you'd do well to bring it to a shop and let them find the problem.

Also, when you say the engine won't crank... do you mean it won't fire and run, or do you mean nothing happens at all when you turn the key? It would be very strange for nothing to happen when you turn the key, but then wait a few minutes and it's fine. In fact, that doesn't even make any sense to me at all! lol

Im sorry for being vague, or just using the wrong terms, lol.. When I said "Hold the engine down" I meant key... Idk what I was thinking.

Anyway, yeah, the engine goes "reer reer reer" lol, and eventually starts, and sometimes it sputters a little... If I begin to drive while its sputtering, the gas doesnt give.. Like... I can press the pedal down, but it doesnt rev.

I have taken the car to a dealer before (which was before I had the new alternator put in.) They said nothing was wrong, which obviously something was.

Is it just me, or is there no picture there? lol

Anyways, I have never actually worked on a VW before, but it sounds like the started or some sort of electical issue. Taking it to a VW shop or any good mechanic should be able to find it. But like Excim said, you are being a bit vague about the sound your car is making when you turn the ignition. Is it trying to turn over and just won't? Is it sputtering? Is it clicking? All point to different things so a little more help woudl be dandy.

Be careful not to flood your engine. I just noticed the part where you say you hold down the accelerator lol You will usually notice a strong smell of gas when you do. Not very good for your vehicle.

Yeah (on second paragraph.) Last night, I noticed a very strong gas smell, but I wasnt pressing the accelerator. I was only holding the key down, which I know its bad for the car... But I had to get it to start no matter what, lol.

Something is slowly draining your battery. You probably have a short somewhere.

I doubt it has anything to do with your starter not being connected well, as that wouldn't affect your battery. That would just make a terrible grinding noise sometimes when you start it.

I believe you are correct in ruling out the alternater, as it seems to have no problem charging the battery after you start it.

It sounds like a fuel problem. When you park your car on a hill the fuel is running away from the motor. When you park it the other way where your fuel is running towards the motor it starts easier.

What could actually cause that would be leaking injectors. An injector is either open or closed, and it has to have electricity to open. If it doesn't close properly, or if it leaks, when you park on a hill, it will let it suck air in and let gas run back to the tank. When you park on a hill, the gas can't run back.

When you crank your car, your fuel pump runs for .3 seconds and then won't run again till your car starts.

That is also why it sputters when you first crank it. To correct the problem, put new fuel injectors on it.

It could possibly be a cracked fuel line. But chances are, you'd smell gas and see it spewing all over the place.

Very helpful information, thank you so far, everyone

 

[Cinnisbellum]

PM me if you need help I am a VW nut,

check your coil packs. They usually crack on the backside due to crazy heat. Is it a 1.8t or vr6? Or 2.slow? Check engine light is very common for about 100000 different things, they are pretty much allways on in these cars.

 

[Eilistrae]

don't know if anyone suggested this, but go to an autozone/advance auto and have them test your battery. You could have a shitty battery in your car with low amps/volts.

 

[Lanien]

don't know if anyone suggested this, but go to an autozone/advance auto and have them test your battery. You could have a shitty battery in your car with low amps/volts.

Most likely not because a shitty battery wouldn't be affected by which way the car is facing on a hill, or at least to my knowledge it would have no affect.