Golf GTI just died...

d0b33

d0b33

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My Golf mk3 GTI just won't start... It died unexpectedly on Monday night.. it was idling fine but cut out once I applied the accelerator pedal and now it just won't start... I took it to one of my Dad's mates that works on golfs but he says it's an electrical fault... to me it seems like fuel starvation, or spark plugs.

I now need to take it to a place in southern suburbs, cape town... one option for me would be baron's tokai but I know their labour costs are rather high and since I'll be leaving SA soon I can't afford to spend much, any advice?
 
Had mine do the same many years back, it was my cam belt that had snapped. Hope thats not the case for you.
 
so when you turn the key what does it do, nothing, tries to start etc?

i assume tries to start as you say you think it is fuel starvation, you could always check if it is pumping fuel
 
Aqua_lung said:
My Golf mk3 GTI just won't start... It died unexpectedly on Monday night.. it was idling fine but cut out once I applied the accelerator pedal and now it just won't start... I took it to one of my Dad's mates that works on golfs but he says it's an electrical fault... to me it seems like fuel starvation, or spark plugs.

I now need to take it to a place in southern suburbs, cape town... one option for me would be baron's tokai but I know their labour costs are rather high and since I'll be leaving SA soon I can't afford to spend much, any advice?
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If it was idling fine and you put foot and it died sounds like the Cam-belt. Take out a bogy cord and see if it sparks. If not, take off the cam-belt cover and see if it moves if you turn the key. Hope you have the 8v GTi and not the 16v ;)
 
Hmm.. I don't think so.. the mechanic looking at it now is pretty sure it's an electrical fault.
 
Aqua_lung said:
Hmm.. I don't think so.. the mechanic looking at it now is pretty sure it's an electrical fault.
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Easy to think it's an electrical fault since there is no spark. There is no spark because the cam-belt is broken.

Well this is my conclusion, I'm no where near your car and only guessing from the info given.
 
Pitbull said:
If it was idling fine and you put foot and it died sounds like the Cam-belt. Take out a bogy cord and see if it sparks. If not, take off the cam-belt cover and see if it moves if you turn the key. Hope you have the 8v GTi and not the 16v ;)
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yeah it's 8v, there was no spark yesterday... i'll try and confirm though.
 
Aqua_lung said:
yeah it's 8v, there was no spark yesterday... i'll try and confirm though.
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If it's an 8v just get a new belt and do the timing. If it's the belt that's broken ofc. Easy and cheap fix. If it was a 16v however it would have been a very serious repair.
 
Pitbull said:
If it's an 8v just get a new belt and do the timing. If it's the belt that's broken ofc. Easy and cheap fix. If it was a 16v however it would have been a very serious repair.
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Yeah, I avoided 16v or VR6 for that reason.. :D
 
JoseP said:
Just curious, why is the 16v harder to repair?
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You get 2 type of VW engines. Interference engine and a Free running engine.

Interference engine the pistons don't clear the valves if they are open. Meaning if the cam-belt breaks it hits the valves as they can't close. This bends the valves and causes damage to the cylinder head. On a free running engine the valves will not be hit by a piston if they are open as there is enough space to not hit it.

The 16v is an interference engine and the 8v as a free running engine.

From my limited knowledge this is only true for VW engines.
 
check your air sensor as that was an issue ona friends car just died on him as well
 
Can't get hold of the mechanic who has my car (mate of my Dad)...

I have heard my car make funny belt squeal noises for the past month but attributed to the rainy weather or damp nights, does the cam-belt usually make that noise as a sign of wear?
 
Aqua_lung said:
My Golf mk3 GTI just won't start... It died unexpectedly on Monday night.. it was idling fine but cut out once I applied the accelerator pedal and now it just won't start... I took it to one of my Dad's mates that works on golfs but he says it's an electrical fault... to me it seems like fuel starvation, or spark plugs.

I now need to take it to a place in southern suburbs, cape town... one option for me would be baron's tokai but I know their labour costs are rather high and since I'll be leaving SA soon I can't afford to spend much, any advice?
Click to expand...

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/358648-Barons-VW-Tokai-PLEASE-suggest-an-alternative-!

heres some info on why not to take it to barons
 
Aqua_lung said:
Can't get hold of the mechanic who has my car (mate of my Dad)...

I have heard my car make funny belt squeal noises for the past month but attributed to the rainy weather or damp nights, does the cam-belt usually make that noise as a sign of wear?
Click to expand...

Not that I'm aware of. It just goes without any notice. And it's not like the belt is split in 2 either. The teeth on the belt strip out and then can't turn the valve cam anymore.
 
Pitbull said:
You get 2 type of VW engines. Interference engine and a Free running engine.

Interference engine the pistons don't clear the valves if they are open. Meaning if the cam-belt breaks it hits the valves as they can't close. This bends the valves and causes damage to the cylinder head. On a free running engine the valves will not be hit by a piston if they are open as there is enough space to not hit it.

The 16v is an interference engine and the 8v as a free running engine.

From my limited knowledge this is only true for VW engines.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Makes sense why when my cambelt snapped all I had to do was replace it. Nothing damaged.
 
Spoke to the mechanic... says the cambelt is fine since everything turns, I will need an auto-electrician.
 
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