16vrixter

That's another one back on the road :D :D :D

hey saysomestuff I have just noticed you've been editting the photos......thanks! :D :D

Thanks Mattkh. and thanks for all the advice from the forum. I'm the happiest keepin' my Rado on the road........... :D

It wasnt the ignition switch: Ok I got Donaldsons in Clydebank (A garage recommended on here) to pick up the car about 2 weeks ago. They had an auto electrician check it out and he found that ECU was burnt out, most likely caused by the dodgy immobiliser wiring that he also found. Auto electrician is going to see if he can overhaul the ECU and might be back on the road within a week :D Really glad that the end is in sight.........

Had another go and gave it a bit more welly. The new switch did crank the engine over but it didn't start. Maybe the battery is too weak. It was raining heavy so didn't hear the pump prime but could smell petrol. Going back out now the rain is off to see if I can hear pump prime. Will put the battery on trickle charge and try again tommorow.

Hi again. Before I unplugged the old switch, I had a go on the ignition and it did crank the engine over but it didn't fire up. The car has been left standing for three weeks and so the battery won't be in great condition but I left it disconnected hoping it wouldn't discharge too fast. Didn't notice how many positions but I turned the key as far as it would go - about half a revolution. I am staying about 10 miles away from where the car is at the moment - will have another go at turning the switch when I get over there. Might have to get some local mechanics involved as I am too far away in Derby and probably don't have the skills to get the car up and running quick enough. For example, it took me what seemed like ages to fit a new starter motor before, that damn bush :roll: . There is a garage called IN TUNE, in Glasgow, if anyone has used them. They have auto electricians, are just around the corner from where the car is and will also pick up the car for me. Might have to put the front car seat back in first - it's in the boot at the moment :lol:. Removed it as per ignition switch removal instructions. With regard to the hall sender. I remember the AA guy checking voltage to it and he got me to switch on the ignition. I am sure he checked the signal from it as well and said it was ok. Thanks for all your advice and help.

Hi matt. Sorry should have said that the engine didn't turn and fire up but I wasn't sure if it was supposed to without being fully fitted. Just have this picture of the switch and the hole but it doesn't convey how really difficult it is to get to the screw.... I don't have a picture of the old switch located in it's housing.

Drove the 300 miles up to Glasgow in my polo with the new ignition switch for the valver..... Tried testing it by plugging it in without fitting and turning with the end of the key. Would you expect the engine to start? I got a clicking / switching noise from the relay area, is that what you would expect? Trying to remove the small screw that holds the ignition switch in is a real challenge. I think I need to get a jewellery cross head screw driver. I used a 0 (zero) point small screw driver that I previously used to dismantle my laptop with but the shaft :oops: was too thick to fit through the small hole.

Yeah cheers, I'll remember that steering lock...... :)

Yeah I think the part is used in a host of different VWs. Have they revised it to hopefully make it more reliable? Have been led to believe that it should fit the 1990 16v and it is listed in the ignition switch repair part in the knowledge base section of the forum.

Thanks for the posts and info on the fuel supply system. The AA guy already tested the hall sender and said it seemed ok. I think I will try changing the ignition switch first and see how it goes from there. BRAND NEW GENUINE VOLKSWAGEN IGNITION STARTER SWITCH ordered via ebay - VAG part number 6N0 905 865. I live round the corner from a GSF store but I think I read some where on here that the GSF part is inferior compared to the VAG part. Pictures given below for other peoples benefit:

Cheers Steve. I will try the fuse box connection as well. So do you have intermittent starting problems then?

Thanks for the advice. The frayed earth wire has been replaced. I will have a go at replacing the ignition switch. Just out of interest, does the ignition switch affect the fuel supply in some way?

Also, forgot to ask whether you could use a Golf Mk2 1.8 16v Gti ECU in the 1.8 16v Corrado as well? There seems to be more of those on EBAY compared to Corrado ECU.

Yeah, thanks that's a good point Iggi, it could maybe be two different problems. Another problem is I was up in Glasgow when it happened and had to leave the car up there, 300 miles away, as I needed to go back to work. So I have to wait to next weekend until I can have a better look at it again.

Yes, sorry but yet another Corrado starting problem. :( The problem first began when I was in the outside lane of the M6 and the engine just cut out and so I had to coast onto the hard shoulder. :shock: When the car came to a stop it took a few minutes before it would start again. The next day it started fine then after a short journey it wouldn't start. I called the AA and the guy spent about 90 minutes trying to diagnose what was wrong. He checked out the battery, spark plugs, leads, the dizzy and various other electrics etc He said that the starter motor was turning over but there was no spark or fuel injection getting to the engine. When you turned the ignition you couldn't hear the fuel pump priming. He then checked the relay and fuses for the fuel pump and they were fine. He did find a badly frayed earth cable which was attached / very near to the ignition amplifier / ECU and replaced that but it didn't solve the problem. He said that as there was a lack of both spark and fuel then it was likely to be a problem with the ECU or maybe the immobiliser. Ever since I have had the car I have never used the immobiliser as I had been told it had been deactivated. I am thinking it might be related to the frayed earth cable and the ECU? Anyway I have done a few searches on here and found that Corrado starting problems seem to be pretty common. The main causes seem to be: 1. Ignition switch - I get the impression that this would not affect fuel injection? 2. Ignition amplifier - again is this a spark only issue? 3. ECU - Am I right in assuming that this would control both spark and fuel injection and could be the likely problem? 4. Dizzy problems - the AA guy checked this out and said this was fine but is this a spark only issue? 5. Idle Stabilisation Valve - does this affect fuel and spark and would cause the engine not to start. Anyway, it would be great to get some pointers, especially from people who have had the same no spark, no fuel, no start problem.

They don't do MOT's directly but can arrange for the car to be tested at a local garage. What I tend to do is have a yearly service and inspection at Sunset and get them to arrange an MOT the same day. The best thing about them is that they only do work that is necessary (can't say that about every garqage unfortunately). Also they are very flexible: I needed my handbrake bracket on my 16v welded for the MOT. As well as servicing it, they arranged for a good welder (I didn't know any ones I could trust to do a good job) and had the MOT carried out afterwards.

Inky, Just wondering how you got on at Sunset VW? I've always found them to be reasonably priced for servicing etc. Also was in there last Monday and spotted a Green VR6 parked outside, my 5th spot in about a year :)

Had the exact same problem. Tried various things including hammering weld back in and using a big washer etc but these remedies all failed eventually. This is an automatic MOT failure so best getting it welded back. Got the bracket welded back on for about £40 - a small price to pay for peace of mind and another year on the road.

I can recommend Sunset, I have being going there with all of my VWs for about 6 years now. I had my 16 valver serviced there back in June and they commented that they don't see that many Corrados. Visited Sunset on many occasion and never had any probs with them.

At 33 I'm a bit of a late starter to Corrado ownership but not too VWs... In the order of ownership I have had: 1. 1983 SAAB 2.0 99GL Silver (1997-1998) 2. 1988 GOLF 1.8 GL White & Rust (1998 - 2001) 3. 1997 POLO 1.0 L :oops: Dragon Green (2001 - Present) (Yeah, a fairly underpowered car at 50 bhp but apparently the earlier 1.0 engine only had 45 bhp.) 4. 1990 Corrado 1.8 16v Burgundy (March 2006 onwards) :)