Rossco 0 Posted March 24, 2003 This has only happened once but it freaked me out. I drove my corrado home last weekend approximatley 90 miles, stopped to get petrol(decided i didnt need any) then went to start the car and i didnt fire. All the dash lights came on but when i turned the key to the point where the starter motor should kick in nothing happened. I turned the key a couple of times and nothing so i just sat for a couple of mins considering phoning the AA but i tried it once more just in case and it fired up?? Bloody weird has anybody experienced this my dad rekons its either a dodgy starter motor or the ignition switch has gone bad, he says its quite a common fault on vw although i've never experienced this on any of the ones i've owned. Any help would be much appreciated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Banana Man 0 Posted March 24, 2003 It could be down to a sticky solenoid on the starter or the common ignition barrel problem 1 of the ways to tell if it is a sticky starter is if it clicks but doesn't do anything else! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leew 0 Posted March 24, 2003 Exactly the same thing happen to me. The starter motor would engage but not turn the engine. I bought a new starter but before fitting it I thought i would try to start it. The bloody started first time! Turned the ignition off and tried again but nothing. So i fitted the new starter and the same happened with that! What seems to have solved the problem was removing the earth lead from the battery to the body then the block, cleaning it and refitting it. Since then i haven't had a problem (touch something wooden!) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2cc 0 Posted March 24, 2003 I have had this as an intermittent fault on my 16v for about 2 yrs or more, but when I turn the key the inst lights stay on and there is no solenoid sound or anything else. Initially changed the starter which seemed to cure it, but it came back some months later. Only seems to happen when the thing is really hot, leave it long enough & its OK again. Cleaning the earth lead also seemed to fix it but again only for a short while. Finally got fed up and have just bought a new ignition switch in case its that but haven't fitted it yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60ING 0 Posted March 24, 2003 I have had this problem and what is happening is the ignition lock cylinder is wearing out. The lock cylinder has to turn the ignition switch to start the car. But the end of the lock cylinder will develop some sloppiness and if you start to have the problem turn the angle at which you hold the key. almost angle the key to the 1 Oclock position. But what you really have to do is replave the Lock cylinder and then you will have to carry 2 keys around or rekey the doors and hatch. If you don't believe me next time this happens take a jumper wire from the Positive terminal on the battery and jump it down to the 10gauge positive wire connection on the starter with the key in on position inside the car (dash lights on position) This will power the starter solienoid and start the car. Thus proving the lock cylinder is worn out. When this 1st happened to me I was 1000miles from home after having rebuilt a car I bought 3 weeks before. So I had already installed a new starter. I ended up using a jumper wire every time I wanted to start the car if I was not on a steep enough incline to allow for pop starting the car. There is also a way to buy a new clock cylinder and graft on the new style nub that turns the ignition switch but it requires a dremel and lots of patience but it allows you to keep the original keying and the feel of the hybrid lock cylinder is very nice. The old original nub is different then the newer nubs on the replacment lock cylinders. I know it all sounds very odd but if get your hands dirty you'll see what I'm talking about. The new lock cylinders cost about $30 here in the usa so probably about 10-15 pounds there? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
g60pops 0 Posted March 24, 2003 It sounds like your ignition switch is on its way out.£13 from the dealers,but a right pain to change as VW have used sheared bolts on the column. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60ING 0 Posted March 24, 2003 for shear bolts just take a dremel and cut a slot in them and use a flat screwdriver on them Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60ING 0 Posted March 24, 2003 If you think its the ignition switch and not the lock cylinder when you take the steering colume apart try using a flat screwdriver to turn the ignition switch and if it starts everytime you attempt to do this then its the lock cylinder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qrugh 0 Posted March 24, 2003 Seems from reading this thread that there is a problem getting a new ignition lock with the same keying as the outgoing one? I just find that odd as the ignition lock on my Corrado went a couple of months ago (when the car was with my Dad) and a mechanic friend of his (i.e. not even a VW specialist) just swapped it out for a new one. I promise you that the same ignition key still works fine so I can only assume that there is no great issue with getting a new lock made up to the same key? Maybe I misunderstood the discussion? :oops: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leew 0 Posted March 25, 2003 G60ING, I tried bypassing the ignition but that only engaged the starter. I suppose it may have been the starter and removing it and putting it back on freed it. Still don't know why the other starter didn't work. Tested it on the bench and all was fine...weird. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rossco 0 Posted March 25, 2003 cheers guys your help is alway helpfull, i'll let you know how i get on Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
