It Has Spark. It Has Fuel. Why Won't It Start???

[@RJAH355]

Love how your wife helps you. Seems like she likes cars to.

[@golfmk2]

She's mad on cars herself. You'll see her driving it on track on our previous video. If she can, she'll help with working on the car. Not worth trading her in just yet. 😁

[@JohnWellings-k8d]

It was a bit like torture, going through the proceedures/parts but made for very good video content. Because I think most DIY ers would have approached it very similar to yourself. Thanks

[@golfmk2]

I'm glad you enjoyed the torture! 😅 And whilst the process wasn't much fun, it was a great learning curve and I enjoyed making the video.

[@paulm3965]

Excellent video, I had a mk2 16v that was great for a while then the gremlins forced me to sell it. You have the patience of Job. Your diagnosis was methodical. I guess cars are made to run for a given time. Then the components start to fail. It is time to move on. Here in London we have ULEZ that is encouraging you financially to sell your treasured polluting classic.

[@golfmk2]

Thank you for the comment. My patience was running out, I can tell you that, but had the support of Ben and my long suffering wife who was willing to help and assist in changing components. ULEZ won't have me selling up, if anything, it'll enable me to buy the cheap ones that people have for sale! 🤣

[@typxxilps]

what a journey and work - good luck from the home of Golf Mark II in lower saxony.

[@golfmk2]

Thank you! Certainly was a journey, but got there in the end. Appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment.

[@PaulRansonArt]

I'm at 18:7 and my prediction is a duff fuse box. I used to work on old air-cooled stuff and the odd new-fangled golf ( was then many years ago ) I think I replaced more melted fuse boxes than any other fault. The 'faults' could be so random from blowing fuses to non-functioning headlights to non-start. Then change again the following day. Let's see if I'm right! Huzzar!! 27:19 it starts with a replacement fusebox - lucky guess maybe. If you havent opened the old sandwich box give it a look. Its can be carnage in there. OK so something else well done for sticking with it!

[@golfmk2]

Haha I love the running commentary 🤣 Glad you enjoyed the video and stuck through to the end. As you can see, it was so much chasing and ruling stuff out, but got there in the end with some old dry joints in the conversion loom from the ME7.1.1 ECU to the old Mk2 fusebox wiring.

[@ptp79]

Hey man loved your video.. I had the same situation with my Honda Civic... absolutely same scenario.. the relay box was all croaded. Some WD40 and sand paper did the job.. But you changed the whole relay box.. That great...

[@golfmk2]

Thank you very much for the kind words about the video. It was a challenging fault, as you well know! I've got some contact cleaner which I'll be using to clean up the connectors once we repair the wiring to try and futureproof it, as I really can't be dealing with a similar fault again!

[@leviranger-xc7qo]

Always good to have A Ben in your life what a legend🎉

[@golfmk2]

He's a good egg. I'm sure I'll find something that I can teach him on one day in my life... I'm yet to find that though!

[@BenDeSwert666]

Well, thanks! 😂

[@golfmk2]

🤣

[@Caswell404]

Great Video 😎👍. May need to change rail injector seals. Visible leak on #1 @20:36

[@golfmk2]

You were paying attention! Yes I had nicked one of the seals when I removed the injectors, (amateur error) so the seals were changed prior to the permanent refit. Leak free now. 😁

[@redzed40]

Mate I was so gutted for you for 3/4 of the vid..so glad you got it working in the end 🐱

[@golfmk2]

Thanks mate. Yeah I was slowly losing the will to live as I tried everything to no avail. Especially when I'd stripped it down to test injectors and replaced the fusebox and it still didn't work! I was close to binning it at that point 🤣

[@paultaylor9939]

Power and grounds and a wiring diagram before you chuck a parts cannon at it well done that man cheers

[@golfmk2]

What was challenging was the intermittent nature of the fault, so all earths were checked, power to the relays was checked. The fault ended up being narrowed down to high resistance from the ME7.1.1 ECU to CE2 conversion wiring. Also, the fuel pump relay, despite being a new one, was also not always engaging. So a big, chunky Mk4 one has been fitted and it now fires every time. Wiring will be ripped out and replace the solder connections with Superseal connectors.

[@perfikalgarve]

Very Interesting and can't wait to see the next video on the Alpina, Nice work Guys

[@golfmk2]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Which Alpina are you referring to? 👀

[@JohnWicksdogwalker]

Glad it was as simple (!) as a wiring problem 👍 That's where I'd have been going after you showed us the verdigris and had rectified the connections (but then I would say that because I watched the video to the end! 🙄)

[@golfmk2]

Yeah hindsight is such a wonderful thing. But It kept throwing curveballs at us, such as the coughing with the inlet off, the apparent low fuel pressure, yellow spark, nothing showing on VCDS... the list goes on!

[@rickydub6950]

Must have been driving you both mad, glad it's all sorted now 😁👍

[@golfmk2]

I was slowly losing the will to live! Learnt a lot though, and now we have a whole host of new bits fitted, so hopefully futureproofed!

[@robmeneice5060]

Good lad I no what' it's like it's good how the mk2 lads help each other out 🎉

[@golfmk2]

Yeah it's amazing. Had no shortage of offers of help from the Mk2 folk. Some great people and friends in the community.

[@BenDeSwert666]

Always good to see some MK2 love on youtube. you got my sub, mate!

[@golfmk2]

Appreciated! 🙌 Plenty of other Mk2 related content on the channel, so feel free to check out the other videos and see what you think. 😁

[@alcasey3551]

I feel yourpain; I had a similar problem with a SAAB it turned out I had contaminated gas.At least it got fixed 👍👍

[@golfmk2]

Now way that's a nightmare! Fortunately It started the problems, then I topped up the tank with fuel from a couple of 20l cans so it was nearly full, just to rule that out. But that's unlucky for you!

[@bart_langedijk]

Around 20:40 I saw some fuel leaking from the #1 injector. I hope you saw that and fixed it before putting it together! Would be a shame if it continues leaking and it catches fire

[@golfmk2]

Good spot! I did change the injector seals as a matter of course before putting it all back together. Injector 1 seal was damaged on removal during the test.

[@stephendowney4930]

this was great totally enjoyable

[@golfmk2]

Thank you very much for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed it. 😁

[@whammydive444]

Nice to see you get it running again 🤙🏻

[@MatthewParkhurst-x3h]

Everybody needs a Ben in their life. Glad it’s working again. Out of interest where did you get your look from? I’m doing a vr conversion myself and trying to find sources for the loom.

[@golfmk2]

Ben is a very useful tool! If I could keep him locked in my garage and feed him my cars would be mint! My loom was done by Hardwired in Gloucester. Considering it was the first DSG converted to Manual using OEM management that we know of, it's done well.

[@MatthewParkhurst-x3h]

@@golfmk2 I normally find beer and food works well for getting people to help. Will have to give them a look. I’ve been told dubnutz are good. Although they are in Scotland somewhere. Cheers mate.

[@golfmk2]

@@MatthewParkhurst-x3h I've heard of Dubnutz. There's a few wiring specialists around, but there are some with a large following who I've also seen people have issues with, so it's very hard to judge. Give Tom of Hardwired a nudge as he has all the schematics of mine and may be able to help.

[@ramarakeshv]

Love those rims. Are they r32 front heavy front wise for mk2

[@golfmk2]

Thank you. You'd be surprised that with the setup it has, it's actually very nimble. Sure, it's not as agile as a 16v, but it's pretty good. Check out our track videos, and you'll see that it's not just a point and shoot weapon. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6G4YY2KrpVlocksi=yiBAMfxooG79aR6x

[@petergearing4796]

I know, I am no expert and no electrician, but when you mentioned hitting the bump and something else electrical stopped working. I couldn't help but keep thinking all the way through it was electrical. Oh well at least it made good content and you now have a shiny new filter and pump and you know your injectors are ok.🤔

[@golfmk2]

Initial thoughts were electrics, due to what you've said. But the fact the coils dropped out, and gave us no other warnings on VCDS, plus the fact things just didn't 'look' right led us down a bit of a rabbit hole. As you say though, hindsight is wonderful and we do now have a new fuel pump, filter, relays, sensors, coils and spark plugs. So hopefully trouble free motoring for years to come... wishful thinking!

[@mkfourgli9785]

​@@golfmk2Hey great vid. What vcds cable are you using? Thank you

[@golfmk2]

I used a VCDS lite cable initially, www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184531472003?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=-SLBphUMTyq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=IgA17tfySiO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY , then Ben brought round the full version on his computer, which is a fair bit more expensive, unless you can find a product key from somewhere.

[@helensmith1722]

Brilliant to see gumpert running again ❤

[@Salvatore3333]

WELL done everyone

[@golfmk2]

Thank you! A collective effort. 😁

[@fireykev]

Great starter motor 😄

[@golfmk2]

Had its work cut out, didn't it? 😆

[@ptp79]

I like how your wife helps you in recording..

[@golfmk2]

She's a good egg and not worth trading in just yet! 😉

[@billbarney4937]

the auto manufacturers use the thinnest possible wires required and what can happen over time is a wire or wires open up causing a wide variety of issues. like for example control wiring in the engine compartment (size:28 guage wires) subjected to high temperatures and aging. one old car i worked on i ended up replacing almost every control wire in the engine compartment that had either opened up or had become intermittent

[@golfmk2]

Fortunately the OEM and TT wiring seems pretty good on this car, the problem was where the ME7.1.1 ECU wiring was joined to the conversion loom in the fusebox, plus a high resistance wire between the ECU and back of the fuel pump relay. So a combination of faults. Sounds like you've had your fair share of issues with old wiring too!

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

Looking at your numberplate, I see Jeremy Beadle used to own this car. Is the steering wheel worn more on one side?

[@golfmk2]

Lol 😆 what makes you say he owned it?

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

@@golfmk2 Look on your number plate.

[@golfmk2]

Beadles VW 🤣🤣🤣. OK you got me there 😭😭

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

@@golfmk2 How did the creeper reach the gear stick?

[@golfmk2]

Take my strong hand! 😆

[@naturerelax86]

The cat on the roof at the end 😅😅😅

[@golfmk2]

And I wonder why the paint is covered in tiny scratches... 🙄

[@alexdragomirescu5084]

I'm probably the same age as you are so obviously I do appreciate a 30 year old car as much as the next guy. I'm also pretty skilled in electronics and mechanics so I do appreciate the time and effort you put in. That being said, I'm a realistic person and can detach myself from the sentimental part and see that 4 wheel object for what it is...an old almoust useless pain. The things that really blows my mind is the prices some of the owners ask for this old problem boxes. I don't know the prices in your part of the world, but here in Italy an vr6 mk3 (not mk2) starts at 20k euros. I'm saying that's idiotic, but hey....if someone thinks they're memories are worth that kind of money and that kind of pain to keep them on the road.......🤕

[@golfmk2]

There is definitely a lot of sentiment towards these cars. Whilst they may not be worth as much as they are in Italy (a Mk3 VR6, for example is worth maximum £6000 in the UK and a very good condition Mk2 GTI 16v will be worth about £10,000-£12,000). My black R32 isn't worth near that as it's a less desirable trim (GL) so my work carried out is purely for the love/hate relationship I have with the car!

[@alexdragomirescu5084]

@@golfmk2 6k sounds about right. But you always had better prices over there because of the way they mounted the steering 😊. It's the first time I watched you're channel (YT recommended) and I saw you started the right way with the diagnostic process (gas, spark,compression, timming), but you fired the cannon at the end :) I personally would have (and I do) invested in tools instead of buying parts - if you want to cure your cars by yourself. Keep in mind that your car has a very limited diagnosis capabilities so just a scanner is a pretty useless tool. You have to go old school. First tool you'll need is a test light. Understanding the way systems work + a test light will help you about 80% diagnosing electrical faults. There are some amazing channels here on YT that teach you from the very basics to the very top end. I would recommend for starting (and not only) scannerdanner. If you already started watching his courses (he used to be a teacher) you're on the right track. If not, I highly recommend him. Then YT algorithm will take over and give you other great recommendations. Cheers! PS: He began posting 10+ years ago so start from older videos

[@01sidiropoulos]

Woww man, glad you did it🎉🎉🎉

[@golfmk2]

Thank you! Nearly defeated us though!

[@geogti]

My mk 2 gti did that ever now and then I had to push it back in

[@golfmk2]

What was the cause of yours doing the same intermittent fault?

[@leeflack8879]

My old Mk1 1500 S used to act up all the time especially over bumps, all it turned out to be was a bad earth on chassis. Add a second earth on a bolt welded to the frame problem solved, right up until I rolled it in a ditch during snow, even then it fired first time despite all the oil draining out to the rocker.

[@golfmk2]

Earths was certainly a suspect, but on the R32 they're all concentrated to one bolt on the cam cover, which then is connected via a cable to the bulkhead. So thankfully not too much to check. That gutting about your Mk1 though! Shows how robust the engines are though!

[@stephenbutler6950]

Hi, you can test the resistance of the crank sensor

[@golfmk2]

Interesting. How do you do that and does it change depending on what it's reading from the flywheel?

[@xXaurajXx]

This car is a full on emotional roller coaster 😅😪

[@golfmk2]

Certainly is! Relentless in how much it tests us!

[@konrad4416]

Good job Finder cross

[@golfmk2]

Thank you!

[@MOTA_KRAMPUS]

Damn, I was shure at the begining of the video that it's the crank sensor. Yep, check all the wiring, could be the water.

[@golfmk2]

Yeah we thought it may be, but as it wasn't showing any codes and also the RPM signal is showing on cranking, we ruled it out, until last ditch efforts before stripping down meant ultimately changing it.

[@liamdtraxxas2011]

Get some electrical contract lube and spray it in all the electrical plugs on the fuse box, push all the relays and electrical plugs n fuses in and out or unplug and plug together to scratch the contacts clean too get a good contact the lube will stop anymore corrosion in the future, u can spray it anywhere where there's a electric contact and it won't arc out or interfear with the electricals, even spray some in the end of the coils to stop them corroding.

[@golfmk2]

Great advice and something I already have bought, ready for when we re-wire the loom. Should help prevent any severe corrosion, hopefully.

[@mariuszkorycki8042]

As an ex owner of 2 golfs and one Passat I can say that it does not surprise me the car suddenly won't start

[@golfmk2]

They do like to catch you off guard! 🤣

[@OldskoolBubbler]

How about the ecu it solved m,y problem

[@golfmk2]

Tried the ECU right towards the end of the video, to no avail.

[@wesleybrabant3595]

Even I gave you the thumbs up. You ever gave up

[@golfmk2]

Thank you. Was a long slog, but this car is always worth it to hear that R32 roar into life!

[@dubCanuck1]

So, it was some grounds (earths) that had broken wires or worked loose?

[@golfmk2]

It was one of the wires spliced in to make the CE2 fusebox join the ME7.1.1 ECU to that had high resistance primarily, plus a few dry joints within the solder sleeves that were causing intermittent faults. Wasn't just one issue, which is what kept throwing us off track.

[@damirmarkac7967]

Did you check crankshaft sensor?

[@golfmk2]

Yes, checked on VCDS, showing 180RPM on cranking and you can see it fluttering on the rev counter when cranking too. But sometimes they can fail just enough out of tolerance so as to not flag an error code, and appear to work fine on test.

[@damirmarkac7967]

@@golfmk2 something like that happend to my cirdoba 1.4 16v it worked fine and sometimes begin to work like subaru and sometimes it cranks just like your golf,changed crank sensor with plastic in which he sits and metall ring which must be in fase with engine as i was told by mechanic and it starts every time.i saw it at the end that wires were faulty

[@golfmk2]

Yeah the crank sensor is a funny one and understandably the 'go to' fix with these and pretty straightforward to change (as I found out the 2nd time). But yep, just age, wear and tear on the conversion loom ended up being the culprit. But a permanent fix will have us back on the road.

[@damirmarkac7967]

@@golfmk2 i'm glad you found what was the problem,nice car i wish you many more miles/km with it

[@mcjdubpower]

Gud vid 😊

[@golfmk2]

Thank you. 😁

[@MattyEngland]

I'm still none the wiser as to what it was. You had a spark and the injectors were clearly firing, so what was happening? Was the spark only there intermittently? 🤔

[@ABF16V]

High resistance/ loose wiring in conversion loom which would work one minute then not the next also seemed to work when diagnosing individual items, but not when combined system needed to run the engine as normal. It had worked for years, but just not made to OEM grade. Some good stuff done along the way e.g. changing out the corroded fusebox, fuel system service

[@MattyEngland]

@@ABF16V Ah Cheers, makes sense.

[@golfmk2]

Thanks @abf16v I couldn't have explained it better myself. 🤣

[@briannareid9423]

Timing problem or blocked cat or exhaust

[@golfmk2]

Not quite! Although, timing was suspected at one point. The exhaust is a de-cat 2.5" two box Trackslag system, so no chance of that blocking!

[@bertB-tt9xc]

water in the fuell?

[@golfmk2]

We did suspect fuel could be an issue, but we ruled it out, as you can see in the video. The culprit was a bit tricker to diagnose!

[@DanielHendricks-h2g]

Check crank or cam sensor

[@golfmk2]

The video details all the things checked.

[@matthewjenkins1161]

You are confusing flow for pressure and not accounting for the air you introduced in to the system causing the delayed pressure build up. Nothing wrong with the fuel pressure or pump.

[@golfmk2]

I realise that now. My assumption was a 3 bar pump would generate 3 bar pressure (power) at the outlet, but I was indeed mistaken. Oh well. Nice shiny new pump and filter fitted to futureproof things!

[@mcjdubpower]

Spoiler stopper 😅😅😅

[@golfmk2]

That's what we like to see. Watch until the end! 🤣

[@mcjdubpower]

@@golfmk2 I am so pleased you have succeeded, that feeling of euphoria when it starts 💯🔥👍👋👊😎🍺😉

[@golfmk2]

It was the best feeling ever. But also, it did it a few times after some of the 'fixes' so my euphoria was always tentative incase in died again!

[@bilbobaggins4366]

Easy start

[@golfmk2]

All easy start would do would confirm we had spark and timing. But, as you'll see from the video, when trying carb cleaner (which isn't quite as volatile) it ran whilst sprayed in the throttle body, but not whilst the fuel pump relay was plugged in.

[@MatthewDuffin-k3b]

It could be your engine could have got damaged after you hit the pit hole or it could be your starting motor may be causing the car not to start mine was like that a thew weeks ago and l did a full strip down from the spark plugs and the battery it could be your fuel sump might be faulty or it may be the very big job your car engine why don't you hire a van from a hire company any go to a scrap yard and see if they have got any VW golf car engine and purchase one and install the new engine with your friends

[@golfmk2]

I take it you haven't watched the video in its entirety? 😆

[@wad4865]

And here we have another parts changer... 🤦‍♂

[@golfmk2]

Can I suggest what you'd have done differently in the situation?

[@wad4865]

@@golfmk2 Hi. Learn how to diagnose and find the actual problem. I highly recommend this mechanic, great stuff!: www.youtube.com/@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics

[@xXaurajXx]

Did you actually watch the video? It wasn't a case of parts being thrown at the car without diagnosis. Numerous different tests were carried out which all indicated to a fuel issue at the start. As it happens the fuel pump needed changing anyway due to dodgy readings which was put off for years, the fuse box you could see their was water corrosion damage we didn't know about also required changing. Couldn't have just left these issues. After ruling out so many things some parts did need buying to test/rule out the main start issue like the crank sensor, ecu and coil packs. But these are all good things to have as spares.

[@ammoan2005]

Never mess with German cars

[@golfmk2]

Better than the alternative... a Ford... *shudder*

[@whitefox9]

It has no compression

[@golfmk2]

Compression is fine, which becomes clear when you watch the video.

[@Sarcastic-weirdo2043]

Timing out. Havent seen the video. Just a guess from the title

[@xXaurajXx]

Give it a watch and you will see, but it's not that

[@pgmerovingian]

No compression

[@golfmk2]

Check out the full video and you'll see that compression is not the issue.

[@garywalker3450]

Why do you have to be staring in the camera have the time? Can't you shoot a video without you face in it?

[@golfmk2]

Welcome to KZbin. A world where people have actual faces. 🧔

[@TheGuitarLabs]

If you’re going to take the time to ridicule someone, at least make sure to proofread what you’ve written. Honestly, trolls today are so lazy.

[@chrisleech333]

5 doors suck

[@golfmk2]

Interesting... I have a 3 door too, but I actually prefer the 5 door!

[@BenDeSwert666]

Gee, you're the charming one i take it?

[@xXaurajXx]

Such a helpful comment 😅