Golf mk1 GTI not starting

[retromadness123]

Hello guys, I have a problem basically as it says in the title my golf mk1 is not starting there is a full tank of fuel, spark at the plugs, i can smell petrol on plugs,i have cleaned the plugs and put them back in , the wipers, lights and tape everything works, when I turn the key to start I can hear the fuse board make noise but when turning it back to off position I can hear the pump priming, but it's just not starting I even had jump leads on it but still nothing, any idea what to try next, all help appreciated in advance

[1duck]

checked your timing?

[bpirie1000]

Sounds like electrical issue with a relay. Check all connections. Also consider removing and checking starter motor make sure it turns over..

[retromadness123]

It was started the other day which makes me bit confused then I switched it off went back to it again and nothing I did remove my speedometer and one wire on the back of the speedo was burntish, also when i connect the speedo up now the temp light just keeps flashing everything else works tho which is a little confusing, the heater panel light is a bit iffy comes on and off when lights are on , just confused I am thinking of renewing my battery cables just to make sure they ok anyone know good place to get some and what kinda amp cable I will need seen like 110 amp,170amp and 300amp etc etc so wondering what amp be good on mk1 golf it has the original engine so no bigger conversion

[duggers]

Sounds like fuel pump relay. they can get temperamental after a while. Try a known good one.
You can get some fuel to the plugs by keeping turning the engine over but insufficient for running even if the main pump is not operating.

Do you hear the main pump prime EVERY time you turn the ignition on.
There is a way of bridging the relay slots to test.

Piece of wire (1.5mm or 16awg)and bridge terminal 30 battery power and terminal 87 switched relay output. best fitted with a 20amp fuse in the middle and don't run it for tool long.

also have a look at the front and rear of the fuse box and check for water ingress (staining and corrosion of contact points.

[duggers]

Have a look here as well;

vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=fuel-systems-and_3%2Ffuel-pump-relay-bridge

[ChasR]

Bypass the relay and see if it will start IMO. If you have a spark and compression (the engine wouldn't sound right if it didn't) it should fire up with fuel present.

I was going to say to check your firing order for the HT leads but if your car was running fine before...

While the K-Jetronic system needs an ECU I believe they can run without it due to the mechanical nature of the system. There was evidence in the paperwork of my RST to suggest that did.

[retromadness123]

Thanks guys the fuel pump primes as I turn the ignition off but not when I turn it from off to on, i have tried squirting easy start in to the inlet whilst turning it over but still nothing, I will bridge the pins next and see what happens, I am getting spark at the spark plugs and the main lead from the coil to dizzy cap has spark to, some say the pump doesn't always need to prime, I not sure if it could be relay as the AA Man put 25amp ceramic fuse in when I later checked it was meant to be 16 amp one, but it drive me home and started a few times after that but now it does not want to know

[ChasR]

Easy start will work better if you spray directly into the throttle body. Otherwise the Easy-Start will have to go past the air filter and then then air flow meter flap as well.

[retromadness123]

I will try that hope something works just so confused how it just DOESn't want to start

[duggers]

Don't use easy start.
If you want to find out what is wrong be methodical. The fact that the fuel pump doesn't prime when you turn on means that there is an electrical issue in that circuit. Temporary bridging of the contacts will tell you if the relay is faulty.
I had an issue on my 16v rocco which meant the car would sometimes start and sometimes not. A new relay sorted it.
I assume you have replaced the fuel pump circuit fuse as well, iirc fuse number 5?

Oh and the AA man is fecknugget if he put an overrated fuse in that circuit.

[retromadness123]

Thanks duggers I will bridge the terminals and see what it could be maybe the over rated fuse has messed the relay up as it sits on the relay just hope it does be a major job and the AA is a nugget lol

[retromadness123]

I have the earlier fuse box with ceramic fuses would it still be fuse 5 thanks

[retromadness123]

Thanks so much duggers I bridged the pins for the relay and it started, appreciated all the help guys thanks so much has made me a very happy man this weekend keep up the good work guys thanks again

[duggers]

This forum is a good source of help as there is a wide and eclectic mix of motors and experience on here.
Glad my input along with the others here was of help.
Keep it shiny side up!

[retromadness123]

Thanks mate hope fully get a new relay and make sure it's always a 16amp fuse think that 25amp was the cause of all this and so glad it got sorted many thanks again hopefully get her back on the road again

[vitesseefi]

If you are finding that the pump runs when switching the ignition off rather than when switching on, something is wrong somewhere...... Possibly the relay itself or maybe the ignition switch.

There is no ECU for the K-Jet as used on the Mk1 GTI. Later versions called KE-Jet do have a rudimentary ECU to work the control pressure valve, but this was never fitted to UK Golfs AFAIK.

The fuel pump relay should be getting a signal from the ignition amplifier to tell the engine is turning and only then will it turn on the pump when cranking/running. Therefore no fuel pump while cranking could be caused by an ignition fault - either the Hall effect sensor in the distributor or the ignition amplifier itself. Have you actually tested for spark by cranking the engine with a p[lug out (or with a spare plug connected to one of the HT leads?

Nick

[datsundrew]

One point that hasn't been mentioned......the fuse box is a well known weak area, they get hot and burn out internally, and older ones had water leak on to them too. I had one at 6 years old, had a lot of random starting/ running issues ( had to get recovered from southern France) sometimes the wipers would do odd things, putting them on would help start the engine !! An independent Vw specialist at the time diagnosed the box, and I was Sceptical, but he was right.
I had the car for 9 years, 2 fuse boxes, and a few relays. Other than that it NEVER missed a beat in 160, 000 miles.