Engine will not start, no spark

[leffe]

I'm new to this forum, I have a -97 mexican beetle, drove it last year and parked it for the winter just fine. Now it won't start, fuel pump runs a couple of sec. then stops seems ok. Cranked the engine but didn't start. Pulled a ignition wire and put a spark plug there and cranked - no spark. How do I check the coil? Or something else. Any ideas?

[phade]

Hi Leffe,

The first thing to do is to replace the ignition coil. These are the same as the Polo mk3 (except G40), petrol Golf mk3, etc. See my parts cross reference list http://www.1600i.de/1600i-allgemein/CrossReference/MexicanBeetleCrossReference.htm . These cost about £30 from GSF.

If it still doesn't start then the hall sender on the distributor would have failed (check the distributor cap and rotor arm first). Replacing the hall sender requires the distributor shaft to be removed so that you can access the bolts, which hold it into place. The ignition timing will then need to be checked and set (if required). Setting the ignition timing requires a VAG 1551/1552, VAS 5051/5052/5053 or a PC running the VAGCOM software with the OBDII to 1600i adaptor lead. My wiring instructions on how to make up your own OBDII to 1600i adaptor lead is on here http://www.1600i.de/1600i-elektronik/diagnosestecker/OBDIItoVAG1551-7Adaptor.htm and the part numbers for them are the following:-

1 x three-pin connector shell (357 972 763).

2 x double-ended contact pigtails (000 979 129) - you'll end up with three contacts plus a spare.

1 x 16-pin DLC connector shell (1H0 972 695).

2 x double ended contact pigtails (000 979 131)


The wires on the 1600i connector are the following:-

Striped grey wire: K line
Red wire: +12 V
Brown wire: Ground


The original Beru HT leads very rarely fail and do not buy the Bosch ones from VW Heritage since they fail after only approx 20,000 miles (30,000 km) or less.


Cheers,

Phil

[leffe]

Phil,
Thanks for your reply. Before I go ahead and check, can the alarm system be involved? The battery was flat at first try but I had no problem shutting off the alarm with the remote once the battery was charged.
It just seems weird that it won't start since it ran just fine when tucked the car in for the winter...

[phade]

Hi Leefe,

Does it have an immobiliser via RF transponder ?

If that is the case, then you may be able to find an answer on here http://www.1600i.de/1600i-elektronik/schaltplan/CircuitDiagramsTranslation.htm assuming that your car is a 1998 model year mexican beetle.

Manfred may also know more about the immobiliser since my 2000 mexican beetle has only got the alarm system (with the switch next to the front right repeater indicator) without immobiliser.

Cheers,

Phil

[Guido]

and do not forget to check if the dritibutor ist rotatig, when the motor is moving.

My own car stopped on the higway because the dirstributor was not longer rotating. It was caused by the deformed fastening-ring that lifted the dritibutor a little bit to much up.

[leffe]

It's a -97 with a blue button on the remote.