Help, car won't start!

[MadrussianSVT]

Hey guys, I just got my 97 t3/t4 tsi about 2 weeks ago and besides little things here and there this my first huge problem and I kind of freaking out. When cold car starts no problem, then sometimes after driving it for some time and shutting it off it won't crank up for a wile, this is like 3rd time it happened! Eventually it starts if I play with throttle while cranking, and drives absolutely normal. What the hell is that? I do have low gas but more then 1/8 for sure, it has 255 pump and because it not dumped pump there is something not right, or something ales? Please help as in planing on driving this thing from MN to SC tomorrow.

 

[afoster98GSX]

That could be lots of things check to see if one of the relays are not clicking when and if it happens again. Also make sure your fuel pump is not over heating. If you aredriving a long was I would leave the car running as much as possible. And if you can bear it take it to a garage.

 

[MadrussianSVT]

Actually I was told by previous owner that it could be plugs, they are old and he says that most likely that's the issue. But with bad plugs would car run like shit period?

 

[Gsxindaboonys]

I agree with afoster98GSX it could be a number of things. When your car won't start does it turn over over at all? If not then this sounds like a problem I had with my car a few years ago it ended up being a bad alternator and ECU. I did not diagnose this I had a shop work on it that's before I started working on my own car. If it does turn over I would try checking for spark and fuel.

 

[99talongsx]

also try the coil pack before getting into to many expensive parts. i had a bad coil pack car wouldn't start and ran like complete and utter s**t for a while before it. i paid a fortune to get it diagnosed before changing the coil

 

[MadrussianSVT]

Update: well, I swap plugs for NGK Iridium IX, however old plugs were NGK as well and did not look bad at all, I just gaped new once at .025. I though problem was gone so I went on 1200 trip from MN to SC, and same thing happened again.Once I turned off the car, while it was getting checked out at some back yard "hill billy" garage ( I ripped both of axle boots and grease was getting all of the front wheels, so I stopped to get it checked out mid way in the middle of nowhere), after we took it of the lift I tried to crank it and it would not start again! It cranks just fine, I get spark and fuel 100%, WTF? Guy who was getting it checked out sad that most likely its a low compression issue, because it was turning over way to easy, plus he noticed that car puffs out a little of white smoke in between shifts or when I get on it. So my motor is done? What exactly can cause low compression in motor, by the way the guy that I got it from claims that he "freshened up" that motor over the winter, so all of the gaskets and seals should be good.

 

[Janaelen]

I had a similar problem on a '97 GST I purchased. I was familiar with the symptoms due to my boosted corvette and bad tuning. I would check your fuel pressure and determine whether or not you're dumping too much fuel in the motor. It sounds like the plugs are fouling. If they are, you'll need a tune OR always keep a fresh set of plugs on you (PITA).

Also, do a compression test. The guages are reasonably priced and a great tool to have. A leak down test is ideal and there are a few threads here that explain the steps in detail if you choose to go that route.

Perform a boost leak test. You can make one for < $30 with home depot stuff. Again, there are a few threads here that go into detail of how to do this.

Check all vacuum hoses for leaks or disconnection.

BTW, smoking at WOT is more than likely a turbo seal that's getting oil past it. An extreme diagnosis would be valve stem seals, head gasket, cracked head, etc... I've heard and seen it all but I wouldn't worry about it if your compression test comes back good. I've had a GST pull ~160 on a compression test and it didn't put out any noticeble smoke at WOT.

Keep in mind that a few other things impact fuel delivery as well. Some things to mention are MAF Sensor, TPS sensor, O2 Sensors and Coolant temperature sensor (those are a few that comes to mind). If any of these are malfuntioning, it will throw your fuel delivery off.

Don't make the mistake that I first did and throw money into parts without diagnosis. Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference (Boost leaks/vacuum leaks).

 

[MadrussianSVT]

I had a similar problem on a '97 GST I purchased. I was familiar with the symptoms due to my boosted corvette and bad tuning. I would check your fuel pressure and determine whether or not you're dumping too much fuel in the motor. It sounds like the plugs are fouling. If they are, you'll need a tune OR always keep a fresh set of plugs on you (PITA).

Also, do a compression test. The guages are reasonably priced and a great tool to have. A leak down test is ideal and there are a few threads here that explain the steps in detail if you choose to go that route.

Perform a boost leak test. You can make one for < $30 with home depot stuff. Again, there are a few threads here that go into detail of how to do this.

Check all vacuum hoses for leaks or disconnection.

BTW, smoking at WOT is more than likely a turbo seal that's getting oil past it. An extreme diagnosis would be valve stem seals, head gasket, cracked head, etc... I've heard and seen it all but I wouldn't worry about it if your compression test comes back good. I've had a GST pull ~160 on a compression test and it didn't put out any noticeble smoke at WOT.

Keep in mind that a few other things impact fuel delivery as well. Some things to mention are MAF Sensor, TPS sensor, O2 Sensors and Coolant temperature sensor (those are a few that comes to mind). If any of these are malfuntioning, it will throw your fuel delivery off.

Don't make the mistake that I first did and throw money into parts without diagnosis. Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference (Boost leaks/vacuum leaks).

Thanx man, I think I will do a compression check at one of the local shops out here.

 

[91goldgsx]

after youve been driving around & shut the car off how long do you have to wait before it will restart?

 

[Bud92gsx]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-miscellaneous/217951-how-diagnose-no-start.html
Fuel
Spark
compression Is the first 3 things to check..But you can read and figure that out for yourself..

 

[MadrussianSVT]

after youve been driving around & shut the car off how long do you have to wait before it will restart?

If I wait longer then about an hour it usually starts right up, or if I would imidiatley restart the vehicle it usually starts with few occasions when it did not. This issue only happens when car is hot, and most of the time when I try to restart it within initial half an hour.

 

[MadrussianSVT]

Also if I keep cranking it after like 10th attempt it would start with rough idle for the first 10 seconds or so and would put out tons of black smoke