no spark, no check engine light, 70 miles after rebuild

[Mr Peepers]

I bought the car not running after the timing belt snapped(1991 tsi stock) so i had never heard it run. I did a complete engine rebuild and got a new head, a 2g head. i transfered the camshaft angle sensor from the old head and put it on the 2g where the bolts used to line up and had left marks. i started the car about 4 days ago and got it drivable 3 days ago, with some idle surge and seemed like it was missing a little when it was idling(at about 1k to 1.5k). the only other problem was that it hit fuel cut around 6k otherwise it never sputtered or hesitated under boost. after about 70 miles when i tried to start it it would run for maybe half a second, next time i tried maybe for 2 seconds then die, and the next it would keep running, after it was warmed up it would run fine except the surging. the next time i tried starting it it would take a few more tries to get started and then ran okay once it was warm. it wouldnt even sputter the next time i was going to drive it, it would just turn over, no check engine light, and no spark to any plugs. i did notice that usually when its in the on position just before starting it, the boost gauge(stock) would pop up to 0, and stay steady, but when it started having problems with starting, the guage would wander around under 0, and when it wouldnt fire at all, the gauge never even budged. the thing is i was just about to go pull some codes and get it running smoothly at a friends shop that night...its 15 miles away with a car that now wont even start.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

It started again today, it took a couple tries of sputtering then i got it around the block and it died again, taking about a minute to get it restarted and back to my house. Again, i had to wait for the boost gauge to register zero.

 

[Mr Peepers]

i checked my ecu and the capacitors were leaking, replaced them, put it back in the car, and it started with no problem. buttoned everything back up, started it again and it just died a couple minutes later. tried starting it again and nothing, waited a couple minutes and it started again and died a couple minutes later, no warning or wierd sounds, just dies, and when the boost gauge goes to 0 it will start right away.
anyone? please? im running out of ideas

 

[tom04841]

Make sure the leaking caps didn't damage the traces on the board. I suspect this is what has happened.

 

[Mr Peepers]

Yes, the traces were damaged, but it was only a little of the green coating that peeled off near a capacitor while I was cleaning off the board. but I can't see that making it die by a little of the copper showing.
Since i replaced the capacitors, its either start or no start instead of an occasional sputtering start with the ecu rapidly clicking(often not lucky enough to even get a sputter). I checked the board again and wiggled the capacitors a little bit while it was running so i don't think it's a bad connection making it die.

 

[timloomis]

bad ecu.my old gs did this before i replaced the caps.sometimes it would run fine,others itd just sit there and act retarded.

 

[steve]

Your attempt to replace the caps didn't solve the problem, so the ECU is still bad.

Steve

 

[Mr Peepers]

Just an update, the ECU is still bad. I was looking closer and on some of the smaller traces and the copper was eaten away, just leaving a black trail. Time to find someone with an ecu...
Does anyone know what ecus will work in a 91 M/T turbo FWD? does everything have to be the same or do certain things like FWD or AWD not matter?

 

[steve]

Does anyone know what ecus will work in a 91 M/T turbo FWD?

Just about any of the '91 to '93 Federal M/T FWD or AWD Turbo ECUs will work.
The part numbers for those are on my list

Steve