Speedo rises when key turned...

[95TalonTsiAWDam]

I recently purchased a 95 TSI AWD. Got a GREEEAT deal on it (because it doesn't run ) from an auction. Even if she is completely dead (which i don't think she is) a new engine would cost more than the car did. Anywho... when I turn the key the speedo rises to about 35-40. Is this the factory voltage guage before she cranks or is my puter fried?
I'm not getting any spark to the plugs when i turn it over, so I am trying to diagnose the problem. Will prob get my friend to hook it up at his auto shop and see if the computer has thrown a code as to why it's not cranking.

Thanks guys..

 

[95TalonTsiAWDam]

anybody? I've got the manual on the way, but just wondering if this is a normal thing or not...

 

[Sean485]

No, its not normal but it is a curious problem. Does it look like there was a fire in the car? maybe a repo? I've never heard of that before, I would just start looking over wiring harnesses and pulling the ecu and see if that makes a difference.

Good luck, Sean.

 

[fr33b1rth]

i'de pull that ECU and check it out. I've had an ECU on a 88 Merc. gramd Marquee go bad and none of the guages worked, but went all over the place, and no fire. Just something to check into, it can't hurt after all.

 

[mavisky]

Check the connection at the transmission. The speedometer on a 2g turbo at least is electrical. I once had my dad's freaking out the whole way home shorty after we had them do some work on it (just a minor $3000 repair since it crankwalked ) and they didn't get the plug all the way locked in so it would freak out. Once you turn the key to on you energize the electrical system including that sensor and I'd bet its a very minor fix.

 

[95TalonTsiAWDam]

No, no fire.. I am assuming that it was a repo..It only has 83,000 miles on it and its a manual AWD.. paint is in sad shape, and inside was rained in through the driverside window due to it being 1/4 of the way down. Mechanically it seems fine as far as all functions of the pwer seat work, lights, blinkers, pwr windows, locks, sunroof...it just won't turn over. The inspection sticker has Nov of 03 as the issue date, so it was still running a tad over a year ago, who knows for how long though.
I pulled all of the interior except the dash and top of the center console since the carpet was wet and it smelled like old socks due to the mold. I cleaned everthing up and powerwashed the carpet to get the smell out (which did the trick after drying in the sun).

I got it for only $350 + a $50 buyers premium because no one else there wanted it and that was the opening bid. Two auctions before this one, there was a wrecked 97 gst that i was going to bid real low on because it would have needed 2K or more in parts to get it fixed( have a buddy with a bodyshop), but 2 other nuts wanted it bad and bid up to $2200. Guess the other guy didn't make it to this last auction..his loss my gain..

I'll see if the scanner at my friends shops show if it is brain dead or not. Just didn't know about that speedo deal, thought that was kinda odd.

 

[95TalonTsiAWDam]

Check the connection at the transmission. The speedometer on a 2g turbo at least is electrical. I once had my dad's freaking out the whole way home shorty after we had them do some work on it (just a minor $3000 repair since it crankwalked ) and they didn't get the plug all the way locked in so it would freak out. Once you turn the key to on you energize the electrical system including that sensor and I'd bet its a very minor fix.

but it shoulda still cranked (or received spark to the plugs atleast) even if the speedo connection was bad or something right?

 

[mavisky]

Well there may be more to the not-starting thing, I was just talking about the speedo specifically.