dislexicmofo
Veteran Member
This is an emergency post of sorts, I went to start up the car today and... well it didn't. So like any responsable TDI owner I have rushed to the forums for advice... so heres the deal. Car is a 2003 (ALH) Golf TDI manual.
When it goes to start you can here the solenoid engage and the teeth must be engaging the flywheel as the lights all dim and if you hurry you can smell the motor heating up under the hood. So the solenoid works, its drawing current, and the starter gear is engaging the flywheel. no crank, no turnover, no movement at all. Turn key, Click of solenoid, burning motor.
The starter is new(ish), I replaced it about two weeks ago with a remanufactured Bosch part from Orielly. I had taken the old one out after it started to have problems disengaging, I re-lubed it, put it back together, and it was fine for about two months before it started again, hence the new (to me) part.
I am going to try to taking the new one out in the parking lot tomorrow and test it to make sure it is working properly, but my hopes are rather dim at this point, in other words I think the starter is fine.
Now heres where I need some help, if the starter is proven to be in working condition, any idea what I could be looking at here?
For some more background and to think aloud I checked a few things while waiting for a ride...
I checked the control wiring terminal and it seemed to be secure, also indicated by the fact the starter tries to work but seems to be meeting alot of resistance.
I checked the oil level, I thought it could be that the drain plug came loose and it all came out and it seized at exactly the moment I turned it off in the lot. But that was not the case, the oil is a bit low but not enough to cause problems.
Initially I thought transmission but it rolls in neutral and I can shift through all the gears. That and the flywheel is engine side of things so that kind of killed that idea right off the bat.
I changed the timing belt out at 85k, its got about 125k now, but that would have been a rather explosive ending while running.
Im really at a loss... any ideas would be appreciated. Things to check or try, wise tips, support. As a side note I'm in Atlanta so its not the cold. Its late and I have to get to work in the morning, I have a ride thankfully.
And yes it has fuel...
When it goes to start you can here the solenoid engage and the teeth must be engaging the flywheel as the lights all dim and if you hurry you can smell the motor heating up under the hood. So the solenoid works, its drawing current, and the starter gear is engaging the flywheel. no crank, no turnover, no movement at all. Turn key, Click of solenoid, burning motor.
The starter is new(ish), I replaced it about two weeks ago with a remanufactured Bosch part from Orielly. I had taken the old one out after it started to have problems disengaging, I re-lubed it, put it back together, and it was fine for about two months before it started again, hence the new (to me) part.
I am going to try to taking the new one out in the parking lot tomorrow and test it to make sure it is working properly, but my hopes are rather dim at this point, in other words I think the starter is fine.
Now heres where I need some help, if the starter is proven to be in working condition, any idea what I could be looking at here?
For some more background and to think aloud I checked a few things while waiting for a ride...
I checked the control wiring terminal and it seemed to be secure, also indicated by the fact the starter tries to work but seems to be meeting alot of resistance.
I checked the oil level, I thought it could be that the drain plug came loose and it all came out and it seized at exactly the moment I turned it off in the lot. But that was not the case, the oil is a bit low but not enough to cause problems.
Initially I thought transmission but it rolls in neutral and I can shift through all the gears. That and the flywheel is engine side of things so that kind of killed that idea right off the bat.
I changed the timing belt out at 85k, its got about 125k now, but that would have been a rather explosive ending while running.
Im really at a loss... any ideas would be appreciated. Things to check or try, wise tips, support. As a side note I'm in Atlanta so its not the cold. Its late and I have to get to work in the morning, I have a ride thankfully.
And yes it has fuel...