markwilk
Member
Done a bit of searching, but haven't found my answer. I do apologize if this is answered elsewhere...
As the subject line says, I have a '98 Jetta TDI. I'm the original owner, 124K miles.
A couple months ago, after a week of not being driven, it wouldn't start. Battery was dead, but I was unable to jump start it (from our '08 Civic). I replaced the battery, and all was fine for a few weeks.
Then, a long weekend without being driven, and it wouldn't start again. Took it as a sign to start riding my bike to work more often, and let the car sit there for another three weeks.
Anyway, here's the behavior now.
I can put in the key, get all the dash lights, headlights, radio. Depressing the clutch and turning the key, I hear a click in the dash, but nothing else.
I have replaced the 50A fuse that I *think* is the glow plug fuse. It was definitely blown. I say "think" because many things I've read tell me it should be in the engine compartment, not under the dash, where I found it. BTW, I used the pic labeled '98 A3 in Lugnut's "A3/B4 glow plug relay and fuse location" post to locate the fuse. Still, though, the layout of the fuses was different than in this pic.
But, replacing the fuse didn't change the behavior...still the same.
Had my wife try to start it while I listened under the hood. Didn't hear anything from the starter/solenoid, but I did hear a clicking at the front of the engine block. I'm mostly a car-repair newbie, so I don't know what was making the clicking, but it wasn't coming from where the starter is located.
So, this is where I'm stuck in the *Car won't start* troubleshooting thread. This thread says:
"Get out your owners manual and find the fuse that controls the start circuit"
Which fuse is this? My owner's manual says the glow plug fuse is in the engine compartment above the brake booster. I don't know where the brake booster is, though (again, a newbie). Googling has been frustratingly fruitless on this.
Or, is the fuse that controls the start circuit somewhere else?
Sorry, I've rambled on...but would appreciate any help. Even a, "Yo, knucklehead, it's right in this sticky thread here" ;-)
Mark
As the subject line says, I have a '98 Jetta TDI. I'm the original owner, 124K miles.
A couple months ago, after a week of not being driven, it wouldn't start. Battery was dead, but I was unable to jump start it (from our '08 Civic). I replaced the battery, and all was fine for a few weeks.
Then, a long weekend without being driven, and it wouldn't start again. Took it as a sign to start riding my bike to work more often, and let the car sit there for another three weeks.
Anyway, here's the behavior now.
I can put in the key, get all the dash lights, headlights, radio. Depressing the clutch and turning the key, I hear a click in the dash, but nothing else.
I have replaced the 50A fuse that I *think* is the glow plug fuse. It was definitely blown. I say "think" because many things I've read tell me it should be in the engine compartment, not under the dash, where I found it. BTW, I used the pic labeled '98 A3 in Lugnut's "A3/B4 glow plug relay and fuse location" post to locate the fuse. Still, though, the layout of the fuses was different than in this pic.
But, replacing the fuse didn't change the behavior...still the same.
Had my wife try to start it while I listened under the hood. Didn't hear anything from the starter/solenoid, but I did hear a clicking at the front of the engine block. I'm mostly a car-repair newbie, so I don't know what was making the clicking, but it wasn't coming from where the starter is located.
So, this is where I'm stuck in the *Car won't start* troubleshooting thread. This thread says:
"Get out your owners manual and find the fuse that controls the start circuit"
Which fuse is this? My owner's manual says the glow plug fuse is in the engine compartment above the brake booster. I don't know where the brake booster is, though (again, a newbie). Googling has been frustratingly fruitless on this.
Or, is the fuse that controls the start circuit somewhere else?
Sorry, I've rambled on...but would appreciate any help. Even a, "Yo, knucklehead, it's right in this sticky thread here" ;-)
Mark