Car stalled and won't restart

Good evening everyone!

The other day my wife was driving our 06 Jetta TDI 5-spd and had it stall a couple times then completely quit on her. She noted that it almost stalled a couple times and felt like nothing happen when pressing the accelerator pedal.

It quit and was unable to be restarted and I had it towed home. So far all I've had a chance to do is attempt to jump start (knowing it would not work) and check all fuses: all fuses are good.

When the key is turned to on all the normal lights come on, but when turning to 'start' nothing happens: no clicking, cranking, nothing.

I will probably be giving up going camping this weekend to fix it, but I am looking of some directing in troubleshooting, i.e. anyone who's had this happen please let me know how you fixed it. Thanks!

side note: I do not have a vagcom.

Read the codes to see where problems may be

N.CaTDI said:

Read the codes to see where problems may be

Click to expand...

He said he has no VCDS. But I agree, get one and scan for codes.

But I would first check for a shorted battery (bad cell(s). Then look at the grounds for corrosion. Also, the engine harness in MKV's (some of them) gets chaffed in the engine compartment causing all kinds of grief. There are threads on this - search for them.

1. As others have said pull codes if you can.

2. Test your battery. I doubt it's the problem but definitely can be the low hanging fruit.

3. Remove your air cleaner. The start is under it. see the smaller of the two wires going to it? That smaller one activates the starter. Make sure your car is in neutral and disconnect that small wire. Use a jumper wire from the starter terminal where that plugged in and go straight to the + terminal on the battery.

If the car now cranks and runs +with the key on+ then you're looking at ignition switch, IMMO or related components.

Report back with the results of 1,2 and 3.

No codes, except for glow plug (that's been there for months).

I'll try bypassing starting circuit next.

Yeah could be as simple as a failed starter solenoid. Always go for the easy stuff first.

I recently had this happen to me. Turned out to be a small item somehow got inside the timing belt cover (pebble?) and locked the belt up momentarily, I lost about 8 inches of timing belt teeth. So, I would pull the timing cover and inspect the belt and set the engine at TDC if you have the tools just to verify that everything is still ok...or not.

Hopefully its something far simpler.

Could be relay J329. Here's a thread with pictures.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=361207&highlight=j329+relay

You can swap 2 relays on the same board to diagnose (all with pictures).

Search is your friend.

Turns out that it was just the wire to the solenoid that had come loose (clip broke when removing it for clutch job. a few zip ties later and it's fixed!

must have stalled due to driving w/ flip flops