No start 1998 Tdi jetta

[Gaftek]

Swapped motors from a Same year jetta Tdi. Won't start , check engine and glow plug light clycles . when ign switch is start clock and odometer turns off. Turns over no start. When power applied to shut off valve tries to start. Any ideas?? Dash clock is always 1200, all fuses good

 

[Abacus]

Where in Maine are you located?

The clock and odo resetting is saying the battery is low or there is a wire crossed somewhere.

 

[Gaftek]

Battery tests at 12.3 and doest drop when clycled on. Unpluged all under hood wires that was touched, no change. Every connection checked multiple times.

 

[Gaftek]

Bradford me

 

[Gaftek]

No fuel Gage reading too

 

[rdkern]

How much does it drop when trying to engage the starter? Less than 10v?

 

[Abacus]

Ugh, Bradford is a ways up there from me.

So if you jumper out the stop solenoid it tries to start but doesn't? I'd try to get it running using the jumper and then go from there.

Whenever I find something like this, I start with the basics: confirm timing, make sure you have fuel and air, and lastly is compression. Is the engine a confirmed known runner or just from a junkyard?

 

[Gaftek]

Good Tdi mechanic central Maine. I am in Bangor area

 

[Nicolae]

My ALH did this when it had a problem with the cluster in the winter (humidity and such). My bet is that your engine starts for a second and then shuts off --> a immobilizer problem.

 

[Abacus]

No immobilizer on the A3.

 

[Gaftek]

Got engine to run after vacume bleeding pump. But only runs with jumper on the fuel shutoff to battery. Computer has power but no power to cluster or fuelshut off. Antitheft was disabled years ago with after market radio installed.