Starts great when cold, runs smoothly once started, cruises nice, idles nice, good gas mileage, no weird noises, etc.
However, once the car warms up, if we turn it off it will not start again until it cools back down (hours later with our current hot weather).
The starter cranks the engine easily, and I'm getting a good spark at the plugs, but it just won't fire. The fuel pump sounds like it is running when I first turn the key. No rough running, no "almost fires", just nothing till it cools down. Once it's cool again, it fires right over.
Starts easily first thing in the morning after sitting overnight as well.
I haven't had a chance to investigate things further, but I'm curious where I should start my search?
we have an 87 jetta nightmare also, same excate problem, from what I understand the car has 2 heat sensors one for the starter and one for the ignition switch. Well so far we have replaced the battery, starter, rewired the ignition switch rewired the engine fan which wasn't shutting off and draining the new baterry. Now we are looking at the fly wheel. And we still have not solved the starting and restarting problem. So all I can say is GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN. We have trickled into this car well over $600.00 but when your doing it at 40 bucks pop you don't realize it until the money runs out and you still have he problem. I wish I could have given you good news but hey maybe you can give me some, huh? Sorry
check fuel pressure maybe an adjustment of the fuel distributor plate, or CO
later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris
As I mentioned, our car cranks fine and the ignition is fine. It's something in the fuel injection system.
Your car sounds more like a starter or electrical problem. It's a fairly common problem for the VW starters to freeze up when they get hot. Usually a new starter will fix the problem, but not always. I think they make a solenoid kit which gives your starter a little more power to kick the starter over, but I always just keep a piece of wire in my car (1976 Rabbit) for this. If the starter sticks, I pop the hood and temporarily jumper between the battery and solenoid. This unsticks the starter and I can then start the car normally. If I had this problem often enough, I would look into the solenoid kit.
Not sure what it is called, but there is a fuel pressure regulator which is intended to keep the fuel pressure after short stops, it is device with diaphragm that can go bad, maybe check your fuel pressure (if you have gadge set) to see if it is low.
According to EC article a few years ago, these go bad fairly often on cars of this vintage...worth checking out.
--------- Tom Flynn '78 Scirocco (sold 1988) '86 GTI 8v (sold 2000) '00 Golf 8v 2.0 I speak only for myself
Anthony, do a Google search on "woodchuck". He just recently posted an installation procedure to add a relay to ignition system. Very easy work. I followed that and installed it myself without difficulty. The cost is less than $15. All the concern you have was completely taken care of. I am now finally a happy camper with my 1990 Jetta GL (believe or not I have been living it since 1992)- you know, here where I live it's alway above 100 degree these days, and the hot start problem never an issue any more.
We know it cranks over so it's not the infamous starter issue (I did it to mine and it's all better)
Your getting spark. Is it a good strong spark or is it weak. A bad coil can cause this problem. Did you check all the plugs for good spark, is the spark consistent with the engine firing. My car had a loose connection at the coil, the car would die when I was driving. It died at a light one day and it ended up that one coil wire was loose.
The only thing left is fuel.
Check:
Cold start Valve for leaks or operating continuously
differential pressure regulator, system pressure and differential pressure
oxygen sensor
air flow sensor plate rest position incorrect
bad injector
To diagnose , buy the bentley manual and go to it.
Good strong spark at the plugs. Rules out ignition.
My thoughts as well...
That was my first guess. Pulled it yesterday. No leaks and seems to be operating correctly. Tested the thermo-time switch too, no problems.
Unfortunately, I do not have a fuel pressure gauge. That brings me to my next question... Where to you guys get your pressure gauges? The few places I checked don't seem to have these gauges. NAPA has a universal test gauge for $54, but I'm not sure if it has the connections I'll need.
So, question #3, where do you hook in the pressure gauge on a CIS-E injection system? I notice from my Bentley manual that there is a "test port" on the side of the fuel distributor. Can I connect the gauge there? The Bentley manual says to put the gauge in the cold start valve line on CIS-E systems. But, the NAPA gauge certainly does not have the connectors to do that.
Replaced that a while back.
Wouldn't these affect cold weather starting and warm weather driving as well?
It was one of my first purchases when we bought the car. Unfortunately, without the fuel gauge, I'm limited as to the tests I can make.
Based on the symptoms we are experiencing, and the research I've done online, I'm starting to suspect the fuel accumulator and/or fuel pump check valve. Still testing a couple of things before I splurge for the parts though. I'd like to pick up a gauge that I can test things for sure without guessing at parts.
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