Hi there from a newbie... be gentle
1996 golf TDI (the most reliable car by far I've owned-I've had quite a few)
an intermittent starting problem has developed with the golf over the past couple of weeks
it first came on and happened only once every two/three weeks or so
and then more lately it can happen twice in a day
the faulty start NEVER happens when the engine is COLD
engine is easily turned over by the starter motor (battery good)
I've changed the air filter and fuel filter and checked elect. conn's - no joy
to cut a long story short the only sign of success was when I ... ran a wire from the fuel cutoff solenoid valve to the battery pos. and crocodile clipped it to the plastic shroud on the pos battery terminal in readiness for a faulty start
when the next faulty start came on ...I clipped to the battery pos ... and voila
I was able to start the car from the ignition...
and ...performing a double check I took off the clip from the battery pos and it refused to start.
so far so good ... the fuel cutoff solenoid valve was not getting a 12 V. feed.on startup...
the haynes manual elect. diagram is showing the sol valve fed direct from the ignition
this would point to a dodgy ignition switch (years ago these were quite possible)
but also a local mechanic told me that this model has an air flow meter in the circuit somewhere
and there is in fact an air flow relay and associated gear on the car
where could I possibly view an authentic elect. diagram for this model showing interlocking circuitry
Has anyone had similar probs along these lines ??