Just replaced starter, yet she isn't starting

[USSVWBEETLE]

So I just got finished replacing the starter in my bug today. Everything was hooked up and when I turned the key nothing but a constant clicking noise. I pushed the accelerator to give some gas and tried that, sounded like she wanted to start but then the constant clicking began again. Later in the day we tried to jump the battery (she's been sitting for almost a week without starting) to see if that would work but when we did that there was what looked to be smoke from something electrical. If anyone can point me to something that would show whats wrong or even drop a few pointers it'd be much appreciated. Thank you!

[D2Beetle]

Exactly where did you see the smoke? Did you check the battery top fuse block?

[USSVWBEETLE]

It came from the battery area. My bug doesn't have a battery case so it was easily spotted. If I recall correctly my dad had the fuse block hooked up (the wire coming from it) to the positive terminal.

[DZLBUG]

Clean battery connections and ground connections, that should have been your first step before replacing the starter as it was likely okay.

[USSVWBEETLE]

They're as clean a whistle. Though today when we tried it we were smoke free but it wouldn't catch the flywheel to actually turn over. Along with that, the instrument cluster went crazy, needles on the speedometer and tachometer would flutter and flick around every time I turned the key. We were able to narrow it down to what could be an issue with the transmission wiring (I don't remember the exact term for it. Other then that, the starter was tested and works just trying to figure out why it isn't catching the flywheel.

[smartchick2009]

mine did the same EXACT things.
replace the battery before you do anything else.




I even tested my battery. and it said it was good.
but she wouldn't jump off and we had a battery charger on her all night.
seriously its your battery. and if you can get your money back on that starter i would.
our starters rarely go out. they make that whirring noise after the car cranks but all it needs is a little lubrication inside. theres a write up about the starter in the MkIV forums on the vortex.

let me know how it goes

[USSVWBEETLE]

Thank you for that, we're going to try it, i'll post results! Thanks again everyone!

[USSVWBEETLE]

Alright, looking at the starter there was something that I hadn't noticed before, the little plastic 'outlet' on the starter that you have to plug the wire in was broken. We exchanged it and now the engine wants to turn over but still isnt going all the way. Took the battery up to autozone (where I bought it) hoping to exchange it but they threw it on the charger, showed it was good and told me that it could be the battery cable was bad. Would that be the issue of not giving enough of a push to actually spin the flywheel and make her turn over?

[USSVWBEETLE]

alright, so after all that was said and done I left out a detail that may be the answer. When I turn the ignition the highlighter for the gear above the odometer goes from Park to Neutral. Would that have to do with the transmission relay or whatever it is called?

[2005Beetle]

When I bought my used beetle and the gears started lighting up on the instrument panel as though they were all selected at once the mechanics had it sent to VW dealership and they replaced a circuit board located in the plastic housing between the front seats next to the emergency brake. They thought that possibly someone had spilt a drink in there but found a resister broken off the panel. Possibly your circuit board is bad. It cost me over $500 to replace.

While I was worrying about that small amount of money and trying to get it paid for by the extended warranty people the credit union drained my money market account and now I'm trying to get that money back. Wish me luck.

[USSVWBEETLE]

Oh wow, I hope that isn't it, that means a few more weeks sitting in the back yard then. Worst part is if that IS the issue I have to get her towed to the nearest dealership (which is well over 20 miles away). Thank you for that though, i'll have to look into it

[USSVWBEETLE]

For the gear highlighter freaking out when I start her up, it was only after I changed the starter that it did that. Thats why i'm puzzled seeing that before the starter went she ran very well without any issues. We changed the starter and now all this is coming up. Nothing else was touched just the bad thing is, there is no battery case for her so the battery was sitting on a foam block (Previous owners took very very little care of her)on top of the group of exposed (but the copper wasn't exposed luckily) wires. If there is anything I may have missed please let me know. The only transportation I have (my dads truck) is gone for a week as he shuffles off to SWAT training. I appreciate any help and putting up with my whining

[USSVWBEETLE]

so I just did a scan and came up with the following codes

17621 P1213
Cyl.1-Fuel Inj.Circ. Short to B+

17622 P1214
Cyl.2-Fuel Inj.Circ. Short to B+

16795- P0411
Sec.Air Inj.Sys. Incorrect Flow Detected

16806- P0422
Main Catalyst,Bank1 Below Threshold

with me not being too inclined in mechanics this deep is there any light that can be shed on these in lamence terms? I looked it up on Google which was a big mistake. Thank you

[USSVWBEETLE]

My flash of genius for the week happened today and it finally dawned on me that maybe the alarm system has something to do with it. I know that anything involving removal of the battery talks about having a secondary device to keep the electronic part of the bug from going haywire. Since if you try to turn the key while the alarm is activated it wont start, I wonder if something is causing the system to think its active so it wont start her up.

[Canadianbugin]

Originally Posted by USSVWBEETLE

so I just did a scan and came up with the following codes

17621 P1213
Cyl.1-Fuel Inj.Circ. Short to B+

17622 P1214
Cyl.2-Fuel Inj.Circ. Short to B+

16795- P0411
Sec.Air Inj.Sys. Incorrect Flow Detected

16806- P0422
Main Catalyst,Bank1 Below Threshold

with me not being too inclined in mechanics this deep is there any light that can be shed on these in lamence terms? I looked it up on Google which was a big mistake. Thank you

Cyl-1&2 injectors have a short in the harness...somewhere....SAI (Secondary Air Injection) has a leak in one of the hoses or the pump itself...

[USSVWBEETLE]

Originally Posted by Canadianbugin

Cyl-1&2 injectors have a short in the harness...somewhere....SAI (Secondary Air Injection) has a leak in one of the hoses or the pump itself...

Thank you, would fixing any of these things be a solution to the issue i am having? I just went up to a repair shop that specializes in imports and he just told me to replace the starter (again).

[simonsi]

Originally Posted by USSVWBEETLE

so I just did a scan and came up with the following codes

17621 P1213
Cyl.1-Fuel Inj.Circ. Short to B+

17622 P1214
Cyl.2-Fuel Inj.Circ. Short to B+

16795- P0411
Sec.Air Inj.Sys. Incorrect Flow Detected

16806- P0422
Main Catalyst,Bank1 Below Threshold

with me not being too inclined in mechanics this deep is there any light that can be shed on these in lamence terms? I looked it up on Google which was a big mistake. Thank you

Clear all codes then try and start again, then rescan. You could be shooting old problems here.