Beetle will not start every time

[dphill5]

Car wouldn't start, replaced the starter. It does turn over more often and runs now but still doesn't start consistently every time. Can hear the solenoid activating but no start. Also put new cables from the the battery post so they are new. any suggestions?

[Blugg]

Changed fuel filter ? Checked fuel is getting in ?

[NewBeetleMechanic]

Originally Posted by dphill5

Car wouldn't start, replaced the starter. It does turn over more often and runs now but still doesn't start consistently every time. Can hear the solenoid activating but no start. Also put new cables from the the battery post so they are new. any suggestions?

This might be unrelated.



I changed a starter on a Beetle because my service manager said the customer wanted a new starter. Pushed the car into the shop, changed the starter. Got it all buttoned back up, went to pull it out of the shop, and no start. Pulled the starter back off, bench tested it 10X. It worked everytime. I went and got their old starter out of the box and bench tested it, it also worked everytime. Then I load tested the battery, not only did it fail the first time, but after charging and load testing it with a full charge, the top blew off. I put a new battery in it and it started right up.

What was happening is when you turn the key to run all the electricals would work, but when you went to start it, you would get a click. The battery had a load short in it.

[Smileybug]

Yeah I'd get the battery checked. When mine was dying, it would take longer for my car to start.

[jason m]

Originally Posted by NewBeetleMechanic

This might be unrelated.



I changed a starter on a Beetle because my service manager said the customer wanted a new starter. Pushed the car into the shop, changed the starter. Got it all buttoned back up, went to pull it out of the shop, and no start. Pulled the starter back off, bench tested it 10X. It worked everytime. I went and got their old starter out of the box and bench tested it, it also worked everytime. Then I load tested the battery, not only did it fail the first time, but after charging and load testing it with a full charge, the top blew off. I put a new battery in it and it started right up.

What was happening is when you turn the key to run all the electricals would work, but when you went to start it, you would get a click. The battery had a load short in it.

question is did you put the old starter back on or the new???

[Blugg]

Originally Posted by NewBeetleMechanic

This might be unrelated.



I changed a starter on a Beetle because my service manager said the customer wanted a new starter. Pushed the car into the shop, changed the starter. Got it all buttoned back up, went to pull it out of the shop, and no start. Pulled the starter back off, bench tested it 10X. It worked everytime. I went and got their old starter out of the box and bench tested it, it also worked everytime. Then I load tested the battery, not only did it fail the first time, but after charging and load testing it with a full charge, the top blew off. I put a new battery in it and it started right up.

What was happening is when you turn the key to run all the electricals would work, but when you went to start it, you would get a click. The battery had a load short in it.

Good read, Thanks

[NewBeetleMechanic]

Originally Posted by jason m

question is did you put the old starter back on or the new???

I put the old starter back on, when the customer came to pick it up, I had to re-replace the old one with a the new one at the cutomers request.

I informed them that there was not a problem with the old one, they changed it because they wanted it done anyaway.

[jason m]

Originally Posted by NewBeetleMechanic

I put the old starter back on, when the customer came to pick it up, I had to re-replace the old one with a the new one at the cutomers request.

I informed them that there was not a problem with the old one, they changed it because they wanted it done anyaway.

good on you, customers sometimes will suprise you and do stuff like that.

[dphill5]

Originally Posted by Blugg

Changed fuel filter ? Checked fuel is getting in ?

Canadian tire had it for a week! Replaced starter and then shorted it some how. We went to get it and still wouldn't start so they said they would put in a new starter. Waited 3 days of excuses and then finally went to get it and no start. Manager and mechanic came out and mechanic broke down and said miss diagnosis it was the ignition switch. So hopefully we get our beetle back tomorrow! Free of charge for us because we paid $600 for starter and diagnostic testing. So in the end we get two new parts. I will never bring it back to Can. Tire

[dphill5]

Originally Posted by NewBeetleMechanic

This might be unrelated.



I changed a starter on a Beetle because my service manager said the customer wanted a new starter. Pushed the car into the shop, changed the starter. Got it all buttoned back up, went to pull it out of the shop, and no start. Pulled the starter back off, bench tested it 10X. It worked everytime. I went and got their old starter out of the box and bench tested it, it also worked everytime. Then I load tested the battery, not only did it fail the first time, but after charging and load testing it with a full charge, the top blew off. I put a new battery in it and it started right up.

What was happening is when you turn the key to run all the electricals would work, but when you went to start it, you would get a click. The battery had a load short in it.

Thanks for all your help! You add a great service for free!

[DZLBUG]

I would try to find a better shop to take your car to than Canadian Tire. Lots of reject mechanics who couldn't get a job anywhere else.

[NewBeetleMechanic]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

I would try to find a better shop to take your car to than Canadian Tire. Lots of reject mechanics who couldn't get a job anywhere else.

100% agree.

[dphill5]

Well the beetle is finally running. Finally pinned down the inconsistent starts to a bad ignition switch. Kind of tough to diagnose since it acts similiar to a bad starter. Still have the wire cut on the maf, not going to bother putting it back together for now. car runs fine with it cut. When I connect it, the car idles rough. Maybes project for later, let's get some run time out of her first. Post back if anyone has any questions, be glad to answer.

[NewBeetleMechanic]

Originally Posted by dphill5

Well the beetle is finally running. Finally pinned down the inconsistent starts to a bad ignition switch. Kind of tough to diagnose since it acts similiar to a bad starter. Still have the wire cut on the maf, not going to bother putting it back together for now. car runs fine with it cut. When I connect it, the car idles rough. Maybes project for later, let's get some run time out of her first. Post back if anyone has any questions, be glad to answer.

A mechanic, a real mechanic, would have tested each wire.


Your MAF is most likely out of range, a very very very very very common problem.

[adamvwt5]

Originally Posted by NewBeetleMechanic

A mechanic, a real mechanic, would have tested each wire.


Your MAF is most likely out of range, a very very very very very common problem.

Agreed.. Replace the MAF and clear the maf code, then blast around for a bit to get the ecu to read new maf ranges.

[adamvwt5]

If you have an aftermarket filter, dump it as these shorten the life of the MAF in my opinion.