VW Won’t Start

Henno1111

2016 VW Golf won’t start 

Hey I was wondering could anyone help me, my car recently wouldn’t start so I got it towed to a mechanic, he rang me and told me that he had to change the fuel injectors to fix the problem, he rang me then yesterday to say that he thinks the ECU could be at fault also, he then rang me today and told me he was totally stumped and can’t get the car to fire. It’s a 2016 Car With only 70,000 miles, can anyone help please?

Toyotafanboi

Is the engine turning over and trying to start or is there no response at all from the engine?

Is it push button start or do you start it with a key?

There's a few popular bits that will stop them starting but sounds like your mechanic is lost.

Henno1111

Yeah it’s turning over but not starting, it’s a key operated car, he checked was their an issue with the FOB and the Key but their wasn’t.

Toyotafanboi

1.6 diesel?

Did it go from starting perfectly to not starting or did it get progressively harder to start until it gave up?

Fuel filter?

Immobiliser error?

Issues can be either more gross mechanical elements like a clogged fuel filter which are more easily determined by a mechanic or more intricate electronic issues where the computer “diagnostics” often come in.

mfceiling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469434#Comment_118469434

Immobiliser?

Henno1111

Ya 1.6 Diesel

Yeah it was working perfectly then just wouldn’t start one day, the man that towed the vehicle was spraying some type of liquid on the engine when I was trying to start it and it came close to starting. He thought it might be no fuel getting to the engine.

Toyotafanboi

If the immobiliser was blocking it from starting it wouldn't be cranking.

If it went from perfect starts to no start it's unlikely to be the injectors IMO. There is a popular issue with that engine where the injectors cause a long cranking/ non start issue but it sets in over time with harder starting/ poor running so probably not that.

Is there any fault codes stored? My crystal ball says a fuel system issue, most likely the high pressure fuel pump has eaten itself, check the fuel filter bowl for filings.

I'd be very hesitant to fork out for injectors or an ECU without a rock solid diagnosis as they are very expensive things to make a bad call on.

Henno1111

I actually don’t know but surely the mechanic would’ve spotted that????? He doesn’t know himself 😢

Toyotafanboi

You'd be surprised the sort of people who advertise themselves as mechanics.

There'll be nothing more expensive for you than a cheap diagnosis here.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469510#Comment_118469510

I thought turning over, running for a few seconds and stopping accompanied by a flashing amber key on the dash were the indicators for immobiliser problems.

CoBo55

Has the mechanic scanned the car for fault codes? Are there any lights on the dash? A good look around the engine for split pipes, chafed wiring etc while the scan is going on would be the obvious starting point.

Buffman

I'd say find a new mechanic who has the proper diagnostic equipment. The old 'replace parts until it works' approach can get very expensive for the customer. A VAG specialist or dealer diagnostic would be money better spent at this stage.

Henno1111

Yeah I was quoted €1200 for the injectors last week, they told me that was the problem so I said go ahead and fix it but it’s looking like it’s not the injectors now, a very expensive diagnosis if it’s incorrect.

There is no lights on the dash so I’m assuming that’s why they thought the ECU might be at fault but that doesn’t appear likely either.

Henno1111

The mechanic is actually working in a garage, it’s a KIA dealership.

Toyotafanboi

€1200 sounds too cheap. We done one just last week for a customer, 4 new injectors, fitted and coded €2550.

Get it to a dealer or a specialist would be my advice and to not pay the €1200.

Henno1111

Do I have to pay the €1200 for the fuel injectors if that wasnt the issue??????

appreciate all the feed back as well lads 👍👍

the €1200 didn’t include the labour

Henno1111

its actually the garage I bought the car from as well, the 12 month warranty ended in October 2021

BrianD3

I had similar symptoms on a Megane diesel. 20+ seconds of cranking before it would start. Spraying Easy Start around the intake helped. Engine light on and several fault codes. Mechanic was attributing it to injectors and I was preparing for a big bill. As a last resort, I did a few checks myself and found the cam position sensor plug loose. Reseated it and car now starting perfectly.

Point being, fault codes can lead mechanics down a blind alley and many have poor diagnostic skills anyway and will start replacing parts at the customer's expense, hoping to stumble on the problem.

Suggest to the garage that it may be a sensor issue e.g. cam or crank position

walshtipp

I had something similar on a Toyota 1.4 diesel. Just wouldn't start one day but the engine was turning over. The ECU was giving error codes for all four injectors. Mechanic said it is highly unlikely for all injectors to give up simultaneously. Ended up being the fuel metering valve in the high pressure fuel pump. I had to take the pump to a Bosch specialist for it to be tested and repaired. Costed €240+VAT for the pump repair and another 150 for mechanic at the time.

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118470783#Comment_118470783

It would have shown a cam sensor fault when scanned, it's a great system if used properly. Like your case 90% of sensor flagged faults are down to damaged wiring to the sensor.

Henno1111

Again thanks for all the messages lads, still haven’t heard anything back from the garage so fingers crossed

walshtipp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118485197#Comment_118485197

Any news on the car?

Henno1111

So the garage rang me last week and said that it’s an electrical issue with the car and that it wouldn’t be ready until this week (still yet to receive a call)

i also said that it appears not to be a fault with the fuel injectors and they said they were going to put back in my old injectors.

CoBo55

An electrical fault on a golf... Never😊

Henno1111

Is that sarcasm or are you actually serious? 😂

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118540371#Comment_118540371

Sarcasm, the lowest form of wit 😉

Henno1111

😂😂 well hopefully things will get sorted soon before I lose my mind