Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when starting.
No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing. This only happens every
now and again, though the problem is becoming more frequent.
First, it happened on a warm-ish Sunday after I’d already driven the beast a
few times. After that weekend it worked fine for three more. Then, another
warm Sunday rolls around and nothing. Took the car on a 75-hour road trip
right after that happened and had no problems the entire trip. Just last
week, it died again. After I get it clutch-started, the ignition works
fine… for a while. Another couple days go by, it does it again.
So I replaced the ignition yesterday to see if that would do it and today it
did it again! It also has a new Interstate Megatron battery in there and I
haven’t lost charge at all yet. It clutch starts just fine every time…
My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so I
think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough connection?
Does this sound reasonable?
Do any of you have any idea what else could possibly cause this behavior?
I’m really sick of parking on slopes 
Thanks!!
# Nathan
1996 Jetta GLX
> So I replaced the ignition yesterday …..
Do you mean ignition switch? I was gonna suggesst that.
> My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
> doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so I
> think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough connection?
> Does this sound reasonable?
That was my next suggestion. This is incredibly important and
very common. The computers require a good ground to do anything,
and when you twist the key you make the heaviest drain on the battery,
not only the starter but the ABS pump and other stuff is all trying to
run. A poor ground will cause some of the voltage to drop across
the cable clamp and less than 12 volts will be available to try to
start the car.
Jeff
Check starter next. Known problem to old A2. I think A3 is no exception
sooner or later..
"Nathan" <etherw…@sopris.net> wrote in message
news:v3tjtit8f3kg67@corp.supernews.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
> all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when
starting.
> No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing. This only happens every
> now and again, though the problem is becoming more frequent.
> First, it happened on a warm-ish Sunday after I’d already driven the beast
a
> few times. After that weekend it worked fine for three more. Then, another
> warm Sunday rolls around and nothing. Took the car on a 75-hour road trip
> right after that happened and had no problems the entire trip. Just last
> week, it died again. After I get it clutch-started, the ignition works
> fine… for a while. Another couple days go by, it does it again.
> So I replaced the ignition yesterday to see if that would do it and today
it
> did it again! It also has a new Interstate Megatron battery in there and I
> haven’t lost charge at all yet. It clutch starts just fine every time…
> My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
> doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so
I
> think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough
connection?
> Does this sound reasonable?
> Do any of you have any idea what else could possibly cause this behavior?
> I’m really sick of parking on slopes
> Thanks!!
> # Nathan
> 1996 Jetta GLX
Next time it happens, hit the starter with a hammer while somebody turns the
key. I’ll bet you have a bad starter. The vibration of the hammer will jiggle
it past the bad spot and it will crank.
ED
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Nathan wrote:
> Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
> all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when starting.
> No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing. This only happens every
> now and again, though the problem is becoming more frequent.
> First, it happened on a warm-ish Sunday after I’d already driven the beast a
> few times. After that weekend it worked fine for three more. Then, another
> warm Sunday rolls around and nothing. Took the car on a 75-hour road trip
> right after that happened and had no problems the entire trip. Just last
> week, it died again. After I get it clutch-started, the ignition works
> fine… for a while. Another couple days go by, it does it again.
> So I replaced the ignition yesterday to see if that would do it and today it
> did it again! It also has a new Interstate Megatron battery in there and I
> haven’t lost charge at all yet. It clutch starts just fine every time…
> My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
> doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so I
> think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough connection?
> Does this sound reasonable?
> Do any of you have any idea what else could possibly cause this behavior?
> I’m really sick of parking on slopes
> Thanks!!
> # Nathan
> 1996 Jetta GLX
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If your lights and dash lights go off when it supose to start, it’s your
starter.
Go under the car and hit it with a hammer a few times.
If it still doesnt work, have it replaced.
"Nathan" <etherw…@sopris.net> wrote in message
news:v3tjtit8f3kg67@corp.supernews.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
> all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when
starting.
> No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing. This only happens every
> now and again, though the problem is becoming more frequent.
> First, it happened on a warm-ish Sunday after I’d already driven the beast
a
> few times. After that weekend it worked fine for three more. Then, another
> warm Sunday rolls around and nothing. Took the car on a 75-hour road trip
> right after that happened and had no problems the entire trip. Just last
> week, it died again. After I get it clutch-started, the ignition works
> fine… for a while. Another couple days go by, it does it again.
> So I replaced the ignition yesterday to see if that would do it and today
it
> did it again! It also has a new Interstate Megatron battery in there and I
> haven’t lost charge at all yet. It clutch starts just fine every time…
> My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
> doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so
I
> think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough
connection?
> Does this sound reasonable?
> Do any of you have any idea what else could possibly cause this behavior?
> I’m really sick of parking on slopes
> Thanks!!
> # Nathan
> 1996 Jetta GLX
Nathan,
I had something similar.
The heavy wire/cable going to the starter motor was loose.
Your description (off again on again) sounds like this is
a possibility.
Regards,
Charles
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Nathan wrote:
> Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
> all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when starting.
> No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing.
> After that weekend it worked fine for three more.
> # Nathan
> 1996 Jetta GLX
Well it sounds like the starter is bad, doesn’t it!
I will wang on ‘er with a hammer and see if that works, as well as check out
the cable that may be toast… Many thanks for the quick responses!!!
I’ll let y’all know what happens.
Cheers,
# Nathan
"Nathan" <etherw…@sopris.net> wrote in message
news:v3tjtit8f3kg67@corp.supernews.com…
Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when starting.
No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing. This only happens every
now and again, though the problem is becoming more frequent.
First, it happened on a warm-ish Sunday after I’d already driven the beast a
few times. After that weekend it worked fine for three more. Then, another
warm Sunday rolls around and nothing. Took the car on a 75-hour road trip
right after that happened and had no problems the entire trip. Just last
week, it died again. After I get it clutch-started, the ignition works
fine… for a while. Another couple days go by, it does it again.
So I replaced the ignition yesterday to see if that would do it and today it
did it again! It also has a new Interstate Megatron battery in there and I
haven’t lost charge at all yet. It clutch starts just fine every time…
My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so I
think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough connection?
Does this sound reasonable?
Do any of you have any idea what else could possibly cause this behavior?
I’m really sick of parking on slopes
Thanks!!
# Nathan
1996 Jetta GLX
Looks like maybe a bad ignition switch .. Put in ON position and run a
piece of wire from (+) on the battery to the starter lead.. if it
cranks and starts $30 for the part plus labor …
Just a thought …
Alex
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
"Nathan" <etherw…@sopris.net> wrote in message <news:v4045p4q7dij5a@corp.supernews.com>…
> Well it sounds like the starter is bad, doesn’t it!
> I will wang on ‘er with a hammer and see if that works, as well as check out
> the cable that may be toast… Many thanks for the quick responses!!!
> I’ll let y’all know what happens.
> Cheers,
> # Nathan
> "Nathan" <etherw…@sopris.net> wrote in message
> news:v3tjtit8f3kg67@corp.supernews.com…
> Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
> all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when starting.
> No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing. This only happens every
> now and again, though the problem is becoming more frequent.
> First, it happened on a warm-ish Sunday after I’d already driven the beast a
> few times. After that weekend it worked fine for three more. Then, another
> warm Sunday rolls around and nothing. Took the car on a 75-hour road trip
> right after that happened and had no problems the entire trip. Just last
> week, it died again. After I get it clutch-started, the ignition works
> fine… for a while. Another couple days go by, it does it again.
> So I replaced the ignition yesterday to see if that would do it and today it
> did it again! It also has a new Interstate Megatron battery in there and I
> haven’t lost charge at all yet. It clutch starts just fine every time…
> My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
> doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so I
> think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough connection?
> Does this sound reasonable?
> Do any of you have any idea what else could possibly cause this behavior?
> I’m really sick of parking on slopes
> Thanks!!
> # Nathan
> 1996 Jetta GLX
Already replaced the ignition switch. No dice.
"Alex T." <redx…@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:26df48a.0302041540.2c53090a@posting.google.com…
Looks like maybe a bad ignition switch .. Put in ON position and run a
piece of wire from (+) on the battery to the starter lead.. if it
cranks and starts $30 for the part plus labor …
Just a thought …
Alex
"Nathan" <etherw…@sopris.net> wrote in message
<news:v4045p4q7dij5a@corp.supernews.com>…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Well it sounds like the starter is bad, doesn’t it!
> I will wang on ‘er with a hammer and see if that works, as well as check
out
> the cable that may be toast… Many thanks for the quick responses!!!
> I’ll let y’all know what happens.
> Cheers,
> # Nathan
> "Nathan" <etherw…@sopris.net> wrote in message
> news:v3tjtit8f3kg67@corp.supernews.com…
> Symptoms: Turn key, NOTHING. I twist it to Start, and all that happens is
> all the dash lights and the blower fans go off as they should when
starting.
> No relay clicks, no trying to turn over, nothing. This only happens every
> now and again, though the problem is becoming more frequent.
> First, it happened on a warm-ish Sunday after I’d already driven the beast
a
> few times. After that weekend it worked fine for three more. Then, another
> warm Sunday rolls around and nothing. Took the car on a 75-hour road trip
> right after that happened and had no problems the entire trip. Just last
> week, it died again. After I get it clutch-started, the ignition works
> fine… for a while. Another couple days go by, it does it again.
> So I replaced the ignition yesterday to see if that would do it and today
it
> did it again! It also has a new Interstate Megatron battery in there and I
> haven’t lost charge at all yet. It clutch starts just fine every time…
> My only idea is that my negative battery connection is a little loose; it
> doesn’t feel very tight when the retaining screw is really torqued on, so
I
> think maybe when it warms up it just doesn’t make a good enough
connection?
> Does this sound reasonable?
> Do any of you have any idea what else could possibly cause this behavior?
> I’m really sick of parking on slopes
> Thanks!!
> # Nathan
> 1996 Jetta GLX