HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS

1103 Views 18 Replies 9 Participants Last post by opusdestructo, Dec 9, 2001

opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · Dec 1, 2001

I have a 79 scirocco with a 1.8, 8v, solid lifter 8.5/1 engine. The current fuel system is CIS-mechanical. The ignition systems consists of a coil, hall sender, hall control unit, and distributor. this is a NON-02/knock sensor engine.
The car won't start because the fuel pump does not click on. the fuel pump relay is new, as is my coil. when i turn the start switch to on position the fuel pump turn on for that momentary fuel delivery. But it only turns on intermitently when turning the key to ON position. once the key is in START the fuel pump stops pumping.

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fat biker

· #2 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

Had a similar problem with my '82 Convertible. Turns out the ground for the fuel pump relay was open in the fuse panel.
Suggest you get a Bentley manual and a multimeter, then ring out all of the wiring around the fuel pump circuit.
Good luck,
fat biker

lotus7

· #3 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

You may have a bad ignition switch.

Butcher

· #4 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

Bypass the fuel pump with a jumper wire at the fuel pump relay [don't jump the wrong ones]. Start the car and find out what is signals are missing at the fuel pump relay sockets. Most likely no crank signal. Could be a bad fuse box or maybe the wire at the trigger side of the coil is off.

Vdubs

· #5 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (Butcher)

Like Butcher said.

opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 3, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (Vdubs)

how can i test if it's a bad fuse box?

fat biker

· #7 · Dec 4, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

As I suggested above, with an ohmeter and the Bentley electrical schematic.
fat biker

opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 4, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (fat biker)

I'm not even getting spark anymore. I was a couple weeks ago.

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ncvwnut

· #9 · Dec 4, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

Check the fusible link also. A buddy of mine had the fusible link go. We checked the relay and the pump was new. Thought he needed another pump, needless to say it was a fusible link. Much cheaper.

Mk1Racer

· #10 · Dec 4, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (ncvwnut)

The Bentley (get one!) describes the procedure for making a jumper wire to test the fuel pump. It's pretty simple. Get an in-line fuse holder (like the ones that come on car stereos) and put two male spade lugs on it (one at each end). Then put a 30amp fuse in it. Now, pull your F/P relay and put the spade lugs in 30 and 87 (dbl. check this in the Bentley). This lets the F/P run w/o the ignition on. Then, take your multi-meter and check out what's going on at the F/P. Also, make sure you're not confusing the sound of the fequency valve for the sound of the F/P running. If you put the jumper wire in, you'll be able to go to the back of the car and here the pump running.
And if you're not getting any spark, then your ignition switch may well have shat the bed. The Bentley does a pretty good job of describing how to trouble shoot it.
Did I mention that you should get a Bentley???

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4

spitpilot

· #11 · Dec 4, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (millerwj)

I had this problem on our 81 Cabby. Daughter described it as a hot start problem since it seemed to happen when she stopped for a short time. Went thru all the checks on FI system, no problems. Turned out to be the ignition switch contact block. The "start" postion contact was weak, sometimes gave juice sometimes not. If the "run" postion contact is weak on yours would be erratic in ON postion. Since the fuel pump relay has a safety circuit that engergizes the fuel pump only when ignition voltage is present, you won't get fuel pump action if the ignition circuit isn't getting juice. The way to check is put 12V voltmeter on the coil hot terminal and ground. If voltage isn't constant at something close to 12V as you turn ignition switch to run and start postions you have a bad switch block. Good news its cheap part like $20 or less, bad news you have to tear down the steering column to install it.

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opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 5, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (spitpilot)

I just did some tests for the third time. now it appears as though my hall control unit is malfunctioning. My ignition system is inconsistant

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Vdubs

· #13 · Dec 5, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

How did you test what you tested?
What results have you had?
Is there 12v going to the coil?

opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 5, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (Vdubs)

the coil is getting 12v

[Modified by opusdestructo, 6:26 PM 12-8-2001]

who1

· #15 · Dec 7, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

My dad's 81 Rabbit had the ignition (Hall) control unit go bad once. No start conditon. I think there's a test for that too in the Bentley.

opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 9, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (who1)

i've also tried two other used hall control units and still no spark.

WHERE IS THE FUSIBLE LINK?

Vdubs

· #17 · Dec 9, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

Check for voltage at the plug going into the hall sender.
Also put a sparkplug in the coil wire coming from the coil,
rest the sparkplug on the engine,
turn on the ignition,
unplug hall sender and use a jump wire from the center terminal to the outter,
touch the wire on and off quick and the sparkplug should spark.

opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 9, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (Vdubs)

thanks Ian, i will try that test tomorrow morning.

opusdestructo

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 9, 2001

Re: HELP. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VW IGNITION SYSTEMS (opusdestructo)

things are working better now. i got spark and the fuel pump seems to be working correctly. turn out that one of the connectors on the wire harness for the Hall control unit was not tight. As i was removing the hall control unit, i started getting spark when i pushed the connector. So now I'm charging my battery up and will try to start it in a few hours.

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