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Help getting my car to run



On 9:40 am 11/11/06 "Lexan Blanchard" <lexan_122874@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have finally decided that me staring at the engine is NOT going to
> make it miraculously run.  So, I need help, as my only car experience
> is changing a tire, the oil and an air filter.  Here is what I know:
>
> The 1982 Scirocco came to me not running.  The previous owner says it
> has good compression, fire (new spark plugs), fuel spray, basically
> everything that it takes to make it start.  I figured out the new
> battery had died.  I have charged the battery.  The car will still
> not start.  It tries, but it just can't turn over.  I have
> disconnected the battery so it will not be drained again, until I
> have an idea of what killed the battery in the first place (the car
> has not been driven since the battery was installed by the previous
> owner).
>
> So, HELP!  How do I know if the starter is bad?  What else could be
> wrong?
>
> I appreciate any ideas and tips from all you guys, as I really want
> to fix this car up myself (no mechanic or garage).
>
> Thanks!!!
> Lexan
>
So, I know this is hard to describe online, but is it turning over fast
enough do you think? If not, then it could be something electrical in the
starter circuit that's not 100%. If it IS turning over fast enough, there
could be an issue in fuel or sparkland, even if there wasn't previously. My
first course of action would be to check out the snugness of the battery
post connectors, and the big ground wires, they are notorious for corrosion
issues which will give you all sorts of problems. They are located in many
spots, the main one goes from the battery negative post to the frame under
the airbox, where lots of moisture and crud can degrade it, you will have
to dislodge the airbox to check it. Unhook the battery,  and have at it,
the fuel lines won't break if they get moved around a bit. From there it
should go to the transmission casing. Clean and tighten those, or replace
the wires altogether.
A quick "work around" for those wires to see if it's a problem before you
tear into it is to take a jumper cable and attach it to the tranny casing
somewhere and then to the battery negative post, it's doing the same job
except the jumper cable clips aren't so good for when you're driving. (This
would be done with the battery all hooked up normally). A few more places
mine have had wiring issues that caused "no starts" were at the coil, and
at the starter, see that all the wires are firmly attached and clean.
If it's not a points car (82's wouldn't be, right?), there's a connector at
the ignition distributor (to the hall sender) that sometimes has busted up
insulation on the wires leading to it, that can cause erratic no starts.
If it tries to start as you release the key from the start to thr run
position, it could be the ignition switch. Another spot that might have a
bad connector is the "fifth injector" or "cold start injector", it'll be up
on the intake manifold. Do you hear the fuel pump buzz when you turn the
key? You should...that's another thing to check for. There are lots of
other options, don't be discouraged, just feed us all that seemingly
unimportant details. There's lots of good diagnostic skill here on the list!
Cathy

PS, got a Bentley? It'll have some diagnostics for "no starts" too. And
who's nearby that can help? Hands on instruction is the best, and so is
socializing! And FWIW, I'd never done much wrenching till I got mine, so
yeah, you'll get decent at it. And look at it this way, the more the car
screws up, the more you learn?