2000 VW Cabrio no start

crash2 · Nov 11, 2012

SO the wifes car stalled and after a bit would start.

So I did some quick checks and I have injector pulse but no spark.

First I checked the coil resistance and that checked good.

I check voltage/ground at the coil (pin 1 & 3) and thats good. I check for a trigger between pin 2 & 3 on crank--nothing.

Next I check resistance from pin 2 (trigger wire) to pin 73 at the ecm--resistance is good.

According to my info it calls for a bad ECM and I have not found a good explanation on exactly how the system works and if it shares inputs for spark and injector pulse..

Any input would be great..

TrikeKid · Nov 11, 2012

VW's are known for coil pack failure, sounds like it may be getting warm and giving up but works enough when it's cold? From what I remember of my vw days they'll crack and do all sorts of funny weird ****.

crash2 · Nov 11, 2012

TrikeKid said:
VW's are known for coil pack failure, sounds like it may be getting warm and giving up but works enough when it's cold? From what I remember of my vw days they'll crack and do all sorts of funny weird ****.

Damn German wiring schematics are just awful and I wish they would give a simple pinout of the ecm so I can easily confirm all voltages/grounds..

I would believe that if I had a trigger for the coil. But ya I have read the coils are notorious for cracking and failing.

crash2 · Nov 11, 2012

TrikeKid said:
VW's are known for coil pack failure, sounds like it may be getting warm and giving up but works enough when it's cold? From what I remember of my vw days they'll crack and do all sorts of funny weird ****.

So this still set in the back of my mind but not knowing these cars like I do the gm stuff really bugs me and I will go the depths to figure it out :redneck:

So after the car sits it will start and while it sits I keep my noid light hooked to the coil connector (just like the factory states) and you basically watch the trigger which I never saw. So I crank it no flashy flashy hook the connector up and it starts.

So on the coil there are 2 test terminals and there I found I can watch the pulse. When it would not start I get a flash and the same when it starts--this tells me the trigger is working correctly and indeed its a coil problem...

Also once it starts and I try to power brake it it will start to miss and sputter and die--again leads me to believe the coil is breaking down...

unimogken · Nov 12, 2012

I'll ask my buddy that owns a shop over in Shoreline and see what he had to say.
He's a German car tweaker like you are with the Chevy and Toyota stuff.

zukkev · Nov 12, 2012

Coils are HIGHLY common failures on these motors Mike...:awesomework:

crash2 · Nov 12, 2012

So I had the wife pick one up and pulled the old one off. I see what they mean by cracks. Threw the new one on and lets see what happens....

WA-Wheeler · Nov 12, 2012

The coil packs are garbage , what compelled vw to use so much damn cheap plastic on their cars I don't know... Not even to mention the electrical nightmares that plague 99% of them....I am not a vw fan...

Good luck mike :awesomework:

crash2 · Nov 12, 2012

Well that seemed to fix it. ran it hot and buzzed around for a bit--alll good....

WA-Wheeler · Nov 12, 2012

crash said:
Well that seemed to fix it. ran it hot and buzzed around for a bit--alll good....

:cheer:

zukkev · Nov 12, 2012

crash said:
Well that seemed to fix it. ran it hot and buzzed around for a bit--alll good....

:redneck:Zoomzoom...
O wait...crapcrap...
It's a Farfromgroovin'....A nutsnboltswagon....

Alan · Nov 13, 2012

Hi All:

Hey Crash, how many miles on that 2000 Cabriolet?

Thanks,

Alan

------------------------------------------------------------:wtf:

crash said:
SO the wifes car stalled and after a bit would start.

So I did some quick checks and I have injector pulse but no spark.

First I checked the coil resistance and that checked good.

I check voltage/ground at the coil (pin 1 & 3) and thats good. I check for a trigger between pin 2 & 3 on crank--nothing.

Next I check resistance from pin 2 (trigger wire) to pin 73 at the ecm--resistance is good.

According to my info it calls for a bad ECM and I have not found a good explanation on exactly how the system works and if it shares inputs for spark and injector pulse..

Any input would be great..