Cranks but won't start.

[thevisualedge]

Crummy situation ... the car cranks over like it's trying to start, but never actually fires up.

There's gas in the tank. I did recently put in a new fuel filter, and I know the first start-up usually takes a little patience because the filter has to fill with fuel--but this has literally been 15 start-up attempts with no success.

There was previously a very small fuel leak where the fuel exits the filter and heads toward the engine--the hose at that connection was brittle and coming apart. It would leak a little from there, but NOW when I've tried starting up the car, that area is bone dry.

Any thoughts?

[6BangSneezer]

May want to check the crank positioning sensor. Harness accidentally came loose during my tranny swap and had the same issue. It cranked forever with no start. Reconnected and fired right up

[HavokRuels]

May want to check the crank positioning sensor. Harness accidentally came loose during my tranny swap and had the same issue. It cranked forever with no start. Reconnected and fired right up

X2

[vdubCorrado]

That's what was wrong with my car. The motor ran when pulled, put it back in and the sensor was bad.

From what I hear they are very sensitive and commonly go bad. I had the same issue crank and crank with nothing. After replacing I felt it igniting after first good try. Fired up the second attempt

They are expensive though. Thedubnutz has them for half the price of GAP but they're OE replacement, works just find for me

...furthermore it's the white plug located near where the trans meets the engine on the front side, not the top. It's on the same bracket with an identical plug that is black

[thevisualedge]

Man I was so hopeful after reading these responses.

Of course, then I go get under my car and the crank sensor is untouched, secure, and tight.

I'm so frustrated. I've spend a ton of time doing the following:

- new Godspeed radiator (with all the annoying fab/grinding work it took to make it fit)
- figured out the wiring on the aftermarket slim fans
- billet crack pipe
- billet rad neck
- new thermostat housing and mounting hardware
- low-temp thermostat
- low-temp fan switch
- new coolant

All I want to do is turn on the car so I can make sure all the new cooling stuff doesn't leak ... but the effer won't start. I'm about ready to pony up for a scan tool.

Thanks for the help anyway!

Vortex =
My Corrado currently =

[vw16v88]

Have you tried to give the Idle Stabalizer Valve a good cleaning. If the car has been sitting for a while it might have got clogged up...happen to me.

-Jeff

[thevisualedge]

If I had an ISV, I'd check that ... but I did the delete years ago and drove the car all the time after that with no problems ...

Appreciate the suggestion though!

[2021cc8V]

- check fuel pump relay
- fuel pump (they like to take a dump especially if it's really old)

- if it's none of those, then start checking your ignition (ie. plug wires...pull off a boot and put it close to some metal, crank her over and see if it sparks)

fuel, air spark....gotta have those in order to fire up.


IF all else fails... lemme know and I'll bring over a match and we'll have a vw corrado bonfire....

[Tk2g60]

Edit: somehow I posted in the wrong thread. Sry

[Tommaso]

I had the same issue with my car after i over hauled the engine, it had spark, you could hear the fuel pump activating, but i had no injector pulse, turned out to be a bad ground. Easiest way to test for injector pulse is by taking a 194 bulb (usually found in a side marker light) bending the wires down and plugging the bulb into the most accessable injector connector, if it illuminates, then you'll know youve got working injectors

[Tomandante]

I've been dealing with a similar problem, but my car starts after a few tries. Sometimes it does it and sometimes it doesn't do it.

[Krazee]

Swap Crank & Knock sensors connections - they look the same and you might have them crossed.

[vdubCorrado]

My crank position sensor was clean, secure and above all BAD... Find someone to swap with you before you rule it out.

[-(Dubslinger)-]

Try a new battery

[ClyderGerman]

May want to check the crank positioning sensor.

[HavokRuels]

What does a tight and secure crank sensor have to do with its function? It's an electrical component with magnetic pick up, just cause you can't wiggle it doesn't mean it's good. Lmao!!!!!!

Sorry man but they are exposed to constant heat and oil. They go bad and when they do, you can run your starter and battery into the ground and it won't start.


Let's do a process of elimination here: spark? Yes? Fuel? Yes? = crank sensor


Sent while sitting on my ass VIA my iPad

[lnoriel]

Have you verified any of the following?

1. Is gas being delivered to the fuel injectors?
2. Do you have spark at the spark plugs?
3. Have you verified the timing?

[vdubCorrado]

What does a tight and secure crank sensor have to do with its function? It's an electrical component with magnetic pick up, just cause you can't wiggle it doesn't mean it's good. Lmao!!!!!!

Sorry man but they are exposed to constant heat and oil. They go bad and when they do, you can run your starter and battery into the ground and it won't start.


Let's do a process of elimination here: spark? Yes? Fuel? Yes? = crank sensor


Sent while sitting on my ass VIA my iPad

This was the point I was trying to make. A visual inspection on an electronic part very rarely gives you any information. Also I have read that the crank sensor also can stop both fuel and spark or one of the other intermittently if the ECU chooses. Bottom line I say replace it. If it wasn't the problem then you know to rule that out but I would bet a shiny new nickel that its the problem

[6BangSneezer]

This was the point I was trying to make. A visual inspection on an electronic part very rarely gives you any information. Also I have read that the crank sensor also can stop both fuel and spark or one of the other intermittently if the ECU chooses. Bottom line I say replace it. If it wasn't the problem then you know to rule that out but I would bet a shiny new nickel that its the problem

I think his reply was in response to post #5 but I do agree. It could look brand new AND secure, but if it's original replace it and continue from there. If money is an issue borrow one from a running VR to diagnose it.

[HavokRuels]

This was the point I was trying to make. A visual inspection on an electronic part very rarely gives you any information. Also I have read that the crank sensor also can stop both fuel and spark or one of the other intermittently if the ECU chooses. Bottom line I say replace it. If it wasn't the problem then you know to rule that out but I would bet a shiny new nickel that its the problem

I'll back bet you, make that two shiny nickels

[xtremevdub]

Hey!!! I have a great Idea...

Why dont you CHECK the CPS before you buy a new one..

. you can do it with a simple multimeter and the Bentley gives you the specs..
Or buy a new one or swap a working one from a friend...

I have had 2 VR cars that would not start because of that damn sensor...


Also.. did you put the fuel filter with the Arrow pointing towards the engine?????

[thevisualedge]

did you put the fuel filter with the Arrow pointing towards the engine?????

Of course I did. I'm a novice, not an idiot.

So after diagnosing a bad fuel pump, I replaced it today (getting it back in was a PIA, by the way). I sat in the driver's seat, all excited to fire it up after fixing the problem. I turn the key, and nothing. Zero. It used to at least TRY to start, but now there's just nothing.

Of course, all the dash lights are lit and the digital numbers are displaying on all my readouts, so I know the battery is working.

So pissed right now. I wanna take a baseball bat to this car.

[vdubCorrado]

So now you've reached true Corrado owner status.

Does it crank at all now? And did you swap crank position sensors with someone? I assume you got power to the old pump but noting coming out correct? And now are you getting power to the new pump?

Did you check spark? This ones easy, hook up a timing light and put it around each wire to see if you're getting spark from them all. That's how I confirmed a bad coil pack on my green one

[2021cc8V]

Of course I did. I'm a novice, not an idiot.

So after diagnosing a bad fuel pump, I replaced it today (getting it back in was a PIA, by the way). I sat in the driver's seat, all excited to fire it up after fixing the problem. I turn the key, and nothing. Zero. It used to at least TRY to start, but now there's just nothing.

Of course, all the dash lights are lit and the digital numbers are displaying on all my readouts, so I know the battery is working.

So pissed right now. I wanna take a baseball bat to this car.

Just because you get lights on the readout doesn't necessarily mean your battery has enough juice to start the car.

We've cranked the starter many times by now, so battery is getting drained.

Check battery voltage. I'd recommend putting the battery on a trickle charger overnight.

[thevisualedge]

SUCCESS!

After checking the battery voltage and getting a wimpy 10.5 volts, I jumped it with our Jetta and it fired up after some minor sputtering. Once I knew the new pump was working properly, I fastened everything down and put the fuel tank cover back on.

I've had an electrical gremlin for a while now (pretty sure it's from an aftermarket stereo install), so I'm 95% sure that's why the battery was weak.

Now I just have to fix a leak where the fuel line meets the in-line filter, then I can take it out for a rip.

I have to say, working on my Corrado FRUSTRATES THE HELL out of me, but that all seems to go away once I rev the engine.

[vdubCorrado]

I have to say, working on my Corrado FRUSTRATES THE HELL out of me, but that all seems to go away once I rev the engine.

Welcome to Corrado ownership, congratulations! Haha

[thevisualedge]

Haha ... appreciate the welcome, but I've had this car for 15 years. I guess it's only recently that I've really started tearing into it.

[vdubCorrado]

Got me beat, I've only had red rado for 11... But it was a figure of speech haha they're so damn frustrating but worth it as soon as you drive it! ...your power drain is exactly why green rado doesn't even have a radio in it... Some day I'm sure OT will but I like letting it sit a week or 2 and being able to start it again haha