MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Vsandhu15 on March 11, 2021, 09:35:29 am

Title: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 11, 2021, 09:35:29 am
Hi guys wondering if you could help me! So my golf turns over and does not start, have replaced coil packs, high pressure fuel pump, fuel rail pressure sensor replaced and camshaft sensor replaced still no start? When turning the engine it emits white smoke from the exhaust and even when applying easy start it does not take it in its like it spits it back out? Please help me im so confused! Thanks
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: DBXdarkangel on March 11, 2021, 11:24:18 am
Get it on vcds, read codes and post back here.
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: GreigC on March 11, 2021, 02:03:17 pm
When did you last check your cam follower? Hopefully thats not broken and wrecked your fuel pump/cam... As above codes would be best.
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 11, 2021, 06:18:53 pm
There is 0 fault codes!?!? And when i unplug cam sensor and try to start the ecu does not throw up any fault codes but when unplug air mass it throws fault code.
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: GVK on March 11, 2021, 09:14:21 pm
Turbo fell apart?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 12, 2021, 12:20:46 am
Turbo has been checked and is fine! Im so confused it just turns over dont even try to fire :thinking:
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: titchy on March 12, 2021, 09:35:27 am
compresion test and vcds
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Octoparrot on March 12, 2021, 09:56:13 am
Immobiliser issue?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 12, 2021, 11:00:12 am
Compression is fine, immobiliser seems to be fine aswell. Its so strange it turns over and dont fire with 0 fault codes driving me insane now
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: mjmallia on March 12, 2021, 12:13:17 pm
Checked all the fuses?

Does it make the priming noise when the drivers door is opened?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: DBXdarkangel on March 12, 2021, 02:58:52 pm
Are you sure the plugs are sparking and are you sure there's fuel getting to the plugs from the injectors?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: GVK on March 12, 2021, 03:15:24 pm
Smoke from the exhaust I would be concentrating on, it has to be oil from the engine or turbo, or coolant.....

Basics, how are the levels?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 12, 2021, 11:48:28 pm
Checked all the fuses?

Does it make the priming noise when the drivers door is opened?


I have checked the fuses under the bonnet and on driver side door all seems to be fine! Fuel pump has been checked and is working fine?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 12, 2021, 11:49:12 pm
Are you sure the plugs are sparking and are you sure there's fuel getting to the plugs from the injectors?

I cant be so sure but my mechanic has said all is fine here
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 12, 2021, 11:50:23 pm
Smoke from the exhaust I would be concentrating on, it has to be oil from the engine or turbo, or coolant.....

Basics, how are the levels?

All levels are fine turbo has been checked and is fine too! Im so fed up now
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: pudding on March 13, 2021, 04:40:15 pm
Immobiliser issue?

Immobiliser faults usually manifest themselves as a successful start, followed by an immediate shut off.  Good shout though as a complete failure to start is very rare on these engines.
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: pudding on March 13, 2021, 04:44:20 pm
More context needed.

1 - When it did it last successfully start and run?

2 - What has changed since then?

For a reliable engine like the EA113 to not fire up at all, something drastic has happened.

As the other esteemed gentlemen have suggested, it's a back to basics approach.

Fuel, air, spark, compression and timing.

All of those need thoroughly checking, not to mention wiring harness integrity to make sure the ECU is actually getting a strong signal from the crank sensor.


Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: GVK on March 13, 2021, 07:57:38 pm
I got caught out once on a Fiat grande Punto 1.4 turbo, wouldn't start kept fouling the plugs.

After much to and froing with Fiat technical they sent and engineer out. After him rechecking a lot of stuff I'd done he got a fuel sample out we tried setting light to it, god knows what it was but it didn't burn very well. New fuel ,new plugs and off she went.

In this case the two things he's posted that i'd be concerned with are white smoke coming from exhaust and the fact it won't run on easy start...
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 16, 2021, 02:31:45 pm
So i dont hear any priming noise when opening door but have checked there is power going to the fuel pump. When turning the car the mechanic sprayed fuel into the engine and still wont fire up??!  :sad1: She just turns over and dont try to fire! Losing the plot now and need my car back! Sucha stress
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: LC5F on March 16, 2021, 06:36:50 pm
How about collapsed catalytic converter blocking exhaust stopping oxygen entering engine?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: GVK on March 16, 2021, 10:34:50 pm
Thats the kind of thing I'm thinking of, if air can't get out, air won't get sucked in. Hence my turbo failed suggestion, that would stop it running and smoke. One of the saving salvage type YT channels had an A3 with a failed turbo, white smoke pouring out. In this case OP says turbo been checked, how though? Not the easiest thing to check with access not being great to cold side etc.
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 17, 2021, 01:41:15 pm
My mechanic had taken my turbo off and checked it and said all was fine, if the timing had jumped would it still turn over?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: DBXdarkangel on March 17, 2021, 06:25:55 pm
Should still fire up, just run like a bag of spanners.

Get it towed to a dealer if vcds doesn't throw a fault code and you've check absolutely everything then what other choice do you have.
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: LC5F on March 17, 2021, 10:46:42 pm
If the timing belt had jumped it would have had to have gone a long way to both stop engine starting and not ruin the good compression ratio.
Like DBXdarkangel said, even if timing is way out it should still attempt to fire when it thinks it's meant to.
But you have been attempting to start for some time, assuming you are getting fuel, the cylinders are likely be soaking and harder to ignite.

To be sure I would check the timing marks to see if it is still all pointing correctly.
To help clear the cylinders of any sitting fuel, remove the spark plugs and spin the engine over.
Then drop the down pipe off the turbo - if its been removed recently this should be easy, only 4 nuts - then see if it makes a difference.

Not experienced Mk5 immobiliser issues, but when a Mk4 one activates it would allow engine to start but die after only a couple of seconds plus the dash would light up the car/key immobiliser symbol.

Did this just happen one day or were there any symptoms?
Any recent work done before?
Are you sure you have spark?

Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 19, 2021, 01:31:27 pm
So guys my mechanic has got back to me and says that the camshaft is out? Should they all be sitting flush two of them are not sat correct. What would you guys recommend from here? Thanks


(https://i.postimg.cc/sgFk6D9r/69-F1-A22-F-D1-E4-4-F0-A-AA75-AC83-D2-A7-AF6-A.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RNRpqmDs)

(https://i.postimg.cc/Fz8MQhM0/738-FD868-5558-4-DA0-8852-14-AA99701437.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0KGWY12N)

(https://i.postimg.cc/KcWST514/9-A1-A3-A23-F52-E-4580-9550-35-EC00-B5-D9-A3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SjcvFC7p)

(https://i.postimg.cc/TYW8JWb0/F18-CDC04-F0-F7-4427-A243-8-E38-F8-E59-FA8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qz0Zkqj6)
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Jb55 on March 19, 2021, 01:48:28 pm
I think you need a new mechanic
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: DBXdarkangel on March 19, 2021, 01:54:40 pm
I think you need a new mechanic

I second that. Maybe send your current mechanic on a course. Or buy him a book called "basic mechanics for dummies"
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: FJB on March 19, 2021, 03:46:07 pm
What do you mean the camshaft is out? The intake and exhaust cams look in the correct position in relation to each other, it looks like the locking tool would fit exactly, even if it the chain was one tooth out at the adjuster end I would still expect it to start but run badly. You need to check the intake cam timing mark in relation to crankshaft timing mark, you will need to remove the crankshaft pulley to tell. 
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: amanda on March 19, 2021, 04:32:56 pm
Any perished hoses , including ones that look ok as they can have holes that you cannot see.....also diverted valve??
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 27, 2021, 04:31:22 pm
Update guys!! The car is now running perfectly it was the camshaft chain and bearing needed replacing! But now i have a issue the car is 6 speed manual and wont select reverse or 4th gear! Now when i did purchase the car as a non runner the guy did say he had a clutch fitted before it broke down! But who knows how much of it is the truth!? My mechanic tried to select the gears manually from the linkage but still wont engage reverse or fourth gear. Do you reckon the linkage needs adjusment or something further than that? Thanks!!!
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: DBXdarkangel on March 27, 2021, 04:54:41 pm
How much did you pay for the car?
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: Vsandhu15 on March 27, 2021, 07:36:51 pm
Paid £800 for it from a mates cousin. But had seen videos of it running engine is sweet sounds great and car drives in all gears except reverse and fourth. Its a 2007 black 5 door manual
Title: Re: Starting issues, cranks no start?
Post by: LC5F on March 27, 2021, 08:38:09 pm
Good to hear you got to the bottom of this.

If the gears wont select at the gearbox with cables disconnected it suggests something is wrong inside the box - this could be the cause of the timing being out.

Options are:
Rebuild current box - but likely you will need replacement parts and rebuild cost is expensive, but you get peace of mind.
Swap out for a good used one - lots out there, recently Pudding swapped his out for a Mk6 box,   iirc he said the box was £260 reports better ratios and improved gear selection and they tend to have lower mileage than Mk5's