Car won't start!!!!!!!!!

[Dpicariello]

Hi guys.

Got my car out of the garage this morning and started it fine, did some shopping and when I got back to the car it wouldn't start. I waited untill my immobilser automotically trigered (takes about 30 seconds), then switched it off and started the car. Started fine.

Got back home fine, no hesitation or anything unusual.

I then went to move the car (ironically to get some pics to show on here) and nothing. I have now spent 2 hours trying to start it.

The engine turns over fine but there just isn't any sign of a spark.
I have reset the ECU, checked all of my coil pack connections, no difference.

The immobiliser I have is a clifford 3 point immobiliser Installed by a clifford dealer) but I have never had any probs with it in the time I have owned the car. When I have had the underside of the dash out there was no evidence of any bodged install.

I can hear everything turning on when I disarm the immobiliser so my thoughts are focussing away from that.

Any ideas, I can't even call out the RAC as It's on my driveway and I don't have roadside!

Thanks in advance,

A very desperate Dan!

[Jay]

!!

Tow the thing up the road then try the RAC

Jay

[220bhp]

IF its an ABY or AAN then its proberbley the hall sender

[Efini]

IF its an ABY or AAN then its proberbley the hall sender

Second that, had the same thing happening on my car a couple of weeks ago.
I had by accident dented the "shield" on the camshaft sprocket so that it was touching the hallsender.

What you should do now is check the fault codes on the car, only takes 2 minutes to pull them using the blink codes. This will show you if the hallsender is the reason.
Also check the hallsender connector and wire. Have you had your hallsender, head, cambelt or similar off lately? Maybe the wires to the hallsender is pinched or touching the cambelt?

[ericd]

Dan,

you been cleaning in and around the engine bay recently ?

[Fat Audi 80]

Hall sender....

[GT500]

OR Knobbed immobiliser.
Third the Hall sender.

[Dpicariello]

Thanks for all the responses guys, I did think the hall sender as it seems to be a common cause of some similar faults.
Is that the one that plugs into the right hand side of the engine just beind the PAS pump?

I had the plugs out and cranked the engine and there is definitely no spark. Cleaned umpteen contacts with electrical cleaner and checked all wiring and fuses and all seem to be fine.
I haven't cleaned the engine bay with anything other than damp rags and that was weeks ago, been driving it a lot recently with no probs.

I'll get an LED sorted and pull the codes on Friday (working away during the week at the moment). I'll then try and get a hall sender srted. I'll give vagparts a call tomorrow.

It's taken me, my girlfriend and two mates to push the car up my drive, these cars are so bloody heavy!

Cheers for your help.

Dan

[Dpicariello]

Hall sender ordered (£80) courtesy of Alan at VAGParts.
I have Friday off work. In an effort to make the MRC meet in an S2 do you think I can replace the sender in under 4 hours?
I've flicked through a few threads and see horrible pictures of cambelts being removed Looks a time consuming task.

[Efini]

Hall sender ordered (£80) courtesy of Alan at VAGParts.
I have Friday off work. In an effort to make the MRC meet in an S2 do you think I can replace the sender in under 4 hours?
I've flicked through a few threads and see horrible pictures of cambelts being removed Looks a time consuming task.

I could replace it in 1 hour, so you should be able to do it in 4.
The first time it takes a while to figure out what to take off and what to leave in place.
When you get the cambelt off it's just a matter of removing the camsprocket and replacing the hallsender.

[Fat Audi 80]

Hey Dan,

Have you tried the old pouring water down the back of the camcover trick? This should tell you if it is the Hall sender or not!

HTH

Good luck

Cheers,

Steve.

[Dpicariello]

I don't have access to the car until Thursday which is a pain in the....
I've ordered a hall sender in the hope it will be the cause of the problem as I have Friday to fix it before MRC (am away this weekend and all next week).
If it's not the hall sender then it's game over for MRC and I'll have a spare sender should I or anyone else need it.

If someone can do it in an hour and know what they're doing then it gives me the confidence that I can do it in 4. I've only recently had the front end in pieces (typical ) so am happy with taking that apart.

Thanks for the help.

Dan

[Jamo]

Hour is a bit optimistic especially if you haven't taken the stuff of the front of the car before.

Did it in about 2 hours with a few mates but changed the plugs and a few other sods at the same time.

Mark the cambelt to the camwheel so you dont lose timing if your not changing the belt.

[Jas11n]

Mark the cambelt to the camwheel so you dont lose timing if your not changing the belt.

When my bro did his, he tie wrapped the belt to the campulley, undid the tensioner, then undid the campulley with the belt still on it.
Worked a treat..
All he removed at the front of the car was the centre slam panel, bit of a fiddle removing the camcover (lack of space for his club hands), but was all done it approx one hour.
[edit] Also moved the aux rad to one side..

Jas..

[Dpicariello]

Sounds like I may yet be making an apperance at MRC!
I'll get the slam panel off on thursday night, move the aux rad to one side, mark the cambelt and tie-wrap it just to make sure. Then hopefully get to hall sender on Friday.

Vagparts have told me that I should have the sender by Thursday so fingers crossed!!!!!

I may be opening up a severe can of worms by asking "while I'm there" but should I consider changing the cambelt. It was last done at about 60k, 12k miles, 2 years ago. Or should I leave well alone.

The 1st 9 months of S2 ownership were like a holiday, since January I've had
- blown radiator
- blown intercooler
- potential hall sender failure