engine not starting

[stockers 1]

hey all, heres a puzzler:my vr starts but not very crisply, if i drive it for a bout 1/4 mile then stop,buy fags or whatever,it then wont start it turns over but wont catch.i have a new battery, any thoughts??

[sijo 0]

could be you coilpack breaking down, i replaced mine last year, from the same symptoms.

[acf8181 0]

well, lets start with the basics.....is it craking over when you try to start it? or is nothing happening?

[stockers 1]

yep its cranking over,and making all the right sounds but just isnt catching (new spark plugs, new battery) i tried the water spray test on the coilpack and couldnt see any arcing.

[Eat this 2]

is the fuel pump workin i THINK its in the boot get som1 else to crank it and listen to it if im wrong ignore this post

[SankysVR6 1]

spraying water on the coil pack will only tell you if there is any arcing there. But if the coil pack is in good condition i.e. no cracks then you wont see anything, but that doesn't mean the coil pack is not faulty.

How about pulling one of the spark plug lead off and attach a spark plug to it then wedge it some how next a engine ground. then get some one to crank it and see if you can see any sparks

[stockers 1]

yep thats where the pump is,also had all the pipes cleaned from the fuel pump.the problem is only occuring on very short journeys,if i go a decent length theres no problem, is it possible that it is over fuelling? i have a fuel cut off switch on my dash, if i turn the fuel off then switch it back on during the cranking it starts after a while. obviousely this is a pain in the arse as i want to remove the fuel switch (fuel switch plugs in on top of the fuel pump they have just put a reroute in) so easily disengaged

[Eat this 2]

possible intermittent fuel pump going from the above post

[stockers 1]

would a dodgy coilpack show up on a vag com? as its been on and come back faultless

[Eat this 2]

i dont think so id try a fuel pump personally

[acf8181 0]

ok, step two....start checking fuel system. you should hear the pump (in the boot) prime as you turn the ignition on.

[stockers 1]

what do you mean prime? i can hear it buzzing when the engine is running, should it make a different sound or click as the engine turns over? should the noise be instantaneous as turn the ignition?

[acf8181 0]

as you turn the ig on you should hear a click from the fuse box, and if you listen very carefully in the boot it should make a kind of hum. but as you say you can hear it when the engine is on its prob not that.

so to step 3 - check for sparks...unplug each plug lead seperately ( i prefer to unplug at coilpack end so as not to risk damamging leads), hold it with pair of pliers slightly away from coilpack and get someone to crank engine.

[apd 0]

does it sometimes click,click?if so ign switch.

[stockers 1]

ok am i looking to see if it bridges a spark from lead to coilpack casing?

[acf8181 0]

i really don't think it'll be the coilpack tbh....try plugging in diagnostics...i reckon its more likely to something like crank sensor.

[stockers 1]

hiya acf,good news!! the car went to stealth racing today and timing was way out! had cam chain timing reset and tuned ,the vr went in at 120bhp and left at 194bhp and 180+torque, fucking marvelous!!! this should apparrantly clear up the other niggles with the fueling system,the engine non starting they think was due to the sensors trying to put to much fuel in. we will see.

[Eat this 2]

ur lucky it was only 1or 2 teeth out it couldve eaten the top end

[stockers 1]

tell me about it, i thought i was looking at a meteoric bill !!

[acf8181 0]

the q is...why was the timing out?

[stockers 1]

a mechanic (before i had the car) was looking into a pssible cracked head fortunately no crack found but he put the engine back together really badly apparantly, lots of shaking head from vince

[acf8181 0]

man, what is it with these mechanics...its not like the vr6 is a particularly complex engine really. this is why i started doing stuff myself, at least i do it right.

[stockers 1]

i know, the worst ive had so far :frm my local garage (bit spit and sawdust) they changed my spark plugs at my request,i specifically told them to use the ngk ones.they told me it was a 2 hour job, and being the nieve twat i WAS i said ok.then when i went to stealth they pulled the plugs and found champion plugs!!! also stealth said it was a half hour job !! wont be making those mistakes again .