Having some issues with my MK1 85 16v at the moment. On cold mornings its reluctant to start. Usually it turns slowly and fires up on 2 or 3 cylinders you can clear it by revving it a little. The worst case was a couple of days ago when on turning the key the 1st two times the car appeared to forget it had an engine, turning the key switched on the fuel gauge, and the airbag light but nothing else happened, the engine didn't turn, the battery light didn't come on and neither did the management light. It started reluctantly on third go. The car always goes in the end and runs fine for the rest of the day but doesn't like first start of the day. I suspect battery may be getting a bit weak but anyone else got any ideas?

if its turning over slowly i'd say its the battery, but get the alternator checked aswell

yup alternator is maybe not charging properly hence why battery died.


as for the only firing on 2 cyl might be dead/dying coils, which may also be something to do with the battery dying.

although if battery checks out, maybe the starter relay thing, when they go it won't even turn over, just click and nothing happen prob the last thing to check though

Well had the battery checked out apparently its fine, the alternator isn't charging perfectly but its acceptable...so looking like coils...

Well its chosen today to die entirely, looking like starter relay it just clicks, but doesn't turn....

Well AA has been and the plot thickens Car refuses to start, tried bumping it by hand but no, tried tying it to the back of the van and also no, the engine won't turn but don't think it's seized cos it was running fine last night, And unless some sneaky b**ger poured concrete into my sump while it was out on the pavement I can't think why it would just seize at random so guess the starter must be jammed on the flywheel...:bang:

downer.

i know its at the garage now, but did you try tapping the housing around the starter with a hammer?

HMMM i remember i had that problem on my old fiesta diesel, it was the head gasket, and the engine was hydraulicly locking. it happened on several of our old banger cars....
its the exact symptoms,as well - water leaking into the bores overnight...
Hope its not HG, then

Guy from the AA smacked it repeatedly....then attemped to move it to the next tooth on the motor by rolling down the road in gear...then when I was attempting to bump it on the back of the AA van it wouldn't even turn over, lifting the clutch at 15-20 mph and the rev counter not even flickering. Gave up after that to limit damage on clutch, gearbox and drive train.