Hi all,

I have a '99 mk1 octy TDi and its developed a starting issue.

If the car is left sitting for more than 12hrs or so, and if i dont take it for a good run- it wont start again!

It has all the symptoms of a flat battery.it turns over a few times miserably to a stop with flickering lights on the dash. the battery is only 10months old and it got a new starter at the same time.

It will start with a jump everytime though and shows 13.6volts with a meter across the batery when running so I dont think its the alternator.

Once, it failed to start at lunhtime but started perfectly that evening so I dont think its something obvious.

Has anyone else come across this on the mk1 octy?

The starter was replaced using the old Solenoid....could it be faulty and not making the contacts?

Cheers,

Dave

Edited 2 February, 200917 yr by daveslp

Just because the battery is less than year old, doesn't mean it can't be bad.

Assuming it is OK, then something is draining the battery. Does everything go off when you remove the key?

Do you have any electrical problems (especially door lock, window, mirrors)?

When the starter motor turns, does it sound normal but stops or does it struggle to turn at all?

could be a loose earth wire, from battery to alternator, battery to starter and battery to ground?

or whatever "The Big 3" are

Just because the battery is less than year old, doesn't mean it can't be bad.

Assuming it is OK, then something is draining the battery. Does everything go off when you remove the key?

Do you have any electrical problems (especially door lock, window, mirrors)?

When the starter motor turns, does it sound normal but stops or does it struggle to turn at all?

Hi,

Yeah your right, Ive ordered a battery Hydrometer to test it to be sure.

Everything goes off ok and nothing electrical seems to faulty.(manual windows,central locking perfect and mirrors fully working)

When I go to start it, its always as if the batery is dead so the starter doesnt turn much. when its been running for a while, I can start it a few times and the starter is fine, starts sharp.

Ive just added above that the starter was replaced using the old solenoid....could it be faulty and not making the contacts? I think ill get a new one to be sure.

thanks for the help.