Hi all

Had a bit of a crap fault on my mk1 vrs. Few months back car wouldn't start, changed battery, starter, alternator and wiring. Seemed to fix it but its progressively got back to intermittent starting. After jumping it at night I noticed a spark from one of the bots within the engine bay. Does this mean I'm suffering from a bad earth and would this cause the starting issues?

Cheers

Check the earth strap from the battery to the body, very common fault. All may look ok from the outside, but if the cable has been damaged due to heat then replacement maybe the only option.

Edited 4 January, 201610 yr by mannyo

Cheers. Best place to source replacemen? Skoda?

Hi all

Had a bit of a crap fault on my mk1 vrs. Few months back car wouldn't start, changed battery, starter, alternator and wiring. Seemed to fix it but its progressively got back to intermittent starting. After jumping it at night I noticed a spark from one of the bots within the engine bay. Does this mean I'm suffering from a bad earth and would this cause the starting issues?

Cheers

 

Could be indeed an earth fault. As previously mentioned could be the engine to body earth strap but first of all check that any bolts haven't come undone - they may have been disturbed when the starter etc was changed

a quick test for earth strap is to use a jump lead from -ve pole direct to engine block when it's playing up... this creates a temporary earth. If that fixes it, then definetley replace it. most car parts shops sell a short length of this wire with two ring fixings on the end for a few quid, you could always use one of these as a secondary backup