What happened?

[SHO n OFF]

Hey guys. I'll try to make this short.

'91+ cold air intake, no cats are the only mods.

Was driving it one night about 2 weeks ago, went to make a turn, and as I came into the turn the car made what sounded to be a flapping noise for about 2 seconds (which I felt through the clutch pedal) and shut off. I tried to start it again, and it cranked a tad longer than usual, started, stumbled then died. Tried after that and all I got was the starter sounding like it was engaging but not spinning. Fast forward to 2 nights ago. Put a brand new battery in it, Car cranked and started right up like nothing was ever wrong, then died after a second of running. then it goes back to the starter problem again. Killed the battery very quickly after about 5 or 6 times trying to start it again.

Notes: my throwout bearing was getting noisier the few days before this happened. My voltage would always be about 14.0v when it first started up, but then settled at 13.1-13.4 the rest of the day. I added a 4gauge power wire from the battery to the alternator about 2 months ago (before the power would run at 12.5-12.9 all day).
The car will roll in neutral, but when put in gear and tried to push, the motor and trans look like they wanna jump out from under the hood and the car will not move. Both battery cables are warm after trying to start it a few times. (not trying for more than a second each time)

Any ideas?

 

[intimdatr]

Couple things, Your motor mounts are shot, your clutch is on its way out, you Alt could probably use a rebuild.

As to it dying Cam sensor or Crank sensor ever been replaced? Checked to make sure all your grounds are tight and clean.

 

[SHO n OFF]

intindatr, I will check the sensors IF I can get the car started. Mechanic (who works on gen1's) came to look at it. Put a brand new optima in it. Kept clicking, but one time it did start right up then pretty much die right out, like it was getting no power from the battery. The starter, however, started smoking after a few tries of trying to start it, and both battery cables were warm. So, gonna take the alternator out in a bit and take it to get tested, and the guy says he has a starter for me at his shop.

Cant know if anything else is screwed up until I get the car started.

 

[zblackbeast]

You've got a bad ground somewhere. Id trace all your wires from the bakery to the starter solenoid. To the starter and un-gettho rig the alt. Wire and figure out why it wont charge... I agree the alt sounds like its on its way out, but I think you have a bad ground or a corroded cable somewhere.

 

[SHO n OFF]

Ok guys, took the alternator off and took it to my job (autozone) to test it. Tested good. Even did it twice cuz I didnt believe it the first time.

ZBlack, would a bad ground let the started engage but not spin?

 

[Bob Gervais]

Are you saying that in gear, with the clutch in, the car won't move? If so, you've got clutch issues. If not, then never mind.

What kind of shape are your battery cables and connections in?

 

[SHO n OFF]

The ground cable is still stock I believe. the power one was replaced 2 years ago.

And yes, with the car in gear and off, pushing it does nothing. I need motor mounts badly as when we do that, the motor wants to mate with the radiator.

 

[Bob Gervais]

I'll phrase this a little better. Next time you look at the car, check the battery cables and connections. Doesn't matter when anything was replaced, you need to see what everything looks like now.

If you're in gear with the car off, and the clutch in, and you're rocking the motor, you've got clutch issues. Most likely a broken pressure plate.

Good news is, you can do all the repairs at one time: clutch, motor mounts, trans mount if needed, and battery cables/starter if needed.

 

[SHO n OFF]

would a broken pressure plate cause the car to start but stumble and die right after? every few tries of trying to start it, it will fire up normally then stumble and die. There were no odd noises or anything when it fired up though.

The battery teminals are clean, even on the solenoid. I make sure of that everytime I open the hood. As for the ground spot, I have yet to check that, but, I know its probably soaked in oil.

 

[Bob Gervais]

A broken pressure plate wouldn't cause that. If you try to start it in gear with the clutch in, does the car move?

 

[SHO n OFF]

you mean "move" as in if you started the car in gear without using the clutch?

No it doesn't move while pressing the clutch when it wants to start.

 

[zblackbeast]

This is why I work at advance auto and not Autozone.

But it sounds like you have multiple issues..

Pull the starter off and test that at work too.. that will answer your questions about the starter. If the starter spins and the gear extends you have a wiring issue. Remember, for the starters its not only volts, but amprage.

But if the alt. Tests good and your only getting 13v at the battery that obviously points to a wiring issue...

 

[SHO n OFF]

How hard is the starter to get off?

Gonna try and get that off and get it tested and check the wiring out today too.

 

[kevinspann]

Not very. One nut on the solenoid holding the + wires, one 12v trigger wire at the solenoid, one nut on the rear holding the negative, then remove that same stud, and one bolt and it comes out.

 

[SHO n OFF]

Well, took the starter out, tested it at work. Shut the machine down every time cuz it was pulling so many amps. Bought a new one, tested it before I left the store. Got home, put it on, put a good battery in and..................same thing.

Still acting like something is jammed with the clutch or something. Every few tries the motor cranks but seems like something is holding it back.

 

[pjtoledo]

time to seperate the major components. get both front wheels off the ground, leave the tranny in gear, engine off (duh), no foot on the clutch, and rotate a wheel both ways a few turns to check for smooth operation of the differential. if the front wheels turn smooth, drop one wheel to the ground, shift into neutral and repeat. if that passes, put it in gear and step on the clutch while turning a wheel. use 5th gear, try all of them. that should tell you if the tranny or clutch is the problem

 

[SHO n OFF]

kinda put the car on the back burner. Went out to it today as I wanna get it fixed soon so I can sell my jetta for a down payment on a place to live. Problem is, NOBODY in Philly wants to touch this thing at all. Here's a vid I took of what its currently doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyCml_VhyH8&feature=youtu.be

 

[kevinspann]

Reminds me of that SHO video from the cash for clunkers...hopefully yours isn't seized.

 

[SHO n OFF]

would it still crank like that if it was seized?

 

[sperold]

Those battery post connectors with the ends that clamp onto the cables with a metal strap are always a problem. Take them apart and wire brush the exposed bare wires till they gleem, or replace with new cable sets.
Your battery power is not getting through to your starter. When you boost it by clamping onto your wire ends, both batteries are not getting through to the starter