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Will not start

Tiny
YEPEZ17
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
  • 129,000 MILES
Okay, I have a question, have the car listed above and it wont start. I checked the alternator and they said it was fine. If I jump start it, it will start fine but then when I take off the cables it only stays on for a little bit then will shut off again. It has a brand new battery but the fuse box on top of the cable looks burnt or something. Could that be the reason it wont start?
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 AT 1:46 AM

18 Replies

Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
It has to be a bad alternator or the harnesses are not in the right place.
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 AT 1:58 AM
Tiny
YEPEZ17
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Well, I had the alternator checked and they said it passed. If the fuse box is bad will the car still start or run or no?
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 AT 2:12 AM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
You'll need to charge the battery up. Then drive it to the parts store. Let them put it on the analyzer then you will no the alternator output. Then you will know.
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
YEPEZ17
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I took the alternator off and took it to the parts store that's how I know the alternator is good. That's why i'm asking if the fuse box on the battery could be the problem.
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2013 AT 7:23 PM
Tiny
F4I_GUY
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,302 POSTS
The fuse box on top of the battery melts and shorts out the alternator wire/fuse. However, your method of removing the battery cable or alternator and letting the car run is a very bad idea, it's a quick way to short out electrical components.

If you suspect that the charging system is not doing it's job, the cable/fuse closest to the passenger side (large black cable) is for the alternator. You may test the fuse (I believe its a 200 amp fuse) and you should do a voltage drop test from the cable on the fuse-box to the alternator, you shouldn't see a voltage drop of more than 0.2volts.

Another quick way to tell if the fuse box has overheated is to just look at it, sometimes you'll see the plastic melted around the green 30 amp fuses.

If you have anymore questions, let me know!
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Thursday, March 28th, 2013 AT 11:06 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

when you removed the jumper cables, the battery ran too low from the alternator not working. that is why it shuts off.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

The first thing you need to do is charge the battery and check the charging system with a voltmeter to see if it is 14 to 14.5 volts. If it is not, then we need to do some wiring checks.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Yes, that is a fuse box on top of the battery and if it is damaged, it usually comes from overcharging from the alternator. that would require replacing the alternator.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-car-fuse-works

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

Roy
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Monday, April 27th, 2020 AT 1:10 PM
Tiny
505JCAS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
  • 143,352 MILES
We have a gulf that won't start. We have checked the alternator and starters and both tested as passed, we have checked the battery as well. The car will turn over just not start. We also checked the timing belt and it seems in good condition. The fuel pump seems to be working as well. These are all things we have told to try but as yet not running. So any suggestions would helpful.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Have you checked for spark yet?ALso have you tried spraying some carb spray in the throttle body to see if it starts?Any codes in the computer?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
505JCAS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I will check those items. I was planning on checking the spark next. I have a new problem with it now> After re-installing the alternator I was trying to start it again and on the second try it made a small clunk sound and now won't turn over. Could the starter be frozen now even though when tested it passed?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Pop the alternator belt off and see if it will crank over?Also is the security light on solid or flashing with the key on?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
505JCAS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
It did not turnover with the belt off. The only lights on are EPC light and now the check engine light.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The check engine light is on without the engine running have you had the battery tested?Made sure the engine turns over by hand?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
505JCAS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Yes I had the battery tested and did check for the for the engine turning over by hand. I did discover something unfortunate when I decided to completely pull the timing belt cover off. The belt has lost about 1/3 of the teeth so that explains why it is not running, and wouldn't run. The engine has slipped so now I have to fix that issue. How bad of a mess do I have before me?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Which engine do you have?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
505JCAS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
2.0
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Its a interference fit engine so if it jumped far enough you could have bent valves.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
505JCAS
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Oh! So I would need to pull valve cover of to check it?
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
You can try it that way to see if any of the valve stems sit lower then the others when there supposed to be closed. Just watch out for the pistons when moving the cams.
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Tuesday, April 28th, 2020 AT 12:24 PM (Merged)

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