Engine won't crank after cold heavy rain

Tiny
46FLORIDA
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Had same issue last winter. No problem in the summer. Last year replaced battery and starter. Did all the diagnostics and still could not find issue. Very hard to asses because the car would not fail when in the shop or dealer. The Volkswagen mechanic could not find an issue with the electrical, but the car would not fail while in the shop.

By turning the key, putting my foot on the brake, and putting the shifter into neutral, and then pulling up on the lever I have been able to start the car.
Does this sound like something you have encountered in other Golfs.
Is their a switch or relay in the shifter that is failing?
I thought I would ask for your advice before I starting taking more things apart.
Any info would be appreciated.
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015 AT 4:40 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,645 POSTS
That is an odd one. When it happens, do other electrical components work (other than the starter)? Do you get any noise from the starter?
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Saturday, February 7th, 2015 AT 12:13 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,256 POSTS
Yep, there is a park/neutral relay I would swap out which I have seen cause the problem. Here is the relay and the starter wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Monday, July 22nd, 2024 AT 5:46 PM

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