Hey Guys,

First off, this seems like a great board, glad I found it.

Second I am having an issue with the Jetta... It started about 2 weeks ago. I was leaving work and about 3 miles from work it started hesitating, then it died. I went the next day with the wife's car and used jumper cables and it started and I drove it back to work and left it for the next day. When I went to start it, it wouldn't. Pulled out the jumpers and it went fine. By now I am thinking ok, alternator and / or battery. I get it going and decided to try and get it home. It ends up dying between work and home. So last Saturday I took off the alternator and took it to autozone where they checked it out. It was pushing 50 amps. I had them swap the pulley and fan and test the new one. It was also pushing 50 amps. So the alternator is fine, I go back to the car, put the alt back in and take the battery to autozone, they test it and it's bad. Cool, there's the problem, woohoo... or so I thought. I then got the battery in and no bones, nothing, still wouldn't start. Now I take the timing light out there to see if I am getting spark and all 4 wires are firing and that seems to be fine. Time to fade back and punt... I decide to check the fuel filter out... Go to autozone and get the filter and put it in (in 26 degree weather mind you) and start the car. To my utter amazement, it starts. I rev it to about 3k and hold it there, then is starts dropping and sputters out. I try starting again and it sounds like it tries to start, but just can't do it. I went home, ate lunch and decided for round two in the high 20's weather. I get to the car and it starts for about 3 seconds and sputters out...

So...... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

What do I check next??? In tank pump, external pump, or what?

Thanks,
:eek7: Ben

First, make sure the fuel pumps cycle when you turn on the ignition. If the main pump isn't making excessive noise you should check fuel pressure and volume before replacing a pump - they're not cheap.

I'm pretty sure they are working. I can here them "turn on," when I turn the key. I just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

And how might I go about testing the volume and pressure?

Thannks,
:eek7: Ben

anyone???

I've had the same problem. I can jump it fine. I have replaced the battery twice. I tested the altinator with a voltmeter and it works fine. The only thing i have left to check is the starter. If it's not that I have no clue.

If u hear anything email me

CJ (lanky4571@aol.com)

it sounds more electrical to me than anything... but other than that i don't know what to say... because if it died while you were driving and only started up again the next time by jumping it... then that to me tells me that its electrical... but then again i could be wrong, its just hard to say with these things. i have a 1990 wolfsburg jetta and i've had similar things happen, one time my battery kept going bad and i had to keep replacing it, come to find out it was the radio that was draining my battery even when the car was off.

I have a 1.8 gas Jetta that turns won't start..
I just replaced the starter in it with one i'm pretty positive was working from another car I have. I tried to start it with cables and it just turns over maybe 4-5 times at a really good pace and just stops dead.
Please help me!
thanks