Hi,
I have been having this problem for about a year. But it has gotten considerably worse in the last few months.

It started just being intermittant no start. I would go to start it and it would crank but engine wouldn't kick on. I could wait a minute then it would start fine an not have a problem again for a few weeks. Then, after a while it started occasionally stalling at stop lights. It would usually start right back up in these occasions.

In the past two months however it happens a couple times a week. And usually it doesn't start right back up. Often it can take up to 30 mins or even a couple days. When it starts though, usually turn the key and it will start normally and run fine for a few days.

I have taken the car to two different volkswagen dealers and they have cleaned out the area around the mass airflow sensor, changed the battery, cleaned corrosion off leads of main..that is about it. I get it back and usually stalls again within a few days.

So, basically, now, once every few days it will either not start or will die on me when changin gears or idling at a stoplight. The engine never seems to cut out on me when I have my foot on the accelerator, though I have felt it seem to loose acceleration before at low speeds. Usually when this happens and I am changing gears it simply dies. Last night I tried to start it and after 30 minutes of trying it finally started and there was a kinda clicking noise like it wasnt running very well. Once I got it on the highway and parked in the driveway the clickin noise was gone and it seemed to be running smoothly.

Any help would be appreciated, I am about to have to buy new car :(.

Thanks!

How are the maintenance items: air filter, fuel filter, plugs, cap, rotor, wires...? Have you ever felt it sputter, especially in the rain?

its a dirty throttle body. have it cleaned properly and you problem will go away for sure...

It appears we may have the same problem if I get a solution I'll let you know. Ok silly question but where is the throttle body located at? Is it at base of the throttle cable?

Yes, pull off the air intake hose so you can see the throttle valve. Use throttle body cleaner in a spray can & a toothbrush to clean it (open it up to get inside).

thanks boschmann, I did as you suggested but still to no avail. It of course started right up when I went to the parts store drove fine, even got gas with no prob. Got home, removed the air intake hose and cleaned the value, then went to start it again and nothing. It seem to catch a bit but I assume thats from the cleanser inside. Your thoughts?

Have you been gettng a check engine light? What are your exact symptoms?

To begin i hope sselman13 doesn't mind meusing this thread to assist with my problem, but maybe it will help with his/her starting problems. In answering your question Boschmann after cleaning the throttle body it hasn't ran since. It will still crank very strong but will not run. I have replaced the cap,rotor,battery and the Alt, plugs,fuel filter, and external fuel pump not to long ago. It isn't the fuel relay as I have checked that as well and it works fine. It's an 88 Jetta GLI and up until a few days ago it would start/run strong no problem, other days it will crank strong but wouldn't start/run. This has been getting worse and now doesn't run. One the days it would run it would be sluggish for a few minutes at times dying, would restart then work fine for the rest of the day.Previously if I waited a few hours it would start but now it does nothing. There is no clear pattern being developed. Thanks for your help.

sselman13 has only posted once & doesn't seem to be around. I assume yours is a '94 also. Do you get a spark when cranking (pull coil wire from the cap & place near a ground)? Does the fuel pump run for a second when you turn the key to on position?

Sorry about the late followup. I am still having this problem andit is driving me nuts. It was workin ok for a couple weeks so I thought the most recent trip to repair shop was workin but now is back!

I had been delinquent on the maintenance so I took it in for a tune up. It, of course, always started and ran fine for them, and was ok for a week after. But now it won't start 2 outta 3 days of the week. Maybe because of cooler temperatures or higher humidity, I don't know.

My symptoms the same as the previous poster. When it starts, it runs great. If it stalls, it simply cuts off (usually in first 5-10 mins). No warning, just engine cuts off. Last time this happened I noticed the oil light was the only light that came on (and oil level is fine). If it is a day where I have trouble starting it, it will often stall within the first 5 mins of driving as well. But once it restarts it runs like a new car.

I have taken it to 3 different places and only one has duplicated the problem and then it only happend once.

As far as spark, I don't know much about cars. I have a general idea how they work but not how to open up the covers and check on things. I am pretty sure I have heard the sound of the fuel pump going when trying to start it.

Well if you hear the pump & it won't start, try looking at the ignition. I have had similar trouble caused by bad connection of the wiring harness to the distributor. See if you can determine it is a loss of spark by pulling the coil wire & placing near a ground while someone cranks the engine. You can try cleaning the distributor connector w/electrical contact cleaner then dielectric grease.