not starting

[87 scirocco]

I am having a starting problem with my 16v scirocco. I am getting primary power to the ignition coil and can smell fuel. When testing for spark I got a yellowish/orange arc. I also tested for continuity in the ignition switch and all tests seemed to pass except for the test between the 30 & Su switches. Engine stumbled a couple of times during the effort to start but never fully turned over. Since the car was last running, I have also removed the air conditioning compressor, and condensor and don't know if this could be the cause of my problem.

[boschmann]

If you have spark at the plug wires then the ignition components are probably okay. You can buy a simple jump-the-gap type kilivolt tester if you really feel the spark is too weak. I'd pull the cold start valve to see if it's spraying all the time. Unplug the electrical connector & see if the injector still sprays. If not, then try to start the car with the electrical connector disconnected & see if it still floods.