rainy day stalled my golf

Hello, i have a 97 vw golf GL (manuel transmission) i was driving on the highway when i went trough some water and my car felt like it was running out of gas. It turned off then i started it again ,kept driving but my golf didnt have any power and was wired, then 1/2 a mile after that, it just stalled in the middle of the road and won't start anymore. Took it to 2 different mekanik but they wont find the problem. Now its @ the dealership and they still dont know whats the problem and cant get it started. Everything is fine in the car, it was running perfect except that i had to replace the speed sensor other than that, nothin. The dealership is trying to charge me $1000 to put on a new starter and a new speed sensor but i dont think that is the problem.I replaced the distributor but now it starts making a wired scrippy sound when i crank it. plz help me i dont have that kind of money right now. [email protected]

It sure sounds like the coil started arcing (spark jumps from a small crack to ground) when it got wet, very common. I have seen a few cars where the coil arced to the harness & burnt wiring back to the ECM or ground. I assume you're not getting spark. There should be 12 Volts between the outer two wires on the coil harness connector (key on).

no i took it to a mekanik and he check the spark plugs at the end and they were working fine. my car feels lile it want to start but it doesnt. i have a new distributor with a new rotor but still not strating and there is nothing in the computer showing coil problems what could be the reason

If it has spark then check the fuel pressure. It only needs a simple gauge with a hose. The test port has a small screw in the end of the fuel rail.

Hey it's wierd because it has fuel pressure too, sparks plugs r good , all i know my car started puttering because of the front end corner of the car went trough soem water after that it stalled. do you think its due to the coil or something else i saw one of ure reply u talk about catalitic converter was messed up but no check engine lights came on on my golf. it just stopped. hey i'm thinking that it could be the air intake that goes to the carb because of the temperature change when i get it wet. Could it be that ? is there any sensore realted to taht part that could be damaged and that i need to cahnge thanks

hi,

sounds to me like your valve timing's slipped a couple of teeth. does the car still crank? it sounds like you're still getting fuel and a spark from the ignition?

when you crank the car over, does it sound different from normal (lumpy and laboured), and almost as if it will start, but isn't quite there? it may even catch briefly? if so, take the timing belt cover off the front of the engine and have a look at the condition of the belt. do the teeth on the cam pulley line up with the teeth on the belt? are the teeth on the belt rounded off? they should have very clear square edges. is the belt loose at all?

if it is damaged / slipped or loose DO NOT TRY TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. have the belt replaced before doing anything else.

hth,
j.