GTI will not start

Hi guys,
I am brand new to the site and I am desperate for help. I just (2 days ago) bought a 98 GTI 2.0 4cyl 5spd 2 door. It ran great until I decided to wash the engine. I used a garden hose (nothing too powerful) and some simple green. After I was done I tried to start the car but it wouldnt turn over it just kept cranking and cranking. I left it alone for e a half hour or so, but Iit still didnt start. SO I pulled the distributer cap, which was semi dirty and would need replacing soon, and cleaned it out basically to make sure there was no water in there. But it was free of water. After four hours of sitting, it still wouldnt turn over. The battery has a full charge, and everything works ie fuel pump, lights come on, gauges come on, engine cranks and cranks, but nothing. I pulled off a plug wire to see if I could see any spark but im not sure if I did it right, but i didnt see anything. This is very agrivating because I just got it and its supposed to get me to work. But now Im gonna have to tow it to a VW dealer and have them fix it. I thought maybe it could be the ignition coil or a fuse but I dont know where either of those items are located so I oculdnt check them. Arg! PLEASE HELP.

Wow, i would say be really careful when washing an engine..... probably water got into the ignition coil......

take the sparkplug wire off and put a 1/4x20 bolt or a long nail put the nail head in the wire not the point and put it next to a grounded location. warning don't hold onto the wire or ZAP you will find out about electricity and how good of a ground you are.
it won't kill you but it hurts like hell! :)
have someone crank the engine and you should see a blue spark jump from the bolt or nail to the motor or where ever you put the wire next to.
if you dont see a spark its your coil.

warning don't hold onto the wire or ZAP you will find out about electricity and how good of a ground you are.
it won't kill you but it hurts like hell! :)

C'mon, let's not scare our friend over here.... 50,000 Volts DC is not like the end of the world. That's how much a police TASER delivers.....

So i guess is not that bad..... FPSOB.

By the way, if you decide to wash your engine again, use some EngineBrite foam, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then rinse and DRY immediately, start your engine and idle for at least 10 minutes so it'll dry any residues.....

That's how to bottle says, and i do so..... it have worked....


Good Luck anyway...

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I checked the coil and thankfully it was just wet, so after a day and a half it dried out. I guess that shows me for washing my engine on a 90 degree day with nearly 100% humidity. Good news is it started right up once it dried out. So I gave it a full tune up and an oil change and I am good to go. Back on the road again!

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!! :smile: :smile:

i have a 96 golf gti. i was driving it, stopped at the store, got in turned the key & nothing. would not start. lights & everything worked, just would not start. can you help.

need a diagram or picture for 96 golf gti 1.8 engine.if you have one email it to me at [email protected]