Cabrio won't start

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G + One
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 4:01 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1993
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes

Cabrio won't start

Post by G + One »

Greetings my V Dub peeps... I need assistance please.

I have recently purchased a cabrio mk1.

Long story long - I tried starting one day and the hazards are on non stop and wipers go on randomly.
I spoke to a fellow vw enthusiast and he said its the control box.the instrument panel has no lighting left right no working nothing.

Ironically enroute home from my mates house I hit a bump in the road and the car gently cuts off and I inspect the engine bay.. Battery now laying loose and terminals loose. Okay so I'm thinking it's the terminals and grounding is the usual suspect.

Everything in that area is tight and secure any suggestions? The car won't turn nothing, completely dead...

Please assist guru's
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Briano1234
Whats that smell?
Posts: 4105
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:45 am
What year is your cabby?: 1992
Do you own a Cabriolet?: No
Location: Duluth, Ga
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Re: Cabrio won't start

Post by Briano1234 »

Well year helps alot.

pssst its a Cabriolet, Golf, Rabbit convertible.

Wipers and Hazards on intermittently I wold be looking at a bad ground.
It the battery to frame ground hasn't been replaced, now would be the time to do it.
Also the Frame to engine Ground... Replace them...

Then if the battery was loose as you say you probably need a charge on it as it wasn't charging correctly.

Manual or Automatic is needed, as well as year. as the autos and 90's mk1's have a couple of other things that can cause it not to start.
ie" air bag, relay, .... There isn't a control box on the electric of these cabbies.

The lights out in the dash could be the bulbs are gone. or the power or ground are interrupted, as it has 12V on pin 14 of the Big connector and gnd on brown or pin2.
If you have other lights then it is a connection issue, You didn't say of the water and fuel gauge aren't working but if they are, then cool if not you are missing 12V to the Voltage stabilizer on the back of the cluster.

You are going to need a Bentley, and or a Haynes to sort out the electrics. Get the Cabriolet version and not rabbit....
Cabrio's are mk3.5
Cabriolets are mk1

1st. Replace the battery to frame and Frame to engine Ground.
2nd Check all your fuses with a meter.
3rd Charge the battery.
Briano

Yes as matter of fact, I have the Luck o'the Irish...everything I touch turns to fertilizer of the bovine variety.
You can lead a user to a link, but you can't make him Click.... :screwy:
CalAltaDubber
Frozen Guy in the Northern Country
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:10 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1987
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Re: Cabrio won't start

Post by CalAltaDubber »

Hey Brian,

I'm assuming from the terminology he is using, he is from the U.K.
Over there, there are no Rabbits, they were all Golfs, and Cabrio refers to all Convertables.

Cabriolet is actually the French word for convertable. I think the Brits and Germans just say Cabrio to piss off the French.

In the meantime, I agree with Brian, it does sound like a grounding (earth) issue. Just because the connections are tight, doesn't mean it is a good connection. There might be corrosion. So at the very least, all your major connections should be cleaned.

When you say you hit a bump, did the car die right away?
Phil

'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)

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kamzcab86
Queen and Popette of Cabbydom
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Re: Cabrio won't start

Post by kamzcab86 »

First, welcome to TRF!

Second, I'd test the ignition switch.

[off-topic]Third...
brian01234 wrote:pssst its a Cabriolet, Golf, Rabbit convertible.
http://www.cabby-info.com/history.htm#Names
http://cabby-info.com/Files/Brochures/1 ... ochure.pdf (German)
http://cabby-info.com/Files/Brochures/1 ... ochure.pdf (German)
http://www.cabby-info.com/Files/Brochur ... ochure.pdf (English)

Just sayin'...
[/off-topic]
CalAltaDubber
Frozen Guy in the Northern Country
Posts: 2012
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:10 pm
What year is your cabby?: 1987
Do you own a Cabriolet?: Yes
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Cabrio won't start

Post by CalAltaDubber »

Kamz has a good point there.
I assume from G + One's post that nothing happens when he turns the key.

So I suggest that the fault is either no power or related to the ignition switch.

Hopfully he has a meter so it's easy to check power first.

1, is there 12 VDC across the battery terminals?
2, Is there 12 VDC between the positive battery terminal and chassis ground?
3, Is there 12 VDC between the large cable connection on the alternator and chassis ground?

If the answer to 1 is no, there is a battery issue.
If the answer to 2 is no, it is a grounding issue.
If the answer to 3 is no, disconnect the battery and check the continuety of the cables from the Positive battery connector, the starter and the Alternator.

If the answer to these three questions is yes, then start chasing the wiring between the starter and the Ignition switch.
Phil

'87 Cabriolet, "Topless Bunny"
'88 Cabriolet, "Posh Bunny"
'04 Golf
'12 Golf Wagon TDI
'69 Manx type Dune Buggy (New Toy)

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