2001 Beetle won't start

My 1.8T Beetle began having starting problems last week. This is how
it starts. The instrument panel lights up. Then everything dims,
there's dead silence and then it catches. Sometimes.

Wile driving the car odd warning lights come on -- electronic
immobilization, speed spoiler deployed (at 40 mph).

I live in an area where there is packrat damage to engine wiring.
There is evidence of packrats in the engine.

I took the car to the dealer. No packrat damage, but their engine
computer scan showed 3 faulty parts : mass air flow sensor, overboost
valve and kombi valve.

I asked why the instrument panel lights up like a Christmas tree --
faulty VW key, speed spoiler deployed at 5 mph. They had no idea. The
problems they found wouldn't cause that. "Maybe there's an
intermittent electrical fault."


I had them replace the overboost valve and MAF. I have ordered a kombi
valve

Now the car will not start without a jump.

What could be the problem here?

Test the battery, alternator and report findings back.


"Grant" > wrote in message
...
> My 1.8T Beetle began having starting problems last week. This is how
> it starts. The instrument panel lights up. Then everything dims,
> there's dead silence and then it catches. Sometimes.
>
> Wile driving the car odd warning lights come on -- electronic
> immobilization, speed spoiler deployed (at 40 mph).
>
> I live in an area where there is packrat damage to engine wiring.
> There is evidence of packrats in the engine.
>
> I took the car to the dealer. No packrat damage, but their engine
> computer scan showed 3 faulty parts : mass air flow sensor, overboost
> valve and kombi valve.
>
> I asked why the instrument panel lights up like a Christmas tree --
> faulty VW key, speed spoiler deployed at 5 mph. They had no idea. The
> problems they found wouldn't cause that. "Maybe there's an
> intermittent electrical fault."
>
>
> I had them replace the overboost valve and MAF. I have ordered a kombi
> valve
>
> Now the car will not start without a jump.
>
> What could be the problem here?

On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:06:36 -0700, Grant > wrote:

>My 1.8T Beetle began having starting problems last week. This is how
>it starts. The instrument panel lights up. Then everything dims,
>there's dead silence and then it catches. Sometimes.
>
>Wile driving the car odd warning lights come on -- electronic
>immobilization, speed spoiler deployed (at 40 mph).
>
>I live in an area where there is packrat damage to engine wiring.
>There is evidence of packrats in the engine.
>
>I took the car to the dealer. No packrat damage, but their engine
>computer scan showed 3 faulty parts : mass air flow sensor, overboost
>valve and kombi valve.
>
>I asked why the instrument panel lights up like a Christmas tree --
>faulty VW key, speed spoiler deployed at 5 mph. They had no idea. The
>problems they found wouldn't cause that. "Maybe there's an
>intermittent electrical fault."
>
>
>I had them replace the overboost valve and MAF. I have ordered a kombi
>valve
>
>Now the car will not start without a jump.
>
>What could be the problem here?

poor connection of the battery terminals or bad cables/ends

"Grant" > wrote in message
...
> My 1.8T Beetle began having starting problems last week. This is how
> it starts. The instrument panel lights up. Then everything dims,
> there's dead silence and then it catches. Sometimes.

Sounds like bad connections or a weak/dying battery. Is this the original
battery? If so, it's very suspect. Low voltage in a car that has a lot of
sensors and electronic controls can cause things to go weird too so see if
you can eliminate the battery or not as a variable and go from there.

On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:55:35 -0700, "Matt B." >
wrote:

>"Grant" > wrote in message
.. .
>> My 1.8T Beetle began having starting problems last week. This is how
>> it starts. The instrument panel lights up. Then everything dims,
>> there's dead silence and then it catches. Sometimes.
>
>Sounds like bad connections or a weak/dying battery. Is this the original
>battery? If so, it's very suspect. Low voltage in a car that has a lot of
>sensors and electronic controls can cause things to go weird too so see if
>you can eliminate the battery or not as a variable and go from there.
>

It is not the original battery, but the extreme heat in Arizona and
the constant AC use is tough on batteries here.

I went to another mechanic. Needs a new battery and battery tie-down.
(The tie-down ay be packrat damage . They will chew anything.)

Thanks for the help.

I guess my local dealer is weak on VW service!

What part of Arizona you live in? We were there 3 years ago in Phoenix for
vacation. Great place...


"Grant" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:55:35 -0700, "Matt B." >
> wrote:
>
>>"Grant" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> My 1.8T Beetle began having starting problems last week. This is how
>>> it starts. The instrument panel lights up. Then everything dims,
>>> there's dead silence and then it catches. Sometimes.
>>
>>Sounds like bad connections or a weak/dying battery. Is this the original
>>battery? If so, it's very suspect. Low voltage in a car that has a lot
>>of
>>sensors and electronic controls can cause things to go weird too so see if
>>you can eliminate the battery or not as a variable and go from there.
>>
>
> It is not the original battery, but the extreme heat in Arizona and
> the constant AC use is tough on batteries here.
>
> I went to another mechanic. Needs a new battery and battery tie-down.
> (The tie-down ay be packrat damage . They will chew anything.)
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
> I guess my local dealer is weak on VW service!