Strange Starting Problem 1.8T 1996-Resolved
 

Hi All,

A bit of good news!
I had a pretty annoying problem with my 1.8T-1996. it started for 1/2 to 1 second and then died. I tried all of easy precautions suggested by various people - none worked. I looked at aRIF's excellent troobleshooting guide for the 1.8T, but this fault was still not fixed.
I put a work colleague on to this problem who has an excellent technical brain, he got the problem licked ina day or so.
Right - the problem was the ignition switch. The spring loaded switch inside that de-activates the immobiliser was jamming. If it did not 'snap back' when the key was removed then the immobiliser would not let the car start. A bit of WD40 up the ignition keyhole improved things immensely, another squirt a few days later and the problem has disappeared.
The 'permanent' fix is apparently to buy a new switch for the back of the ignition tumbler - not cheap but fixes for good.

Regards
Simon.