VR6 not starting );

[pimpossible]

Hey guys my VR6 is ill and no longer wants to start, cranks but doesn't fire up ); Few months back I replaced my leaking heater core and thought it would be wise to replace my fusebox at the same time as my brother managed to make it melt itself away by plugging a torch into the cigarette lighter.

I've really neglected this as I've been busy with work so the time it took me to get the heater core out was about 3 weeks on and off (worst job ever). Before I replaced the melted fusebox I found that every time I started the car the fuse for my interior lights/central locking would kill itself. I've since replaced it and made sure I transfered every cable/relay at a time so I wouldn't screw it up.




I don't know if the top right red connections are in the right spot but I've tried different combinations to no avail.




Random unconnected stuff


Odd loose cable 1


Odd loose cable 2

EDIT: I should also mention the car seems to 'fire up' better when it's jump started but it never gets past cranking regardless.

As it stands, the car just doesn't want to go anywhere. I'm just trying to narrow it down at the moment but I believe it could be the starter motor, alternator, fuel injectors or me being a douche and not wiring it properly. While popping the dash off I also found numerous electrical oddities such as detached cables. If anybody is knowledgeable or knows of who I should get to have a look it would be really appreciated!

[Ben J]

Have you checked to see if you're getting fuel and spark? Easy way to check fuel is to take the top (I think) hose that runs to the fuel rail off and see if it squirts out when you crank it over. To check spark I just pull out a spark plug wire from the plug, put a screw driver in it and put it a cm or so away from metal in the car, turn it over and see if it sparks. Not sure if thats a good way to do it or not but it seems to work

If you've got one but not the other you can start to trace it down. If you've got neither, good luck.

A stupid electrical problem probably made me the most frustrated at my mk3 that I had ever been when I had a vr6 and wasn't getting fuel

Don't know who is good down in victoria, but I'm sure a vw specialist would be able to sort it out.

[kai_h]

Give Louis or Paul at Euroclass in Richmond a call. They most likely won't be able to diagnose it over the phone, but will be able to sort you out for sure. They've been working on my VR6 for 10 years now and haven't missed a beat.
Euroclass Automotive Repairs | Auto Service Centre | European Car Repairs - 03 9428 1980

[Stan]

Also give vagcom a run and see what error codes you are getting - might give you a place to start. I have it if you need help.
And fuel and spark for sure - check all the basics first and go from there.

Multimeter will be helpful as well to check continuity and if there is power, switched or otherwise, on the ends of the random cables and wires - my guess is they are the aftermath of a non standard radio fitment

[The_Hawk]

Following Stans idea, I think blue is usually the sense wire for an amp, the red looks fused for something, the black looks like it's an antenna connector of some sort (if not radio, maybe mobile phone??)

[kai_h]

Yeah, that black wire looks like a piece of co-ax - I'd guess that it's from a mobile phone car kit that was removed.