Bora now won't start

[Dyldo]

Howdy all - really looking to tie into people's thoughts here and see if i can't fix my Bora at work instead of calling a towie/NRMA/mechanic.

Just before getting to work after my normal 80km drive from Picton I saw I was idling about 1100-1150 (fuel econ showing as 1.4L on idle which is far higher than normal) and then just to check my idle when I got to work I shut my car off and went to restart.

Problem was I couldn’t restart. Power comes on, all lights come on dash, but turn the key and all I hear is a relay click and no sparky. Thoughts?

Battery suddenly gone?
Starter decided to suddenly die?
Fuse?
Coilpack on the fritz?

[Dyldo]

Looks like it might be a Lube Mobile job. Car is 3 levels underground in my work basement so hopefully towing won't be on the cards. Just over $200 for a mobile visit and new battery fitted isn't too bad though.

[Back Door Shenanigans.]

Sounds to me that your battery is dead. Which could be a faulty alternator if its not charging properly. Mine did this whilst driving twice!

Also just for fun you can't really get a fuel econ whilst idling as you aren't technically moving and the fuel econ is L/100km

[bwen]

Sounds like your battery probably just dropped a cell and died. I highly doubt it might be spark plugs? If the alternator is dead then it wouldn't be able to crank at all.

[Dyldo]

Here's a curveball then - just took a package to my car and figured what the heck and gave her a crank and voila! she fires.

so given the issue is now intermittent (heat, contact, or gremlin) can we say the battery is fine but the starter is going?

[Dyldo]

Also just for fun you can't really get a fuel econ whilst idling as you aren't technically moving and the fuel econ is L/100km

true, but my idle econ (for a baseline example) is usually bang on 1.0L, and idling fast and at 1.4L was clearly a departure from normal

[dylan8]

true, but my idle econ (for a baseline example) is usually bang on 1.0L, and idling fast and at 1.4L was clearly a departure from normal

bit off topic, but mine never adjusts when i stop. its just whatever i was last at, could be 0.0L/100 or up to like 40L/100 haha

Hope your problem just goes away! How'd the car run after? wasn't rough etc?

[JustCruisn]

Here's a curveball then - just took a package to my car and figured what the heck and gave her a crank and voila! she fires.

so given the issue is now intermittent (heat, contact, or gremlin) can we say the battery is fine but the starter is going?

NO !
You could say that your battery is on the way out. Go get it tested. Most auto stores do it for free - they want to sell you a new battery.
My battery failed to start the car about 5 times over a 3 week period before finally giving up.
I roll started it each time but the last as I was at the bottom of a hill.

[RolfGolf]

NO !
You could say that your battery is on the way out. Go get it tested.

Agreed. Years ago I drove around in my old Mazda for a couple of days after the battery had exploded(!) I only found out the problem when after taking a corner in my usual style I lost power altogether when the remainder of the battery dislodged from the holder and disintegrated ...

Most batteries will re-generate somewhat if left for a while - even half batteries

[Dyldo]

UPDATE and SOLVED

Well, long story short it appears to be a VERY dead battery. Driving home I picked up a VAGcom cable and lappy (props Manaz) and started my drive home. Almost right away i notice my dash starting to act like a xmas tree going crazy. I get the TCS, then the ESP, then the airbag. All are orange. No real loss in power but slightly lumpy idle and i definitely felt hot even though i had a window and sunroof open.

I toyed with getting a new battery from an auto store but figured i'd best get home as i am faced with a 2hour drive each way each day (don't ask). I get 500mtrs from my turn off and boom! Loss of all power, needles froze, all lights gone, engine off. Almost instantaneous. Engine spluttered a bit but then dead. Not even enough power to turn hazards on.

We tried a jumper box but the engine failed the moment we took the clamps off. So we did a highway-side battery swap. Man, was my battery really caked in there. i am pretty sure somebody put solastic to hold the battery down as it was almost impossible to get off. Car actually feels a bit better with a new battery, might go for those new sparks, coils and MAF too.

I will get my alternator checked to be sure, but i think we're good now. So, all in all, problem licked. I even got to use my warning triangle

[Rybky]

Also just for fun you can't really get a fuel econ whilst idling as you aren't technically moving and the fuel econ is L/100km

Actually, the computer is clever, when you stop moving the instant econ display changes from l/100km to l/h (l per hour)! Mine sits at 1.0-1.1 l/h on idle.

Adam

[Back Door Shenanigans.]

UPDATE and SOLVED

Well, long story short it appears to be a VERY dead battery. Driving home I picked up a VAGcom cable and lappy (props Manaz) and started my drive home. Almost right away i notice my dash starting to act like a xmas tree going crazy. I get the TCS, then the ESP, then the airbag. All are orange. No real loss in power but slightly lumpy idle and i definitely felt hot even though i had a window and sunroof open.

I toyed with getting a new battery from an auto store but figured i'd best get home as i am faced with a 2hour drive each way each day (don't ask). I get 500mtrs from my turn off and boom! Loss of all power, needles froze, all lights gone, engine off. Almost instantaneous. Engine spluttered a bit but then dead. Not even enough power to turn hazards on.

We tried a jumper box but the engine failed the moment we took the clamps off. So we did a highway-side battery swap. Man, was my battery really caked in there. i am pretty sure somebody put solastic to hold the battery down as it was almost impossible to get off. Car actually feels a bit better with a new battery, might go for those new sparks, coils and MAF too.

I will get my alternator checked to be sure, but i think we're good now. So, all in all, problem licked. I even got to use my warning triangle

Hahaha reading your story brings back memory's of the time that happened to me. Almost exactly the same right down to being happy that i could use the warning triangle.

Mine happened twice tho the first time it happened i thought it was the battery so i went down to auto one and picked up a new one. Week later driving along had all the warning lights come on like you but managed to get another 20km out of it until right before a big hill it died. Whipped out the warning triangle and got a free toe thanks to AHG. Turns out my alternator regulator had died and wasn't charging the battery but is all good now.

I'm also thinking about replacing spark's, MAF, Oxygen sensor and possibly coils so if you want to include it in an order from ecs let us know.

Actually, the computer is clever, when you stop moving the instant econ display changes from l/100km to l/h (l per hour)! Mine sits at 1.0-1.1 l/h on idle.

Adam

Really? Will have to check that but i dont think mine does :S

[trickysimon]

Yeh I don't think my computer does that either :S
Maybe it came in with later models?

[Rybky]

Mine was built in 06/2001, complianced in 2002, I would be surprised if it changed. It is only the instant readout that changes, not the average of course.

Adam

[WhO]

To be the bearer of bad news this is 100% to a tee the same problem i had, mine turned out to be the alternator dying on me. All your symptoms match mine exactly. At first i suspected battery as it was dead flat with 8v but after charging it on a wall charger it was fine producing 450cca when tested. Decided to dig a bit deeper and tested the charging system which under no load was only just sustaining the battery but when with say the headlights on (all at idle) it was discharging at about .7amps, Multimeter showed 12.5v or so running under no load, under load battery voltage headed south and quickly got down to mid low 11's.

A few days after the symptoms first showed i got the x-mas tree dashboard, lumping idle again and this time it just died. Had to borrow the battery from my patners bora to take to the car to get it home. Alternator workshop came up and the battery light was there too, great warning system VW! only seems to work when the alternator has completely died

Anyway long story short alternator was shot, got a new one, chucked it in and all is well now with a stable voltage of 13.8-14v at idle under no load and low 13's when under full load