Mk5 GTI won't start

[drsmithy]

Went out to drive to tennis this evening, turned the key and.... nothing. Had driven home only an hour before, so it was a bit alarming.

Interestingly, I don't get any of the normal warning, ignition lights, etc when I turn the key to "on", but the headlights, radio, etc, still work. Brake lights don't, however, nor does pushing the brake release the catch on the transmission (so it's stuck in park). The boot also won't open (?).

RACQ bloke came out and checked the battery, tested fuses, etc, but ultimately had no joy.

Going to give a dealer a call tomorrow and see what they reckon - closest one to me is Brian Byrt Mt Gravatt (and conveniently I did get the car from Brian Byrt Capalaba) - hopefully whatever is wrong is covered by the extended warranty !

The only strange behaviour the car had been exhibiting recently was the fuel gauge playing up - would randomly drop down to zero, then come back to the proper level again the next time the car was started. I had assumed it was just a dodgy fuel level sensor and was going to get it checked out at the next service (the other thing I noticed happening at the same time was the electric windows automatic-all-the-way-up would stop working, though the windows would still work just holding the switch).

Anyone seen anything like this before ? Extended warranty runs out in June, so I want to make sure whatever might be causing this is properly fixed !

[Stan]

assuming battery and fuses are ok as stated, similar things go wrong when the comfort control module is gone - dunno if this is in the mk5, but when it fails in a mk4 then all sorts of electric havoc takes place - interior lighting, windows, locking, all sorts of things fail or don't work as expected

[bennjamin]

Is this something that might be diagnosed via VCDS ?


Personally my mkv gti has started to intermittently chug over like a dead battery but would turn over normally as you held the key. Battery is original from 06 - but I put it on a battery trickle charger once in awhile. Every other time the car starts normally though.

[drsmithy]

On a related note, does anyone know if there's a hidden release somewhere for the transmission lock ? The manual says not, but maybe it's an undocumented feature ?

[JustCruisn]

You need to turn the key to unlock the steering wheel, then after a minute or two with foot on brake you can shift out of park.
I did this a few weeks back, needed new battery but too close to wall in front to do the job.

[drsmithy]

After some Googling I managed to find a description of where the shift lock release is - it's a bright yellow button kind of thing underneath the shifter trim, up near the 'P' symbol.

As soon as the shifter came out of P the dash lit up with the normal warning lights, etc. I was able to start the car immediately and while some warning lights stayed on (steering, traction control, tyre pressure), they disappeared a few seconds after driving off and haven't come back on since. Nor has the original behaviour (shifter stuck in P, can't start) manifested again.

The passenger side windows auto-full-windup is still not working, however the driver's side does. Obviously there's still some electrical funkiness going on somewhere, so I'll take it into the stealership on Monday and leave it with them to mess around with. I still have ~4 months of extended warranty left, so hopefully that will cover anything that's wrong.

[slixx]

Don't mean to re-hash an old thread, but same thing happen to my MkV GTI, multiple times on the the weekend

I get in the car and go to start it and it won't kick over (like if I have it in drive instead of Park)
The lights on the dash and radio go on, but nobody is home

The car is in Park and foot is on the brake, but it won't start. I also cannot get it out of Park

I try a sequence of locking and unlocking the car, opening the door, leaving the door open and continue to try to start it and then all of sudden it'll will start

Was there a solution to this?

[piper26]

Don't mean to re-hash an old thread, but same thing happen to my MkV GTI, multiple times on the the weekend

I get in the car and go to start it and it won't kick over (like if I have it in drive instead of Park)
The lights on the dash and radio go on, but nobody is home

The car is in Park and foot is on the brake, but it won't start. I also cannot get it out of Park

I try a sequence of locking and unlocking the car, opening the door, leaving the door open and continue to try to start it and then all of sudden it'll will start

Was there a solution to this?

Your symptoms sound like a possible brake pedal switch concern

[slixx]

That maybe the issue when trying to get the car out of Park, but can't see how it affect why the car won't start

I can usually start the car without having my foot on the brake

[piper26]

Is it registering park position in the mfd?

[slixx]

Good question. Will have to check that the next time it happens
I went out to the Garage just now and it starts fine. I just know its gonna happen again when I least can afford it to happen!

[piper26]

Does the selctor feel weird or hard to put into park? If so then hopefully just readjust the cable as it can stretch causing the selector to not engage park postion correctly.

Otherwise if the selctor is nice and smooth and it doesnt read park in the mfd when it happens then the selector has worn out

[slixx]

I think it's this problem

VW Tech Tip: No Start/No Crank On Jetta's Keyless Start System
I'll have to keep investigating

As mentioned before, once the car finally starts, the gear shifter moves fine, it is just when you go to turn the key and nothing happens
The dash lights come on, everything looks fine, but it acts like the starter has been unplugged

If you ever have tried to start your car while left in park, that is what is occuring, but of course the car is in park...

[piper26]

That would not necessarily apply ti your car. Kessy systems are slightly different to key systems for start authorisation.

You may have a faulty ign switch, but this would not prevent removal from park position if your dash/'reds' are on.