MK5 GTI Will not start

[Aleksii]

Hey all,

Last night I got home, parked my 2005 gti mkv in the garage and had no issues prior to coming home at all.

This morning I go to get in, insert key, turn on, all the lights come on and will not turn on. The key will turn all the way to the point where it will turn over, but nothing. All electrics work, every single light on the dash is on. Including the ESP light on the button above the shifter.

The key will not be released however - it will go to the off position, however I have only had it release about three times. I tried to insert again each time and then most of the time I can't pull the key out at all.

It's a DSG with 190,000kms on it.

Any suggestions?

Any help would be appreciated :/

aleks

[gazzmo]

Have you considered that it may be the battery?

[Umai Naa!!]

I would say flat battery as well.

Doesn't take much to light up the dash lights, but it takes a whole lot more to turn the motor over.

[Aleksii]

I have considered it may be, however confused as to why all the lights will come on, including headlights and windows work etc..?

[brad]

Are you in P (DSG) or N with the foot on the clutch (Man) - that might be the no starter motor part

Key release - is the steering wheel loose? ie: It's not straining against the steering wheel lock.

[Aleksii]

im in P. It doesnt lock the steering wheel - it's tough to turn as expected, but doesn't lock the steering wheel.

[brad]

How old is the battery?

Do you have a voltmeter to check the unloaded voltage & the under-load voltage (when you try & start the car).

When you try & start do the lights go dim?

Have you checked the engine fuse?


My battery went form starting like a champion in the morning to dead 8 hrs later. It was 5+yrs old though.

[Aleksii]

Just tried a new battery and still the same.

Where is the engine fuse??

[Aleksii]

I looked thru the car manual and also the online PDF version of the fuse guide, but cant figure out which fuse would be the most appropriate for this issue? I checked all the two-pin ones and can't find any that have burned out, could it be the large relay ones?

[Ryan_R]

Possibly an immobiliser issue (since it tries to hold onto the key and it's not battery related)? I'd run those symptoms past the service guys at a dealer over the phone to see what they think...

You haven't accidentally swapped your key for another VW one somehow?

Just purely a guess

[Aleksii]

Thank you @Ryan_R - I haven't swapped the keys.. I haven't had any luck with it today so tomorrow it's going to Prestige and Performance at east brisbane.. the key will unlock the car and all, funny thing is that when I use the key to remotely open and close the windows, only the passenger side ones actually respond. When seated in the car, the passenger ones work fine, but drivers side are slow. Also I can't simultaneously open or close all the windows - just the passenger side ones work, and the others stop. No idea if that's relevant, but strange none the less.

[Umai Naa!!]

Check the 50A fuses on the front side of the fuse box in the engine bay, too.

[Umai Naa!!]

Possibly an immobiliser issue (since it tries to hold onto the key and it's not battery related)? I'd run those symptoms past the service guys at a dealer over the phone to see what they think...

You haven't accidentally swapped your key for another VW one somehow?

Just purely a guess

Funny you mention swapped keys.

I had a Beetle come in several times with no-start complaints. Could never fault it. Took it home several times, no problems at all. One day a light bulb came on, and I asked for both sets of keys just out of curiousity. Turns out, the whole time we were being given the husband's working key as he would bring the car in, and everytime the wife went to start it with her key, it wouldn't go.

Replaced the key, and all is right with the world.

[Aleksii]

It was the shift sensor or something like that - presitge and performance replaced it and all is well

[brad]

The thing that senses if you're in Park or Nuetral so that it doesn't start in gear?