Starter or other ideas of whats wrong?

[wschneider9603]

So i was at the road course the other day for the ClubLoose drift event at englishtown and i drove my car there and was working on the track. Then i went to start my car and it didnt start. I noticed that when i turned the key though the RPMs jumped like crazy and starting going crazy back and forth. Thought it was the battery and/or the grounds. Checked everything fuses and all. Got it push started but was driving it and my MPH and TEMP gauges were all wacky too. However the RPM tac was working fine. I put a new battery in and same thing. Then at the end of the day it started up fine and drove fine all gauges worked also. Then turned it off later on and tried to start it and now back to square one... Any ideas... I think its the starter but from what im reading from everyone else that thinks they have a starter problem it seems like it could be multiple things. Any and all advise would be AWESOME. Thank You again in advance.

[the converted]

That's definitely a bad ground somewhere. I'd start with engine to chassis. You can test that with a jumper cable to ground the engine directly to the battery.

[wschneider9603]

i tried to jump it but the only way it will start is if i pop start it. I re did my battery relocator with new cable and still same problem.

[the converted]

Is your battery ground good and tightly secured to a piece of bare metal (no paint or rust)?

[Tycar]

try jumping from a good battery straight to the engine terminals. its possible your relocation came loose at some point. in reality if you left all the original ish in your engine bay you could just jump to the original terminals. If not, go back to the stock ground point and then directly to the starter.

[Bongpain]

well a stone age starter diag is. have some one crank the car and if it don't crank have them hold the key in the on position and you tab the starter with a hammer. if it start cranking up its your starter. if it still not start it still maybe your starter. and if you only can start the car with a rolling start it still might be your start but look at the WIRES. BAD trigger wire at the starter will cause this problem also. but i never really see rpm and stuff goes crazy like that unless you have a loose connection. I would trace the WIRES from the starter (both) to the power and ground one of that might be your problem.

[travisdx]

there is a ground on the transmission if there isnt make one or mabe your alt took a crap

[wschneider9603]

i checked my ground from the battery but i didnt try to hook up a new battery just to the original location in te engine bay. I will try that today tho. I finally got a chance to come to the shop where i store it rttuning in lansdale. So hopefully i can figure it out shortly cause its killin me without a car. Thanks for all the ideas tho. Ill keep you posted.

[asiansinsation]

Hey did you ever figure out your problem? I am having the same problem with mine. I drove it turned it off like a half hour went to leave and it wouldnt start. Did all the battery stuff. The only problem other thing my 240 is doing that yours isnt is when I turn the key to the on position my dash lights dont turn on. As soon as I turn the key off and take it out the dash lights turn on. I was starting to think my problem was the starter now Im starting to think it is the ignition maybe or something electrical. The kid I bought the car from pretty much assinated my car. Dude should not allowed to come with-in 50 ft of any car.

[red200sx]

asiansinsationI had a problem much like yours in my gti, the car would not turn off when you turned the ignition off, and I needed a direct 12v source to get the fuel pump to kick on, my dummy lights would be on with or without the key in the ignition, pretty much have it down to the wiring harness, or fusebox, I was thinking ECU but it runs great once the fuel pump is running.. Listen to and feel your relays, they will give you a good idea, and also focus on your wiring, look for limp wires as I had a few that the casing looked good but the wire was broken inside.

[asiansinsation]

I had gotten my car running yesterday after all that the other day. I drove it home parked it and again the same thing. I disconnected the negative cable from the battery and hooked my jump box up to it. It started right up it seems to be a bad ground. I re-wired my battery and since then no more wierd problems. thank you

[red200sx]

Glad to hear your nightmares are over, I'm rewiring half of the gti wiring harness at the moment, I got frustrated and put it up for sale, but after I calmed down I realized my frustration was causing me to be stupid and not fix it.. So I'm working on that now, wish me luck!