Car won't start

Maintenance/Repairs
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1

I have a 1996 VW Jetta GL 4 cyl. 2.0L. When the temp. start to warm up the car won’t start. I don’t know if its the temp. outside, or in the cabin of the car. all the dash lights turn on, and accessories turn on. sometimes I hear a clicking noise, which I think is the sound of electricity going to the starter. I have replaced the starter, alternator, & battery. I had a family friend mechanic look at it for about 3 hrs. and he couldn’t figure it out. I have a suspicion that it might be the ignition switch faulting out, but how would I know for sure with out taring apart the steering column? Any ideas? Thanks

2

When it won’t start, does the engine crank? Or is there nothing but the clicking sound?

3

Just the clicking sound, and sometimes no sound at all.

4

Just the clicking sound, and sometimes no sound at all.

I would start by making sure all the battery cables are clean and tight. Remember each cable as at least two ends.

5

I did that.

6

An easy test for the car would be to hook up a jumper switch for the starter, and when the engine won’t crank over using the ignition switch, then try cranking the car over using the jumper button on the starter solenoid, taking the ignition switch out of the equation.

Basically, its a button that attaches to the solenoid on the starter, and directly activates the starter when the button is cranked. All you have to do is put your ignition switch in the run position, hit the button, and then the engine should start cranking over.

With this jumper button being used, if the engine cranks over, then there’s something wrong with the ignition switch/system in the car that is preventing enough voltage from getting to the starter solenoid to crank the engine over, but proves that the battery and the electrical connections to the starter are good.

BC.

7

thanks for the info, I’ll give that a try.