205 gti- electrical problems

[willyp]

My 1.9 gti failed to start on Tuesday morning- was turning over but wouldn't start.
Called the RAC who said that the coil wasn't getting a pulse
Anyway the car was parked on a hill and he suggested pushing down the hill- in second foot on clutch. Released clutch and it started
I was busy and deciced to risk it and hope it didn't happen again

Guess what......
not parked on a hill this morning and it won't start!!!!
Man from RAC on way.

Does anyone know of anyone who has experience of 205 engines - close to Cambridge?
Would like to know if is set up to run on 95 or 97 and make sure it is as healthy as can be etc??

[combemarshal]

Surely if the coil was up the duff it wouldn't bump start either!

[Mikey G]

What year is the car? does it have a cylindrical coil on the nearside inner bay? or does it have the square type that sits on the inlet manifold?

Check the wires that go into the distributor, there should be a small screw holding a black plug into the side of it, take the plug out and give it a clean, this connects to the reluctor ring inside the dizzy which controls the triggering, i have seen this get dirty or even broken on a number of cars.

[Rob_the_Sparky]

Also one type of ignition amp failure will cause starting problems but once running the car is fine. For me it began with intermittant failure to start for a few months (apparently randomly not starting first thing in the morning) gradually becoming more regular until it reached total failure and dragged home by the AA.

The AA tested the ignition amp and said ti was fine but it later transpired that it wasn't. Swapped one in from one of my other GTis and up it fired after 18 months standing (cause I got p***ed off with it and dumped it out back)...

Rob