VW Golf Mk2 Owners Club

Technical => Technical => I.C.E & Electrical => Topic started by: 5doorgti on January 20, 2021, 05:59:46 PM

Title: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: 5doorgti on January 20, 2021, 05:59:46 PM
Hi all, so a bit of backstory....

A now ex friend and I started restoring my 5 door GTI around 2 years ago, all was going well, he stripped the car, i welded it, then it went to paint, anyways, ive been reassembling the car its all back together apart from radiator and a few trims.

i have however run into some difficulties with the electrical side, the engine bay wiring was all tied up against the firewall so it was out of the way for paint, ive refitted the engine, connected all the plugs etc that i could see / identify, im at the point of turning the key and............ nothing, well not nothing nothing, it turns over but not start.

i have discovered that theres no spark, i have 12v at the coil.
the ISV doesnt buzz when ignition is on.
fuel pump doesnt prime. ive bridged the terminals on the relay and the pump primes


everything else electrical appears to be working at this stage

really hoping someone has some possible suggestions as to where to start!
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: sly_gti on January 20, 2021, 08:19:26 PM
Hall sender on dizzy?
No spark from the coil on the king lead?
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: 5doorgti on January 20, 2021, 11:06:49 PM
Thanks for your reply, is there a way of testing / checking the hall sender?

And nope,no spark from the king lead, I have 12v on the no. 15 terminal, ive tried another (used coil) same result, of course the second coil could be shot!
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: Monkey on January 21, 2021, 08:09:14 AM
Do the lights come up on the dash when you turn the key to ignition?
If not, it could be an issue with the ignition switch.
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: 5doorgti on January 21, 2021, 09:16:47 AM
Do the lights come up on the dash when you turn the key to ignition?
If not, it could be an issue with the ignition switch.

yep, dash illuminates as expected, it cranks over fine, just wont fire
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: Monkey on January 21, 2021, 11:01:24 AM
Ok, when you say 1990, I'm assuming it's a 90 spec (some early 90s weren't).

If so, this is a fantastic site:
http://www.a2resource.com/electrical/CE2.html?_sm_byp=iVVM2JjWHV6k5fq6

It looks like a lot, but only F, G1 and G2 go into the engine bay, so buzz them out and see where that gets you.
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: 5doorgti on January 21, 2021, 11:11:12 AM
Yep 1990 (G reg) 1800 8v digifant.

Thanks for the link, ill take a look and update with progress...... hopefully!
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: 5doorgti on January 27, 2021, 03:10:14 PM
small update......

so i found 5 mins to have a quick fiddle with the golf, i have now got a spark at a plug end but only when turning the ignition on and off, not when cranking.

still no buzz from the ISV and the fuel pump still not running unless i bridge the terminals.

i have just printed off the CE2 wiring info from the link above (thanks again Monkey), i guess im gonna have to try and continuity test each individual wire? unless someone suggests an instant plug / sensor i can try / check?! fingers are crossed on the latter!
Title: Re: 1990 wiring woes
Post by: 5doorgti on January 28, 2021, 08:26:06 AM
I also saw whilst trawling for info that relay position 3 should have a relay numbered 32, apparently ecu control or power relay i think I read..... I dont have a relay in that position.  Cant remember if I did prior to pulling the car apart!