[Vwdiesel] dead Rabbit

[Gary Bangs]

Rolf,

With the engine cold, can you spin the engine over by hand? As you do,
you should be able to differentiate each stroke event. There will be
degrees of rotation that you will feel compression build, others that
you will feel easy rotation. If it is hard all the time, something is
seizing like you suspect. I would start with the water pump. Take the
belt off. Spin it (the wp) Push and pull, radially, on the wp as you
turn it, feeling for seizing.

Start with this and let us know how it goes.

-Gary

Rolf Pechukas wrote:
> OK, troubleshooting help please:
> 
> Rabbit won't start
> 
> - have fuel (at least on the gauge)
> 
> - have good hot battery (AAA just tested it - red-top Optima w/ 13.5  
> volts)
> 
> - have not checked the cut-out switch on top of the IP
> (don't have my tester w/ me - stuck at a friend's house)
> 
> but
> 
> * key won't turn her over
> * hot-wiring from battery to starter solenoid won't turn her over
> * tried backing down the hill and pop-starting her in reverse - no dice
> * got pulled up the hill in 4th by AAA guy - no dice
> 
> hmmmm
> 
> I know I need to make sure I have fuel and 12v at the solenoid
> but w/ no tools and can't test/check much
> 
> 
> I'm starting to suspect something worse -
> 
> - been running hot since I bought her last month
> cracked coolant reservoir was leaking coolant
> replaced it last week
> coolant filled to MIN - did not have enough to top up fully b/c crazy  
> w/ family/work stuff and just did not get to a store
> but been running hot still - assumed that was the low coolant
> 
> - starter having hard time last 2 days turning engine over
> thought that was battery running down and actually put extra batt in  
> car for when that batt died
> 
> - starting yesterday even more sluggish - like trying to stir a big  
> spoon in a cauldron of taffy - errr-rrruhhh errr-rruhhhhh
> but it would give a few slow cranks and then fire
> thought that was the last few electrons in the battery
> 
> then last night tried to start and nothing
> puff of smoke from under the hood
> 
> starter solenoid?
> 
> NOW I am starting to think engine itself is somehow seized or damaged
> that would account for slow cranking, killing the starter solenoid,  
> not popping in reverse (when I rolled down the hill backwards and  
> released clutch wheels just froze up), not popping in 4th gear w/  
> pull-tow (engine was turning over, but resisting), hot running...
> 
> any thoughts? any guesses?
> did not need this right now
> 
> thanks