QuestionAfter a long week of driving my car didn't start the next day. The car turns over and all the lights turn on. Once in a while the car sounds like it will almost start but then dies. I read that there might be water in the tank so I put "heet" in the tank but this hasn't changed anything. I have a quarter tank of gas in right now.
AnswerHi Jake,
It sounds as if there are a few classic culprits:
1) A broken vacuum hose (that big bellow looking thing) they occasionally crack between the bellows and you literally have to inspect the entire thing, every nook and cranny.
2) Bad spark plugs, take one out and look at it. It should be a nice dry, light ash color, not burned. If they are a disaster, replace them.
3) The air filter, will cause these same sypmtoms if it's clogged. I'd get a new one.
4) Did it rain the night before you tried to start it? If so, it usually is the spark plug cables. (If that year has them, as some GTI's do not).
5) The infamous fuel filter, many people forget about these things, they are inexpensive and cause a lot of trouble if they get clogged.
Let me know if any of this helps, 90% you problem lies in 1-5.
Good Luck and Please let me know how you make out.
Ron
