Turn the key and no sound...

[steve singh]

Issue with MK5 Golf GTI.

Turn the key to start the car and there is no turnover sound at all (just one click).

Everything seems like normal - all lights on dash as per usual and headlamps very bright.

Literally no sound when turning the car over - in fact I would say it wasn't turning over one bit.

Guessing this is a failed starter motor?

Thanks in advance.

[The Wookie]

Someone's stolen your engine

Alternatively yes, it does sound like a failed starter solenoid, try a few (or even a lot) of goes at turning and releasing the starter to see if it turns which often works on Caterhams

[crmcatee]

Possibly.

Stick it in 1st gear and rock the car back and forth. Then try again.

[hornetrider]

Immobiliser?

[kambites]

The click will be the solenoid firing (which I wouldn't expect to happen if it was an electronic fault). If the lights don't dim when you have the key held in the start position, then it's probably either the starter motor itself or a connection to it. If they do dim, I suspect you have a flat/broken battery.

First thing I'd try is jump starting it from a running car. If that doesn't work, check that the starter has a voltage across it when the key is held in the "start" position.

[sday12]

Tap the starter motor with a hammer to free it.

[RobM77]

Some cars have a cutout which won't activate the starter motor at all below a certain battery charge. It can be surprisingly high. I had the exact same problem as described by the OP once, and charging the battery solved it. Of course though, that's just one possibility - it could be a failed or stuck starter motor.

[Mafioso]

Yeah the first thing I'd do would be to either charge/jump. That eliminates battery issues.

[BriC175]

RobM77 said:

Some cars have a cutout which won't activate the starter motor at all below a certain battery charge. It can be surprisingly high. I had the exact same problem as described by the OP once, and charging the battery solved it. Of course though, that's just one possibility - it could be a failed or stuck starter motor.

On E39's the car sometimes won't start due to low battery power, however everything else works as if nothing is wrong.

I'd charge the battery first.

[steve singh]

Thanks guys.

I tried the spare key but that made no difference.

I'll give the battery charge a go just to rule that out.

On a GTI will I be able to get sufficient access to the starter motor to tap it without a ramp?

[RobM77]

Try a jump from another car or a full charge first; there's a very good chance that'll fix it. On most cars you'll be able to tap the starter motor just from an open bonnet, yes.

[steve singh]

Thanks - tapped the starter to no avail, battery is fine as I swapped it with another one I know works.

Think it's a dodgy solenoid so trying to work out...

1) How to test it

2) Whether I can remove it from the starter motor without removing the starter motor from the main engine block (pain in the backside to completely remove the starter)

[Pannywagon]

I had this with a car a couple of years ago.

After lots of fighting with it the auto electrician bypassed the starter circuit and wired in a fused starter button with a feed straight to the starter motor.

It was a lot cheaper than finding the fault was going to be. You still needed the key to start it, so it wasn't like someone could just drive away with it.

[steve singh]

Just for those interested - changed the starter motor and it fixed the problem.

[RobM77]

Thanks for updating. Glad you've got the car working again.

[steve singh]

RobM77 said:

Thanks for updating. Glad you've got the car working again.

No worries - also learnt through the process that no one wants to sell you a starter motor unless you give your old one to them!