ResidentStranger
New Member
Been fixing my GTI's for about 5 years so not a real noob at this but am stumped by the current problem. I have 2 identical GTI's so I can isolate problems a lot easier.
Symptom: acts like there's no battery in it - press the start button without the key it's supposed to show fuel level (does nothing), put on the key supposed to get 2 beeps (nothing).
Found the electrical box full of water and a busted power wire from rust. Fixed that and replaced the solenoid. Other wires and fuses look and test good in the box. I am getting power at the MPEM connector (pin 26) and ground on pins 2 & 9 as I should. Replaced the DESS post (was having a problem with that when it was responding last week). Tested my known good MPEM in the one that doesn't run and it's shows no life as well so I know there's something other than the MPEM as the problem. With power and ground at the MPEM connector I'm assuming the MPEM should at least give me some beeps - is there something else to check it's getting to bring it to life? Tested starter switch (good).
I scoured the wiring diagram and don't see anything else that could cause this problem - if I have power and ground to the MPEM, assuming I should get life. Only thing left I can think of is the connector into the MPEM - shot some cleaner in there but that didn't help (it looks good visually).
Update: Put the MPEM in my other boat and it works fine so it's good for sure. Connected the 2 leads on the solenoid and it turns over fine so I'm concluding the ground to the engine is good. Only thing I find different between the two units checking voltages on the connector going into the MPEM is the temp switch resistance is like 10 Mega Ohms on the working GTI and so high my meter can't read it on the non-running one.
Anyone have a problem like this? What am I missing?
Thanks!
Symptom: acts like there's no battery in it - press the start button without the key it's supposed to show fuel level (does nothing), put on the key supposed to get 2 beeps (nothing).
Found the electrical box full of water and a busted power wire from rust. Fixed that and replaced the solenoid. Other wires and fuses look and test good in the box. I am getting power at the MPEM connector (pin 26) and ground on pins 2 & 9 as I should. Replaced the DESS post (was having a problem with that when it was responding last week). Tested my known good MPEM in the one that doesn't run and it's shows no life as well so I know there's something other than the MPEM as the problem. With power and ground at the MPEM connector I'm assuming the MPEM should at least give me some beeps - is there something else to check it's getting to bring it to life? Tested starter switch (good).
I scoured the wiring diagram and don't see anything else that could cause this problem - if I have power and ground to the MPEM, assuming I should get life. Only thing left I can think of is the connector into the MPEM - shot some cleaner in there but that didn't help (it looks good visually).
Update: Put the MPEM in my other boat and it works fine so it's good for sure. Connected the 2 leads on the solenoid and it turns over fine so I'm concluding the ground to the engine is good. Only thing I find different between the two units checking voltages on the connector going into the MPEM is the temp switch resistance is like 10 Mega Ohms on the working GTI and so high my meter can't read it on the non-running one.
Anyone have a problem like this? What am I missing?
Thanks!
Last edited: