Intermittent Start Issue (won't start if sitting in sun)

Crazy as it sounds I've had my mechanic scratching his head for a month over an intermittent issue starting my car. It's a 1998 Jetta GLX and it won't start if it gets too hot outside. I drive the car daily, but frequently do not start it until 4 or 5PM. Without fail, if the weather is above 80 degrees, the car will not start. All the dash lights and electronics come up, and it's like it can't engage the engine. It doesn't try to turn over at all. If I wait until after 8PM when it's cool and the sun is gone, it starts up on the first try without hesitation.

This doesnt' occur if I'm able to park in a garage for the day OR if there's no sun OR if the car has been driven earlier in the day...only if it sits in the sun during peak heat.

Anyone ever experience anything like this?

I have the same problem with my 2003 jetta. It usally will start again if I roll down the wondows and let it cool off.

that is very odd!!

	CCC wrote:
	I have the same problem with my 2003 jetta. It usally will start again if I roll down the wondows and let it cool off.

Sounds like the same thing! Every time it's happened it's taken less than 15 minutes with the doors and sunroof open, and then it starts right up like nothing was ever wrong.

I don't suppose you know why it happens, do you?

This has been the problem with my 98 Jetta as well. My mechanic thinks I'm crazy because it will ofcourse always starts right up when I take it there. For the last 2 years during the summer when my car has been sitting for a while in the sun it will not start nor even crank. After 15-30 mins. with the windows down it starts right up. It is the biggest pain in the butt and nobody seems to know the cause.

Grr! Someone somewhere has to know why this is happening. The only resolution I have is to park in the garage and keep it out of the heat!

I've had someone suggest that if it's a bad solenoid starter that it will also respond adversly to extreme cold. Lucky for me, winter in NY is right around the corner. If it's occurring in the cold of the winter, then there's no 15 minute fix to warm the car up which would mean the issue would be more readily replicable by the mechanics.

I'm actually keeping my fingers crossed that it does occur consistently in the cold and we're able to fix it. I'll post back if it's ever resolved.

I have an '89 Jetta and I am experiencing something close to this. It will start in the morning. I'll drive about 10 miles. When I try to start it again, it just sets there and turns over trying to start. It's like the coil wire has been disconnected. Doesn't even attempt to fire up.

Let it set about 15 minutes or so and eventually it starts.