94 jetta, starter turns engine over, will not start

check for spark
if spark good, check for fueling. (add some if not a flooded engine)

check the coil, as it sounds like that may be the problem

Check your coil it should be on top of your distributer cap, remove 4 small 1/4 in head screws and expose the coil 4 more screws hold the coil to the cap remove coil and take to autozone or vip and have them test it for you..

Is the engine turning over and just not starting? Go back to basics, you need fuel, fire, compression, and proper timing to get it to start. Check the fuel pump, do you hear it run when you turn the key on? Do you have fuel pressure, if so check for spark at the spark plugs, if you have spark try turning the engine over and have a buddy spray some starting fluid in the throttle body, if it tries to start then you have a fuel problem. If no fire check dist module, ign coil and coil wire.

Check the leads to the alternator and see if they are loose or unconnected. The starter malfunctioning would not make the engine die, just not turn over. Slugish turning would indicate a low batery but not malfunctioning starter. If the engine will run but not for long check the fuel pump or air leaks in the fuel system. Check all leads to the distributor, coil and sparkplugs, If the distributor cap is cracked or the distributor is loose it will create these problems.

a voltage check doesnt tell you alot with a coil... check resistance on primary and secondary circuits of coil to test it... ignition module controls coil so if its ok id go after the module... see foriegn cars are no different they break down just as much, its just way more expensive...keep your head up...

It sounds like your starter motor could be at fault.

Does it turn over slowly,or not at all with out the jum leads?

ok inot to familiar with vw however if its a diesel motor then it runs on glow plugs i would belive that , that would be the problem. (atleast with semi's) however if you do have spark plugs to check for spark pull the spark plug with that goes from the ignition pack to the distributer cap, (the distributer caps main feed in not out) have a friend start the car, let the wire hang in view and look to see if a spark emits if no spark comes then it could be the distributer. the rotor in the distributer cap, or a busted timming belt...Anoyther way to test for spark is to pull a plug from the head, re-connect it to the spark plug wire that it was connected to, take a screw driver or something , wait a butter knife is the best tool actually, put it on the end of the spark plugs head, rest the butter knife on top of the alternator or anywher you can geta good ground(non-painted surfaces) and hold the the spark plug wire on the rubber part pushing the head of the plug on the butter knife which is on a good ground and turn the car over, just a couple times not really trying to start the car just a couple revolutions and look for a spark..if no spark is seen then the above problems are true for this problem......If you are getting spark, then you need to check your fuel pressurecontroll modulator , i believe its called, its the last gateway b4 fuel is disspursed through the injectors...let me know if this was helpfull.

cover the distributor cap with plastic and the high voltage coil.

with a damp environment, high voltage usually jumps to the nearest ground and would not go to the spark plug.

you can test this at night when it is damped and raining, at night, let some body start the car for you and you watch the engine compartment without light so that you can trace where the spark is jumping out.

tnx 4 using fixya,

drcool

what about the starter?