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mpedrummer2 · 07-21-2003, 12:35 PM

The dilly is thus...

1996 Passat. Runs like a dream, except...it (seemingly randomly) won't start. Turn the key, you get a clicky/grindy noise that sounds like it's coming from the driver's side of the engine. Almost sounds like a solenoid problem. That's it. Doesn't try to crank, nothing. I was thinking starter/alternator, but IT EVENTUALLY TURNS OVER. Alternators don't un-die.

The circulation pump was on and making some noise when it happened yesterday. As soon as it stopped making noise, it turned right over like nothing happened.

The guy at the VW place was nice enough to look at it and tell me that for an intermittant problem, I'd be throwing money away, and he gave me some things to look for the next time it happens, to help narrow things down. His feeling was that the circulation pump was unrelated to the problem at hand, and that I possibly have a faulty ECM Relay.

So, what's an ECM Relay? What's it do? And what would it do if it was in the process of crapping out?

Thanks
MPEDrummer

07-21-2003, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
mpedrummer2 Insane	What's an ECM Relay? The dilly is thus... 1996 Passat. Runs like a dream, except...it (seemingly randomly) won't start. Turn the key, you get a clicky/grindy noise that sounds like it's coming from the driver's side of the engine. Almost sounds like a solenoid problem. That's it. Doesn't try to crank, nothing. I was thinking starter/alternator, but IT EVENTUALLY TURNS OVER. Alternators don't un-die. The circulation pump was on and making some noise when it happened yesterday. As soon as it stopped making noise, it turned right over like nothing happened. The guy at the VW place was nice enough to look at it and tell me that for an intermittant problem, I'd be throwing money away, and he gave me some things to look for the next time it happens, to help narrow things down. His feeling was that the circulation pump was unrelated to the problem at hand, and that I possibly have a faulty ECM Relay. So, what's an ECM Relay? What's it do? And what would it do if it was in the process of crapping out? Thanks MPEDrummer __________________ My sig can beat up your honor student.