Golf 1.8 GL Automatic (1996) - very bad damp starting prob..

This is getting painful, we are entering winter in the UK

On cold and damp (especially damp) days the car has a lot of
difficulty starting. I have changed the plugs and rotor arm and
covered the electrics in a damp start oil to keep the damp out of the
circuit but nothing seems to help.

Examining the parts showed the rotor arm definitely needed changing
and the plugs had a reallynice even colour to them, so it does not
look like there are any mixture problems.

It does not appear to have too problems starting on cold dry mornings
or warm days.

Perhaps a related symptom is that occasionally the car stalls usually
when I have come of a bend and probably on damp days though I could
not swear to this. When it does stall it usually starts after a couple
of minutes, though on one occasion it refused point blank and I had to
go back for the car the next day, when it still had starting problems.
Though the car has not cut out for some time and not since I changed
the plugs, etc.

Any ideas?

TIA,
Pep

On Dec 11, 9:19 am, Pep <pepaltavi... RemoveThis @yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> This is getting painful, we are entering winter in the UK
>
> On cold and damp (especially damp) days the car has a lot of
> difficulty starting. I have changed the plugs and rotor arm and
> covered the electrics in a damp start oil to keep the damp out of the
> circuit but nothing seems to help.
>
> Examining the parts showed the rotor arm definitely needed changing
> and the plugs had a reallynice even colour to them, so it does not
> look like there are any mixture problems.
>
> It does not appear to have too problems starting on cold dry mornings
> or warm days.
>
> Perhaps a related symptom is that occasionally the car stalls usually
> when I have come of a bend and probably on damp days though I could
> not swear to this. When it does stall it usually starts after a couple
> of minutes, though on one occasion it refused point blank and I had to
> go back for the car the next day, when it still had starting problems.
> Though the car has not cut out for some time and not since I changed
> the plugs, etc.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> TIA,
> Pep

A - Wires.
B - Distibutor cap.
C - Rotor.
D - Cheaper grade of gasoline. (Ignites more easily)
E - And if this has a coil, a cracked coil maybe.

In rank order.

BE CAREFUL - MOVING PARTS

When you have the engine running nicely and warmed up, try misting the
spark-plug wires a little bit and see if any sparks fly. Or, have
someone watching in the dark when you are cranking and look for
sparks.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA