rahkee

im not an electrician but i understand the problem to have been that the circuit was broken and not complete there for some sort of short circuit causing the speedo console to reset and the hissing noise is the noise it makes when its calibrating... i think from what i remember there 2 screws out of the end of the starter motor it should say which is - and + and just screw the wires on, but with - and + if you got them mixed up you will definitely know! lol

oh u mean it starts neway but u just get that hissing noise with clicks wen u turn ignition?

how u doin mate, i can understand how frustrating the problem is and very hard to point out, it turned out it was a grounding problem the ground wire that lead to the starter motor was eroded, i just sanded it down and re-conected it... to see if thats the problem get a jump lead from the negative side of the battery and connect it to the ground wire (black, negative) on the starter motor or on some metal in the engine bay, should start up straight away good luck!

GOOD NEWS GUYS, I took it to a garage expecting the worst, turns out to be a corroded ground connection that connects to the starter motor... I must say though how mechanics are very ignorant when it comes to troubleshooting, I had to suggest a bad earth connection so he wired the black wire from the battery on to a bit of metal on the engine and it started first time, sorted out the corrosion that was it didn't even have to pay! Again a big thanks to everyone for your suggestions and help!

I'm just going to have it towed tomorrow to my mate's dad hes a vdub specialist, thanks to everyone you've all been pretty helpful!

No, I put the same one back in, I was just asking if anyone knew wether its some sort of short circuit with my starter or is it some sort of electrical problem thats affecting the starter.... I think I will jus change the starter, anyone know where I can get a used one from???

IF YOU CANT BE BOTHERED TO READ ALL THAT THEN, BASICALLY WITH THE STARTER MOTOR OUT FOR A FEW HOURS I CAN TURN THE KEY AND THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING ARE NORMAL, OBVIOUSLY NO START, WHEN I PUT THE STARTER BACK ON THE CAR AND TRIED TO START IT I GOT THOSE STUPID NOISES AND ERRATIC LIGHTS RESETTING ETC...

THANKS to everyone again, I think I'm finally getting there. RCF you seem to know what your talking about, the headlights are fine they work perfectly fine as they would and should. I hot wired the ignition by removing the ignition wires out the back (didnt cut them or anything just unplug) I got bits of wire and attatched them sort of on to the black thing wont go into detail (we'll all have our vr6s missing in the morning :S... well i wont ) but i get the same shit with the dashboard lights as if i was turning the key anyway. I seem to have singled out the problem somehow to the starter mot

QUICK UPDATE; i just hotwired the car and i'm still getting the same problem does this rule out the ignition switch as i am by passing it???

thanks to everyone you've all been very helpful on this. i think it could possibly be the ignition switch, if not then maybe an earthing problem on the car if that fails then might be immobiliser, guess i just have to take her down to an electrical mechanic now to confirm these theories.

yes its got a meta systems alarm and immobiliser, i would rule it out because if i were to engage the immobiliser the engine would turn over as normal it just wouldnt start

best thing to do sell it! this is what my old bmw was like every week new problem, i thought sooner or later i would have changed everything and no more problems til the engine seized up! anyway could be a variety of things possibly fautly air flow meter, when was the last time you serviced the car. good luck!

thanks mate best thing I've heard so far!!! is there anyway I can test it for faults. moneys a bit shit right now dont wanna change it and then still have the same problem again...

Its been almost a week now. I had the bonet open and it started to rain, after I closed it I started the car and nothing, i get a funny hissing noise from behind the speedo and the clock resets its self sometimes I get a clicking noise from behind the speedo or maybe a hissing and then clicking, its all very random but the engine wont start or turn over at all. RULING OUT THE BATTERY I have had it checked with that volt thingy twice and had it on jump leads 3 times and attempted to jump start it the old fashion way including towing it and puting it in gear and starting it up so THE BATTERY IS

ok just a quick update ive had the car towed and tried to start it still wouldnt start, so clearly ruling out the battery for some reason i decided to take the starter motor out and connected it directly to the battery and it seems to be working fine just the engine wont turn over so WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS STUPID CAR :@