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Before I get into this, I just want to let whoever had read my previous message know that I have figured out the wiring of my starter solenoid and its relay. Anyhow, I got my 1970 Squareback, FI, about a month and a half ago, and its been out of commission for a week less than that. When I got the car, I knew nothing about cars. Since then I have learned quite a bit from John Muir's "How to Keep Your VW Alive." Regardless, I'm just about clueless as to what's wrong. So here is all the information I believe to be relevant: My friend was borrowing it when it broke down, she had started it, got it running, then when she went to put her seat belt on her foot slipped off the accelerator and it stalled...and never started again. Initially the engine sounded fine (fine that is, to my untrained ear), and the previous owner--a friend of mine--replaced the coil to no avail and suggested I change the SP wires, which I did, again to no avail. I checked the sparks from the wires, including the coil and all checked out (although I'm not sure of the color of the coil spark, I'm going to check that again tomorrow). In addition, the battery was and is completely charged and running fine. I then got some injector, etc., cleaner and being clueless and not being able to read correctly (plus taking the advice of some person who seems to have known just as much as I, although with more certainty) I put it in the oil. When I then tried to start the lil guy up it had an unpleasant new sound: it would turn as it did before, then chug, go back to turning, etc. Sometimes the engine would become completely silent for a split second, sometimes slow down, and also make a sound as if somewhere it was getting too much or too little air. I changed the oil to no avail, then discovered the battery was then drained, after charging it the noise went away. This happened another time, and again the battery was drained from all the attempts at starting. From there I changed the electronic FP (the one I got is used, so it could be bad too--also on my to test list for tomorrow); I also had the starter and solenoid replaced. With all this and a charged battery it is making the old fearful sound. One thing I did which I know I shouldn't have but was foolish enough to, was to hook up the charger to the battery, put it on low, and then try to start the car...after a little I heard a sound as if a fuse or something electric blew, but after I removed the charger and tried again there was nothing different in the unpleasant sound. So, basically, that is where I am. The noise is a little different: turns, slows and chugs, turns, slows and chugs, sounds like it is about to start, etc., in no particular order. Besides the two things I mentioned I'm going to check, I'm also going to check if any fuel is being pumped to the engine after and if the FP is working--perhaps the fuel line is blocked, somewhere? With that...any suggestions? I apologize for the length, but I figured that all the information is probably helpful in diagnosing the problem. Hope to hear from someone soon, thanks. Learning the hard way, Christopher J. Valade ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ------------------------------------------------------------------- List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list | mailto:gregm@vwtype3.org