Fans move but it is like the engine is not there???

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

eikonal - 11 Jan 2007 05:25 GMT

Help. This morning I went to start my passat and when I turn the key
I get a fan like noise and the engine does nothing. I do not have any
resistance and no strange clicking or screeching noises. When my wife
turns the key and I am looking under the hood, the fan is turning and
I think that I can see all the belts moving but the engine is not
turning (or even trying to turn) over. It is like the engine is not
there.

Any ideas?

8O

Signature

Posted at author's request, using http://www.AutoBoardz.com interface
Articles individually verified to usenet standards. Visit URL to contact author/report abuse
Thread archive: http://www.AutoBoardz.com/Fans-move-engine-ftopict203032.html

Reply to this Message

geek49203 - 11 Jan 2007 22:33 GMT

It would be very very helpful if you would tell us the year of the Passat,
as well as the engine size/type.

It could be the key switch, it could be the starter, it could be a bad
clutch switch, or.....

Tim Wohlford
'89 Golf
'98 Jetta

> Help. This morning I went to start my passat and when I turn the key
> I get a fan like noise and the engine does nothing. I do not have any
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> 8O

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 12 Jan 2007 00:50 GMT

sounds like it is broken! ;-)

Just some questions:
Year?
Engine size?
Transmission?
Mileage?
Country?

Answers a little more informative than YES or NO might help get a helpful
answer or two! ;-)

I would guess that the timing belt is broken. I hope it is an engine with a
non-interference engine like an 8V 2.0 liter in maybe a '95 year Passat.

>> Help. This morning I went to start my passat and when I turn the key
>> I get a fan like noise and the engine does nothing. I do not have any
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>>
>> 8O

Reply to this Message

samstone@aol.com - 12 Jan 2007 03:02 GMT

>sounds like it is broken! ;-)
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>I would guess that the timing belt is broken. I hope it is an engine with a
>non-interference engine like an 8V 2.0 liter in maybe a '95 year Passat.

with how many miles? plus or minus 750 miles and should the
waterpump and tensioner be replaced too? >:| note sarcasm plz doc
;-)

>>> Help. This morning I went to start my passat and when I turn the key
>>> I get a fan like noise and the engine does nothing. I do not have any
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>>>
>>> 8O

Reply to this Message

eikonal - 12 Jan 2007 22:25 GMT

The first thought that went through my head was that it was broken
too. :lol:

Year - 2000

>Engine size 2.0l
>Transmission Automatic
>Mileage aroung 110k km
>Country Canadian car now in Houston USA

My first thought is that it was the timing belt. The car was in the
driveway when I tried to start it and it just would not go. When the
key is engaged and turned, the belts are moving and it appears the the
timing belt is not off but there seems to be little resistance from
the engin. If the timing was off I suppose that I would lose
compression and it may appear that I have low resistance to the
engine.

Anyone have a similar experience?

Thanks all. :

> sounds like it is broken! ;-)
>
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> >>
> >> 8O

Signature

Reply to this Message

geek49203 - 14 Jan 2007 19:41 GMT

Yes. However, it was with a '78 Chevette. The timing belt didn't break, it
didn't even strip out. The camshaft broke. I kid you not, the camshaft
just snapped in two while running at normal speeds around town.

The local Chevy regional rep said that, at 45,000 miles, this was "normal
wear and tear." I haven't bought a Chevy since, even used.

Tim Wohlford

> My first thought is that it was the timing belt. The car was in the
> driveway when I tried to start it and it just would not go. When the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks all. :D

Reply to this Message

Tom's VR6 - 13 Jan 2007 00:12 GMT

In rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled, eikonal wrote:

>Help. This morning I went to start my passat and when I turn the key
>I get a fan like noise and the engine does nothing. I do not have any
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Any ideas?

Perhaps your fan is electric; that is what I would expect. Try
turning the air conditioner off to see if the fan stops.

I don't think you could see the belt that drives the alternator or
air conditioner compressor moving if the engine is not turning over,
since the crankshaft drives the belt(s).

> 8O

Reply to this Message

Matt B. - 13 Jan 2007 18:19 GMT

> I don't think you could see the belt that drives the alternator or air
> conditioner compressor moving if the engine is not turning over, since the
> crankshaft drives the belt(s).

That's what I thought too but I think he didn't quite explain it clearly
when he said "seeing belts move". My guess is he's seeing things move while
the starter is cranking but the engine never catches and never fires up.

Reply to this Message

eikonal - 14 Jan 2007 06:25 GMT

I had a look again and I think that it is the serp belt that I am
looking at

> In rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled, eikonal wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> > 8O

Signature

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 14 Jan 2007 18:53 GMT

I am still not sure which engine the OP is talking about.
Still sounds like it could be the timing belt broken if it has one.

PLEASE put necessary info in the Subject.
Year......Model.....Engine Type.....Trans. Type......Country.

>I had a look again and I think that it is the serp belt that I am
> looking at.

Reply to this Message

eikonal - 15 Jan 2007 00:25 GMT

The car is a 2000 passat glx. it has around 116k km and ia located in
Houston, tx. The belts I was refering to look as if they are the serp
belt. I was looking at few web sites that explained the process of
changing the timing belt and water pump and by the dissasembly pics
there is no way I could see the timing belt without removing a ton of
stuff. I will get it to a mechanic tomorrow for a look.

Thanks everyone.

> I am still not sure which engine the OP is talking about.
> Still sounds like it could be the timing belt broken if it has
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> I am
> > looking at.

Signature

Reply to this Message

dave AKA vwdoc1 - 15 Jan 2007 04:53 GMT

Sounds like it could be the timing belt broken on your (V6?) engine.
Had you changed that timing belt before?

> The car is a 2000 passat glx. it has around 116k km and ia located in
> Houston, tx. The belts I was refering to look as if they are the serp
> belt. I was looking at few web sites that explained the process of
> changing the timing belt and water pump and by the dissasembly pics
> there is no way I could see the timing belt without removing a ton of
> stuff. I will get it to a mechanic tomorrow for a look.

Reply to this Message