Volkswagen Transporter Car starts and then dies Inspection at your home or office.

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Car starts and then dies Inspection Service

How much does a Car starts and then dies Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Volkswagen Transporter Car starts and then dies Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1962 Volkswagen TransporterH4-1.2LService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1991 Volkswagen TransporterH4-2.1LService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1994 Volkswagen TransporterL5-2.4L DieselService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1965 Volkswagen TransporterH4-1.5LService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1964 Volkswagen TransporterH4-1.5LService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1986 Volkswagen TransporterH4-2.1LService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1971 Volkswagen TransporterH4-1.6LService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1967 Volkswagen TransporterH4-1.5LService typeCar starts and then dies InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Volkswagen Transporter Car starts and then dies Inspection prices

Starting a vehicle only to have it quit immediately after can be confusing and annoying for many drivers especially if their vehicle has not experienced this type of issue before. Typically, a vehicle will start and then quit because of an issue with the fuel or electrical system. It is important to monitor fuel levels as well as warning lights which can signal to the driver that a vehicle may quit unexpectedly.

How this system works:

To start a vehicle, the electrical system, composed of the battery and starter, turns the engine over. Once running, the engine requires a constant flow of gasoline and good spark to keep that fuel igniting. If gasoline is not readily available, or if there is not enough spark, the engine will quit. More modern vehicles with sophisticated computers may affect the way the vehicle runs. These computers help the car run efficiently but can also shut a car down if the fuel/air mixture is not correct. While an older vehicle may be less sophisticated and easier to diagnose, the computers on modern cars can provide more specific information when connected to a code scanner/reader.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Mass Airflow Sensor: The mass airflow sensor measures how much air is entering the engine and relays this information to the vehicle’s computer so that the right amount of fuel can be delivered from the fuel injectors. When a sensor begins to fail, the vehicle’s computer may generate an error code to indicate that something has gone wrong. An issue with the mass airflow sensor may manifest itself when a car starts and then stalls soon after starting.

  • Fuel Pump Relay: The fuel pump relay functions much like a fuse for an electric fuel pump. The fuel pump relay engages as the vehicle is started and starts the fuel pump. While the vehicle is running, the fuel pump relay turns off and the fuel pump is powered by the oil pressure sending unit. If the vehicle’s computer is unable to keep the fuel pump relay running throughout the starting process, the vehicle may start and quit immediately after starting.

  • Ignition Coil: Your vehicle’s ignition coil takes the low voltage of the battery and provides the thousands of volts needed to create a spark in the spark plugs. When an ignition coil begins to fail, it may struggle to provide consistent spark to the plugs, causing the engine to stall after starting.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the reason why the vehicle starts and then dies. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining why the vehicle quit and the cost of any repairs that need to be made.

How it's done:

A mechanic will begin diagnosing your vehicle’s issue by plugging a code reader/scanner into the vehicle’s computer. The mechanic should be able to get more information from your vehicle’s computer on what component has failed. Using this information, the mechanic can begin necessary repairs.

If your vehicle has a bad or failing mass airflow sensor, the mechanic will begin by finding the sensor in the engine bay and checking for any signs of failure. The mechanic should check the wire harness connected to the sensor to ensure that all of wires are properly connected. After removing the sensor, the mechanic should be able to discover the nature of the failure and replace the sensor.

If the mechanic suspects an issue with the fuel pump relay, he or she should check the vehicle’s computer for a problem. If the vehicle’s computer is having difficulty providing consistent power to the fuel pump relay, the computer may need to be reprogrammed or replaced. If the vehicle’s computer is functioning normally, the mechanic may need to replace the fuel pump relay.

If the mechanic suspects that the ignition coil may be faulty, he or she should first disconnect the battery before beginning work. The mechanic should then begin the process of disconnecting wires from the ignition coil and removing it from the engine bay. The mechanic will then install the new ignition coil and ensure that it is connected properly. The mechanic should then reconnect the battery and test the new coil.

With all repairs, the mechanic will ensure the newly installed parts work properly. The mechanic can then turn off and warning lights that may have come on while the vehicle was not running properly.

How important is this service?

If your vehicle is starting but dying soon after starting, you should have it checked out by a mechanic. Issues involving the fuel management and electrical systems will become worse if not dealt with. Diligence and paying attention to warning lights may help prevent further damage to critical engine component and may save money in repairs. A vehicle that quits after starting can be inconvenient and having a mobile mechanic inspect and repair you vehicle will ensure that you and your vehicle are back on the road soon.

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Meet some of our expert Volkswagen mechanics

Real customer reviews from Volkswagen owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(13)

Rating Summary
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Bryant

12 years of experience
622 reviews
Bryant
12 years of experience
Volkswagen Transporter H4-2.0L - Car starts and then dies - Indianapolis, Indiana
Bryan was about 90 minutes late to the appointment, but kept me informed during the wait. The situation was not critical, so I was fine with the delay. When he arrived and started to work I better understood the situation - Bryant does a thorough job and really works to get you a solution. My 77 VW Transporter was starting but not running. Bryant spend the better part of the hour tracking down the "bug" in the works and in the end was able to get the bus back to running condition. He went above and beyond and I would not hesitate to recommend the service and Bryant to a friend or family member.

Chris

16 years of experience
419 reviews
Chris
16 years of experience
Volkswagen Transporter H4-1.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - San Francisco, California
Great experience. Really awesome.

Kenneth

20 years of experience
801 reviews
Kenneth
20 years of experience
Volkswagen Transporter H4-1.6L - Car is not starting - Long Beach, California
Extremely knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and came prepared. Excellent!

Mark

11 years of experience
349 reviews
Mark
11 years of experience
Volkswagen Transporter H4-1.2L - Brakes, Steering and Suspension Inspection - San Jose, California
Mark is very passionate about cars. He has taken on the challenge of working on my VW bus, and I've been happy with the results. If he sees a problem he works with you to figure out a solution.

Excellent Rating

(13)

Rating Summary
12
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Number of Volkswagen Transporter services completed
143+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Volkswagen MECHANICS
1000+
experts on our platform

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