Car guys, I need your help!

[Ronin13]

This is the second time this has happened in 3 days... My mom has a 2003 VW Beetle, it's a manual, and Sunday when she was leaving lunch down in Denver with some friends the car wouldn't start- and it resulted in her engine flooding (somehow). Then again last night, she went to pick it up from Big O tires and again it failed to start and the engine flooded, she also feared that she killed the battery. We went and rescued it this morning, after jumping it, it started right up and she drove it straight home and plans to take it in to VW next week. I have not been present the two times she's had issues starting it, and I don't know enough about cars to diagnose the problem. From what she said she puts the clutch in, turns the key and it tried to turn over but fails, then the engine somehow floods (I know, this confused me too, she's not giving it gas while trying to start it). Anyone know, from this very little amount of info, what is the problem and how to fix it?

[BPTactical]

Stuck fuel injector/s would be my first guess. Shut the car off and the residual pressure in the fuel rail dumps into the cylinders because the injector is not closing properly. How has her mileage been?

"it tried to turn over but fails"
Define "fails" - the engine turns over and fails to start or it will not turn over at all?

[Ridge]

Yeah, modern cars shouldn't flood the cylinders. I'm also going to go with fuel injectors.

[Diesel24]

The flooding thing i am not sure about, most newer cars have a safety feature built into the ECM preventing the engine getting more fuel than necessary, however because of the flooding have the spark plugs been changed out? Due to the flooding, spark plugs can become fouled because of the excess fuel getting them wet. This could be why it's not firing when the engine is trying to turn over. Beetles aren't my expertise so don't hold me to it.

[ronaldrwl]

What works for me -
If it doesn't start after a few tries, floor the gas pedal and try again. This seems to prevent flooding.

[Cylinder Head]

Injectors or bad plugs. If she's not getting spark, she's not getting combustion.

[Ronin13]

Stuck fuel injector/s would be my first guess. Shut the car off and the residual pressure in the fuel rail dumps into the cylinders because the injector is not closing properly. How has her mileage been?

"it tried to turn over but fails"
Define "fails" - the engine turns over and fails to start or it will not turn over at all?

I guess it turns over but doesn't start... again I haven't been present during these issues. I'll pull the plugs tonight and see what I can see, but as far as injectors go, I don't know what I'd be looking for. I can find out if her mileage has been off lately.

[Lurch]

Replace the plugs. If you are going to go to the trouble to pull them out you might as well spent the $12.00 and replace them. After that I would dump some Sea Foam in it (available at Walmart) and see if that cleans the injectors out. Since new injectors are around $135 new, $60 reconditioned, a piece for the Beetle. Plus they can be a real pain in the ass depending on where they are and whats on top of them.

[BUC303]

I am confused. You are said it turned over but didn't fire, then you said you rescued her by jumping it? If it was turning over why did you jump it? Either way if jumping it worked I would start off simple, look towards the battery. Jumping it will not change anything in the fuel system to make it work, even temporarily. Maybe it is turning over but not enough to get it to fire? If that doesn't do it change the plugs, they are cheap and easy. If that still doesn't work you know it's fuel related.

[dwalker460]

If it turns over slowly because of a dead or dying battery it will flood. Injectors rarely ever cause flooding on thier own. If it is a Turbo and has the DI setup with the high pressure mechanical pump driven off the cam and that is causing an issue your in trouble, because thats going to be expensive.

However from your description my bet is the battery or the starter is on its way out and simply cannot turn the motor fast enough for it to start. Have battery checked prior to taking it to the dealer, or send it by and I will take a look at it for you.

EDIT- also, if it has flooded even once, the plugs must be replaced. Years ago a Bosch engineer showed me how a plug absorbs fuel into the ceramic insulator and once it does it causes a lot of problems and the plug will never be "right" again. Be glad to help you with that as well.