car cranks and is about to fire, but fails before or on 1000rpm

[pulse24]

fuel filter has been checked, air filter, timing belt is a year old. any suggestions?

cheers

[Hoff6282]

I actually just purchased a 2000 Golf that had similar symptoms just a couple weeks ago. The gentleman I purchased it from had documents showing the timing belt was done at the VW dealer around a year prior, and upon a quick glance inside the timing belt case, the belt was intact, under tension, and the teeth looked good. However, upon closer inspection once I got it home and tried a new Relay 109, a fuel filter, and fuel pressure check to no avail, I discovered that the sprocket on the water pump had disconnected itself from its axis and was loosely spinning and flopping around when I cranked it. I guess it went to show me that just because the timing belt is rotating and the engine is cranking, something within the system of timing sprocketry can still cause your timing to be off and prevent start up. Just a thought based on my experience. Good luck with your vehicle!