VW Bora Won't Start, Starter Click & Check Engine Light

Had a similar issue with my 2006 VW Golf with the 1.6L gasoline engine last winter. Have some experience working on cars, mainly basic maintenance and troubleshooting. The symptoms were exactly the same, engine light followed by starting problems and clicking sounds. Initially thought it was an ECU failure, but engine diagnostics revealed it was much simpler. The battery cable connections were corroded and loose, causing poor electrical contact. Had it fixed at a local workshop. They cleaned the battery terminals, replaced the cable connectors, and properly secured all connections. Total cost was 155€ including labor. The engine light disappeared after the repair and starting problems were completely resolved. Before jumping to conclusions about ECU issues, worth checking the basic electrical connections first. These problems can sometimes mimic more serious engine stalling or electrical system failures. Which engine variant does your Bora have? Also, have you noticed any other warning lights or unusual behavior before the starting problems began? This information would help identify if your issue is similar to what I experienced.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Bora has been serviced regularly, last one at 32000km, about 3 months ago. Just completed the basic checks, battery voltage reads normal and terminal connections are clean and tight. The engine light started flashing out of nowhere while driving before the starting issue occurred, making me think it could be related to the engine software or fuel injection system rather than just an electrical problem. Will get it diagnosed and post an update with the findings.

Based on my previous Golf experience, those symptoms really point toward something more complex than the electrical issue I initially faced. The flashing check engine light combined with the starting problem suggests a more serious engine fault. After my battery connection fix, I actually encountered a similar issue a few months later, unusual engine light flashing and starting problems. The diagnostic revealed a faulty crankshaft position sensor causing an engine surge. The sensor was misreading engine timing, leading to fuel injection problems. The repair involved replacing the sensor and updating the ECU software. Total cost was around 450€. The workshop mentioned these issues are somewhat common in our generation of VW engines. Since your Bora was recently serviced, the problem is likely component-related rather than maintenance-related. Given the flashing engine light pattern, getting a proper diagnostic scan would help pinpoint if its a sensor failure or ECU issue affecting the fuel delivery system. Would be interested to hear what the diagnostic reveals. These intermittent engine faults can be tricky to diagnose without proper scanning equipment.

Thanks for the detailed information. I checked the car again today and noticed something else, there is a slight fuel smell when trying to start it. After reading about your crankshaft sensor experience, I ran an OBD scan using a friends diagnostic tool. The codes point to a fuel injection system malfunction, not the crankshaft sensor in my case. The ECU issue seems to be causing incorrect fuel delivery timing. Called several workshops and got quotes ranging from 380€ to 650€ for diagnosis and repair. Most mentioned it could be either the fuel injectors themselves or the ECU control module that manages them. Going with the workshop that specializes in VW engine faults since they seemed most knowledgeable about these specific problems. They can check it first thing tomorrow morning. Will definitely update the thread once I know the exact cause and repair cost in case others run into similar starting problems with their VWs.