Without warning, my 00 Jetta absolutely will not start. I have a manual transmission and with the clutch depressed all the way it will not even crank. All other functions seem ok. I suspect the starter suddenly went but is there anything else it could be??

 

starts usually will kinda fade, they usually will start and the gear will stay engaged too long and make a loud noise, before anything will actually quit working...


it sounds more like a battery problem, if your terminals are loose or anything the car will just click, the lights may come on the first time but probably won't come on again if you keep trying.... did you try jump starting it? if it will jump start then it isn't your starter

 

Batteries can fail instantly. Try the horn. If it does not work or sounds funny, then it is a dead or weak battery. If in doubt, get a jump. If it starts easily, time for a new battery. If it starts, but barely, or if the starter doesn't turn, then your starter, or possibly, the starter relay or solenoid, is the problem.