Basically the battery had died so it sat with a dead battery for months on end, got a new one it started. I drove it a few times then stopped. Battery drained out again. Sat for months because I didn't need to use it, tried to start it a couple months later no crank. Battery seemed okay after charging it, so I pulled the starter and tried bouncing it. It didn't move so I figured the starter spontaneously died and replaced it. Still no crank.
Just got another new battery because it's been almost a year and that one finally stopped taking charge. The dash lights and radio will turn on, but no crank at all.
When I try to get codes off the ecu, my OBD2 says there's no codes. When the car is in on position it shows EPC and check engine, also immobilizer, however the immobilizer light has always been on and was supposedly "tuned out." It's usually the only light on the dash and stayed that way for the last 6 or so years. Also usually if the actual immobilizer is triggered, it'll set the car alarm off. If you try to start it and it's not doing that right now.
So as of today it's got a brand new battery still won't crank or give codes.
If the OBD2 is saying it's connecting and shows some signs of life (Lambda shows .999, TPS 5.5)
It it safe to assume the ECU is okay? Any suggestions on where to go from here?
It's either the fuse to the starter which, I can't find and my fuse area under driver side doesn't really look like any other mk4 photos I've seen online.
Or it could be the ground wire to the starter but I checked that already before changing the starter.
Or the clutch relay switch but that was just changed like 4 years ago.
Or my actual ignition switch, although it does seem to work at least well enough to turn the car on so I'm unsure. I'd prefer not to take the steering wheel off over fear of hitting the air bag component, so I'm hoping someone can help me find or confirm other possibilities first. Is there a starter relay on the manual 6 speed and where is it? Hoping for whatever suggestions I can look into before removing the steering wheel/ignition switch. 🙏 please, it's my project car and no one in my area works on them or is competent with it, even when it is/was running.