Author Topic: Diesel conversion HELP!!!!!!!!!!lol (Read 1829 times)

catlin_cava · « **on:** August 22, 2008, 09:05:15 pm »

As you all may know I was converting my MK3 from gas to diesel...The motor is in, the wiring is done and everything...IT WON'T TURN OVER :evil: ... Has anyone else did this conversion???and can Help???

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2008, 09:09:49 pm »

You NEED a starter + solenoid from the diesel. They have to make all that pressure to combust right, so starting is a tough task for a gas starter motor. If you have the diesel one in there and it still wont go i'd try cleaning out/regreasing the starter, making sure the engine turns (put a socket on the crank and try to turn it), make sure there is no batt. acid on any wireing, a "starting" battery charger that goes up to like ... 60 amps?
I dunno. I'm not an expert by any means but that's what i would do if you haven't yet. (mostly just make sure it turns by hand with a socket - do not turn it by the pump or cam the belt will skip - and if it does investigate the starter if it is a diesel starter)

catlin_cava · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2008, 09:38:23 pm »

Heres whats fun...its a full conversion from gas to diesel, i'm using all the diesel parts...when it was in the donor car it was runnin...

theman53 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2008, 09:44:38 pm »

Was the gasser running though???
I have put the key switch in about every vw I have owned. SOmetimes when bad they won't allow power to the starter/selinoid.

But this polish hillbilly has always had luck by *make sure the car is out of gear b/c your in front of it* jumping the seliniod with a big gauge wire or screwdriver. As long as your cables are good and power to the fuel pump on it should turn it over and go. If no luck there I would start by taking a look at the cables. You obviously won't have power from the battery to starter if you failed the hillbilly test. Also, I run extra grounds to valve cover, trans/engine bolt as well as the stock locations on body and starter to aid in starting. Just a thought. Lucas

Smokey Eddy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2008, 09:55:45 pm »

sorry this is off topic but do the extra grounds make a noticable difference?

catlin_cava · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2008, 09:56:11 pm »

The Battery is out of the gasser, and ti'll I blew the motor up it was running nice. I'm going to see if the starter is getting powerI reused all the original wiring from the diesel and there is an extra plug in on the cable that goes from the altenator to I'm not usre were so i need help there too...

theman53 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2008, 07:27:15 am »

Yes. The extra grounds have made a noticable difference for me. That and when I do the grounds I put in 1/0 cable on this last one. When I used to help a late model driver we would go through at least 3 starters per year. THe guy I helped said it took alot to turn the high compression high HP motors and that is why it was melting the brushes down so often. I didn't buy that especially when it is a gear reduction starter. I asked the guy who builds some of the starters how many he went through in a year and he said 1 every couple years. On the late models they powdercoat every thing so unless you ground off the powdercoat or ground everything with a wire you melt down brushes.
As this relates to vw... I rebuild my starters about 1/2 to 1/3 of what I used to. This extra ground has been cheaper than rebuilding the tired low compression motors :lol: