So today was a nice enough day so I thought I would fire up my Golf for the first time since October. Since the starter doesn't work I had to get a push from behind. I cycled the glow plugs a few times (with a weak battery), pulled the cold-start handle out 1/2 way and put the shifter into 3rd with the clutch pushed in. Once I got that push from behind and the car started to move, I let the clutch out. It turned the engine over for a few seconds then it sprang to life! It ran rough for about 20 seconds and blew a small amount of black smoke. I'm surprised it fired up as easily as it did. I thought for sure the engine would have been locked up or damaged somehow from sitting all winter with some water probably in the cooling system, or the fuel filter would have been plugged up. I drove up and down the block a bit, not going too far or too fast since the car isn't registered or inspected. The brakes weren't stuck a bit which surprised me, the tranny shifted as good as it ever did and even the hand brake still holds the rear wheels. I didn't let the car run too long as there's no water in the radiator, and the top hose is disconnected at the radiator anyway. Next thing to do when the ground dries up a bit more is to get underneath the car and see to what extent the undercarriage is rusted.
Topic: Got my Golf started today after sitting since October (Read 5296 times)
