Odd issue with an AAZ

[catlin_cava]

Alright it's an AAZ in a 97 MK3 with 353,XXXkm on it. Well maintained. When I got the car it had a rought idle And was slugish on the highway, lots of blueish black smoke on idle. And very hard to start.

New battery
new air and fuel filter

problem continued, replaced the starter. Now it starts quicker and still a bit of a rought idle. When I pulled the cold start out, it idles like a dream and the smoke goes away, checked the timing it's set perfect.

I got a boost gauge today so I connected it.... 3 whoping mind blowing PSI of boost. Turn the boost up to 13 psi and the car is idling better and no more smoke at idle with the cold start in. I've talked to a couple places about this and can't understand what's going on?

[8v-of-fury]

so it was hard to start, rough idle and sluggish.. Those all point to like an extremely advanced situation.. but yet its timed perfect.. hmmm

raising the boost took the problem away? maybe the LDA is effin up somewheres?

[burn_your_money]

Sounds like the classic symptoms of a failing crank gear. If it was my car I would retime it with the cam off about 1 tooth advanced, and then again retarded one tooth. You should still be able to turn the motor over *BY HAND* either way (advanced or retarded). If not I'd pull the crank gear and inspect it. If it's easy for you to just pull the crank gear and check then I would do that.

It is possible that the cam plate in the pump is coming apart and jamming the advance. For some reason a lot of the AAZs had problems with this. Most likely due to the ULSD, or even LSD. You could try removing the front advance cover and seeing if the advance piston is free. You would have to use the cold start advance to push the piston forward, and your finger to push it back. It won't be easy but it should be possible. Try rotating the engine if it's really hard to press.

EDIT* I reread your post again this morning and the bit about the pump probably isn't your problem at all since you said you could pull the cold start out and it made a difference.

[catlin_cava]

sometimes when the cold start is out its hard to push back in. I spoke with Giles about this and he thinks its a pin in the pump(I believe its something along those lines) thats worn out. Because I pull the cold start out and the idle clears up nice and it gives a "cleaner" sounding diesel knock. I think when the belt was done they messed it up somehow(High School Students)...because when I went to take the starter off, there was only 2 bolts holding it in...and one wasn;t tight.

[vanbcguy]

Well the starter wouldn't have been touched in combination with the timing belt??  With all the vibration on these engines they love to loosen out bolts on their own too...

Be interested to hear what the final result is...

[catlin_cava]

so I'm going to fix all the issues in one shot....New motor....

[8v-of-fury]

way to puss out Catlin.. lol you never fix an engine or a car.. if it gives one problem you get rid of it lol

[catlin_cava]

I'm keeping the motor because I want to rebuild it. And yes if the car gives me too many problems....I call the crusher...lol

[catlin_cava]

I pulled the oil cap while the car was running and it was puffin blueish smoke like crazy...and it was funny because it was puffing with the knock lol