1.6 died warming up, won't restart

[zyewdall]

So.... I killed the VW gti today (with a 1.6NA diesel in it)    I started it (about 20F, a little hard, but not that bad).  Let it warm up for maybe two or three minutes, then drove it out of the snowbank (we just got about 30" of snow yesterday - with studded snows, it doesn't do too bad for a 2wd car).   Parked it in a different spot to do some shoveling, and left it idling and went around the other side of the house for about 10 minutes.  When I came back, it wasn't running any more, and would not restart.  Temp gauge was reading about 180F.  Full tank of diesel.  All seems well, but it just cranks and won't start.   Can't tell if there are bubbles in the fuel line or not -- it kind of seems like it might not be getting fuel, but it was getting dark.   The cranking also doesn't sound quite normal now... though I can't tell if that's the battery being a little low (odd -- battery was fine when I first cold started it.... though if it stopped and sat with the ignition on for a while, I guess there's things that could run the battery down).   This weekend's supposed to be warmer, so I can probably tow it back to the house (instead of down the street where it ended up after we pushed it out of the neighbor's way where it had died) and give it a full battery charge and look at it not in the snow.

Z

[zyewdall]

Other things that may be of use.... the engine has about 10,000 miles on a rebuild.  It's always run great -- not alot of power, but hey, it's a 55HP engine.  The only issues I've ever had is running hot (up to about 230F climbing hills... I don't let it get hotter than that), and if I let the fuel tank get below about 1/8th, it'll get air in the intake for some reason, and start chugging.  But, it's got a full tank right now.  I've got an electric lift pump back by the tank to prime the whole fuel system.

Z

[rabbitman]

How long had it been sitting before you started it? Kinda sounds like the stop solenoid died maybe........

[Dakotakid]

Partially gelled fuel in a mostly clogged filter?

[Smokey Eddy]

How long had it been sitting before you started it? Kinda sounds like the stop solenoid died maybe........

I second this.
Edit: strongly second this...

[zyewdall]

Have you checked the timing belt?

Libbypapa wins.  Timing belt died.  Which on this engine means probably all the valves are squooshed and it needs a new head (at least) now.

Looks like what happened is when I had a cracked injector last summer that sprayed biodiesel all over the engine compartment, it soaked the timing belt.  Which over the last year, dissolved in the biodiesel, and finally went last week.  As soon as I took the belt cover off it was very apparent what was wrong.

Oh well.....  I pushed it into a snowbank along with my other projects that won't get looked at till next spring, and that's where it'll stay for a few months.

Z

[Vincent Waldon]

Well at least it didn't die on a highway somewhere in the middle of the night and leave you stranded, and at idle there's less chance of bent rods etc.

You'll see in the spring!