1.6 wont start again....

[kane66]

My 1.6 has had it's problems... but I thought I had gotten them all worked out. But the other morning it got down to 20 F and It wouldn't started. Figured it was to cold for a tired engine so I figured I would start it when I got home. 45 F when I got home so figured it would start. Again nothing. Figured that the glow plug relay must have gone out, coupled with a tired battery was causing the problem. Today got my battery charger and charged the battery. Jumped the glow plug bus for a minute then tried to start it. Again nothing. Now I'm getting worried. Perform the "click" test on the fuel cut off to ensure it's moving, all is good there. Cracked one of the fuel lines to make sure the pump was moving fuel. Sure enough a little squirt of fuel with every crank. I'm stumped It started one day than not the next. It's getting fuel. I just don't know at this point. New injectors just 3000 miles ago. Anyway any help appreciated.

[Vincent Waldon]

Given that it started before and then stopped starting on a cold day better than 50% odds are a glow plug issue... troubleshooting info here:

http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=28

[burn_your_money]

It won't hurt to do a voltage drop test

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=22321.0

[kane66]

I'll start with the drop down test and move to the glow plugs as thats will be the easiest. Thanks for the help I've never heard of a drop down test before.... learn something new every day.

[kane66]

Performed the voltage drop test and the positive side is good but the negative side is reading a drop of .7 not good but Wouldn't cause the problem I'm facing. Jumped the negative terminal to the head on the engine just to check if that would help and nothing. Figure it is the glow plugs. I'll be picking up a ammeter tomorrow and some new glow plugs for when the ammeter tells me that I'm not pulling the amps I should. On the bright side learned something new about testing electrical circuits so thats good I guess. Just cant wait to do some wrenching in below freezing temperatures .

[kane66]

tested it with the ammeter today. 60 amps down to 40 just like it's supposed to. So not the glow plugs. Now I'm really worried as It appears to be a internal problem. Any thoughts?

[vanbcguy]

Don't think I saw anywhere, but what's your timing set to, and are you using your cold start?

[kane66]

timing is set to 1.0 and cold start is out.

[rabbitman]

Check the IP, crank and cam timing, I had a golf gasser slip on me DURING tuning. I was adjusting the mixture and it would quit if I adjusted it too far either way then one time it just wouldn't start.
After about two days of messing with it in my spare time I checked the timing marks and they were off.

The tensioner had been turned the wrong way wearing the side of the belt on the plastic guard and overloading the teeth making them slip. A new belt fixed it.

[kane66]

I'll check the timing tomorrow as that is the only thing that can be wrong with it at this point, that is easily fixed.

[burn_your_money]

Try cranking with the cold start in. If it doesn't fire slowly pull the knob out while cranking.

Can you push start the car? Try and time the glowplugs and the clutch dropping.

When I was having problems with my rabbit not starting adding jumper cables didn't help but when I replaced the ground cable it fixed the problem. This was before I knew about voltage drops so I don't know how that ties in.

[kane66]

I've thought about messing with the ground cable to see if that would help, but I also tried running a cable from the head to the negative on the battery just in case, and I think that would fix it if it was the ground cable. I'll try the in then slowly out thing, that sounds interesting. May work who knows. What would be the best timing for cold weather starting?  To tell the truth I'm just about fed up with this car. I know that eventually I'll run out of things to fix but I don't think it's run for more than 6 months in a row since I've bought it. So if I cant figure it out soon to Craigslist it will go.

[burn_your_money]

When you did the volt drop test on the negative side did you go from the starter flange to the negative battery terminal?

For some reason when my rabbit was acting up adding jumper cables didn't help. I only got it working right when I ran a ground strap right under one of the bolts for the starter mount.

Optimal timing is all up to your engine. It depends on the compression of the engine and the health of your pump and injectors. There is no one-size-fits-all for timing unfortunately.

6 months in a row is pretty good. I'd be pretty happy with that.  You'll love it once she's running well.