1.6td RA starting issues

[Passat_Phil]

My 1988 1.6td Passat sometimes refuses to start... sometimes it's ok...

Once it has fired up it runs great with no problems...

Recently replaced glow plugs. Fuel cut off solenoid has been replaced and fuel appears to be coming through.

Battery is new and is fully charged

What could be causing this?... I'm confused

[polo_td]

Fuelfilter changed? airbubbles in the transparent pipes?
Leakage between the nozzles, check the tubing in between theese.
Thomas

[Mark(The Miser)UK]

My 1988 1.6td Passat sometimes refuses to start... sometimes it's ok...

Once it has fired up it runs great with no problems...

Recently replaced glow plugs. Fuel cut off solenoid has been replaced and fuel appears to be coming through.

Battery is new and is fully charged

What could be causing this?... I'm confused

Try a temporary  bottle of fuel in the engine compartment... see if it's a fuel supply problem.

[MouseGTD]

my mate had a caddy van that did this, it turned out to be a loose relay. with his when it wouldn't start the glow plug light on the dash wouldn't come on it would just flash, he would fiddle around with the relay till the light came on as it should and it would fire straight up.

[Passat_Phil]

Thanks guys.

The glow plug light is ok...

I did see a couple of bubbles in the transparent pipe the other day
but I assumed fuel supply was ok because it runs absolutely spot on once it's fired up.

Also if I have been driving it and turn off the engine for an hour or so It fires up fine because (I'm assuming) it's still warm.

So that takes me back to the glow plugs... but they're new. can someone show me a pic/tell me what the glow plug relay should look like under the cover because it looks like a piece of thick tin foil on mine... I'm getting around 8volts to the glow plugs/bus.

[Mark(The Miser)UK]

Thanks guys.

The glow plug light is ok...

I did see a couple of bubbles in the transparent pipe the other day
but I assumed fuel supply was ok because it runs absolutely spot on once it's fired up.

Also if I have been driving it and turn off the engine for an hour or so It fires up fine because (I'm assuming) it's still warm.

So that takes me back to the glow plugs... but they're new. can someone show me a pic/tell me what the glow plug relay should look like under the cover because it looks like a piece of thick tin foil on mine... I'm getting around 8volts to the glow plugs/bus.

8 volts is a little low. The foil thing is that in the engine compartment? Sounds like the fuse to me.

Is this a late '88 Passat?

If it's a mk 2 then relay for the glowplugs is on the fuseboard 2nd row from bottom 2nd relay in . Pull that one and i should have 2 big fat terminals....

[Rabbit on Roids]

8 volts to the plugs is low. thats too much resistance.
i would pimp your plugs.

[8v-of-fury]

somebody say pimp your plugs!?

http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=28

[arb]

somebody say pimp your plugs!?

http://vincewaldon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=28

 second that - the stock GP system is the one thing the Germans could have done much better IMHO

[91redjetta]

not trying to throw the glow plugs idea out.. but maybe the injector pump timing or timing in general is off? kind of like a gaser.. to far advanced makes for hard starts? would explain why it runs good once it starts.. but ya 8v is probably a little low.. go throw and check all your connections. make sure you got good ground and power going everywhere.. thats my 2c

[Passat_Phil]

Thanks for your advice 

Glow plug relay... The metal piece has no completely broke off. I don't think this was ever the proper part...
is it supposed to be a fuse? what can I replace it with?

[Rabbit on Roids]

you can replace it with the 20 cent piece of soft metal thats supposed to go there.