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1.6td RA starting issues
by
Passat_Phil
on 18 Jan, 2010 07:38
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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
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#1
by
polo_td
on 19 Jan, 2010 11:59
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Fuelfilter changed? airbubbles in the transparent pipes?
Leakage between the nozzles, check the tubing in between theese.
Thomas
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#2
by
Mark(The Miser)UK
on 19 Jan, 2010 12:49
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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.
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#3
by
MouseGTD
on 19 Jan, 2010 14:32
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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.
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#4
by
Passat_Phil
on 20 Jan, 2010 01:18
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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.
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#5
by
Mark(The Miser)UK
on 22 Jan, 2010 12:33
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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....
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#6
by
Rabbit on Roids
on 22 Jan, 2010 13:01
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8 volts to the plugs is low. thats too much resistance.
i would pimp your plugs.
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#7
by
8v-of-fury
on 22 Jan, 2010 13:15
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#8
by
arb
on 22 Jan, 2010 17:48
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#9
by
91redjetta
on 23 Jan, 2010 08:47
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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
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#10
by
Passat_Phil
on 23 Jan, 2010 09:39
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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?
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#11
by
Rabbit on Roids
on 24 Jan, 2010 08:34
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you can replace it with the 20 cent piece of soft metal thats supposed to go there.