as most of you know,,im doin a mech. tdi conversion in my 79 rabbit,,iwas wondering how you other guys fire the glow plugs off,,i dont have a "a3tdi" glow plug relay,,,,IDONT WANT A PUSH BUTTON!!!,,Has anyone had sucess using a normal "fast glow" relay?

??
I have no glow plug system in my Caddy tdi, but it starts very well.
Jos.
I think it would be entirely possible to control the glow time using a variable resistor on the coolant temp sensor lead. That is unless it isn't a linear relation to temperature. I'm sure there is still a way to manipulate glow time though.
im not sure,,but i thinkontheolder cars a1 a2 that thecoolant sender is an on-off thing,,above certain temp,,noglow,,maybe someone has hooked a vom tothe glow lead onan a3 ,and counted time that glows are on,,maybe its close to the old fast glow??
Wiring the glow plug system on the TDI is really simple actually. Use a fast start 7 second relay and re-wire the box/ relay end to smaller gauge wire as the TDI glow plugs draw much less current. I don't have that spec right here...but it is much lower. TDI's at normal CR don't need glows unless its 40F and down...
The stock TDI setup also uses a head temp sensor of sorts and it works as well as the old style one did. Wire it to the 7sec. relay and it will operate as OEM with the normal sensors... shouldn't even have to use glows though, unless your winter beating this beast

Joe