slow cranking after glowplug replacement?

[Paul604]

I have a 1997 jetta 1.9 td finally got around to replacing all 4 glowplugs, got it all back together, went to start it up and i get a slow crank now, gauges bouce around, clock reset on the dash, sometimes the alarm even goes off. Could it just be a bad battery? ive only had 2 glowplugs working for the last year maybe doing all 4 new ones is enough draw to expose a bad battery? Even jump starting it doesnt work though so im really not sure what happened here. Should the glowplug bus bar be grounded when hooked up? it seems to be, its not touching anything though besides the glowplugs. Not really sure what to do here.

[TylerDurden]

I'd check all the ground connections between motor and frame, plus frame and battery neg. I'd also check battery positive connector.

[scrounger]

Yep weak battery or connectors. You are drawing a lot more electricity before you engage the starter. Like Tyler said do the cheap stuff first.

[scrounger]

Since your starter doesn't work with a jump it is the cable connections. Just to confirm Tylers Dx.

[Paul604]

Checked all the battery connections, all seem good. Pulled the battery out, going to get it load tested. Sure hope thats all it is.

[Paul604]

Is there any ground connections that normally go bad? I just checked the main one from the battery to the block

[Paul604]

well had the battery on the charger. Threw it back in and it started up. So im guessing its probably just getting a bit old. ill try to get it load tested tonight or tomorrow. More than likely it'll just need a new battery.

[fatmobile]

 Crank it for awhile.
 Even if you have to unplug the pump so it doesn't start.
 Any bad connections will get hot/warm.