Cold start troubles

[firestorm13666]

Ok ny car is a 1986 Golf 1.6N/A 5speed with out anything power on her.Ok this is my problme it does not want to start ez and when i do it kills the battery before it finlly starts.When i frist go the car i used a friends battery to get it home.It was group 65 Ford battery that was like 700 something CCA's unlike the battery in it now which is only 600 something CCA's.When i got the car is was back in November and the temps were like 50's and 60's F unlike now their in 20's and 30's.Senes i have had the car i have replaced the voltage reg,oil,and all four glow plugs and when it was warm out it started ezer then it does now.This battery is number 3 form the same place the other two can out bad when i took them back i really did not have much trouble with this one till it was cold out.Also i have no block heater.So what do you guys think my problme is?Thanks for any help

[firestorm13666]

Ok i forgot to add that we have a battery here that is not a good oen but when it has a chager it will start my car when it is cold it is 700 and something CCA's and the only in it is 15-40W dino and no block heater,and sits outside.Thanks

[bhtooefr]

Change the oil again, this time going for Rotella T Synthetic, 5W40. That stuff will be NIIIICE in your car.

However, you're here in Ohio.

Get a 700 CCA battery, that could help a LOT. I'll have to get the specs on my battery, and post them.

[rubberducky]

don't know if it'll be much help, but you may want to check out the thread i've started "enigne not heating...", where i've had starting issues as well.  there are a number of helpful links in that thread (many thanks to all those who helped), and currently i can start my 91 N/A  in single digit temps.  my starting issues were traced back to the fusible link, which is again detailed in that thread...

hope that helps.

[zyewdall]

I use a 1000CCA battery in the rabbit, and two of them in parallel in the truck.   $65 each.  An iffy battery will work 9 out of 10 times, but on that one really cold morning when you really need to get to work, and forgot to plug it in last night... it might not.

Also, I replaced all of my battery cables with #1AWG wiring, and put star washers and dielectric grease on all of the connections.  Even if you have a good battery, old or undersized wiring can make it hard to start when its cold.

[firestorm13666]

Ok some what a update i went and took back the little battery and went out and got a group 65 battery(fits fords)it is 1000CA's and 850CCA's form walmart lmao.I will see how this goes and posy back later.Thanks for the help

[fatmobile]

For a ford?
 I wonder if the posts will be on the wrong side.
 I don't like having the positive post near the frame and it seems like my VW batteries have the posts switched so I don't have to deal with the cables being too short or the + being too close to the frame.
 I'm not sure if this is just a VW thing.

[wyldman]

A group 65 will work,but the terminals are reversed.You will need to unbolt the ground from behind the battery to make the cable reach,and then run a new battery to body ground.While your at it,run better grounds for everything (body,engine,etc).

The positve cable will reach,but it never hurts to put a new positive battery cable to the starter.Run a bigger alternator charge wire too while your in there.

Watch the front edge of that battery doesn't wear on the rad area.

The group 65 is a much better battery,and a lot cheaper and readily available.Once you do the conversion,you can use any size north american battery in a pinch.

[firestorm13666]

Well looks like more problme was nothing more the mixed up wires lmao.When i did the glow plugs i took off two wires that went to a senors in the upper rad hose on the head.After fliping them around it takes only three times to get it to start dead cold .I know the timing it prodle off but ill have to deal with that later on my problme for now is over.And 65 battery turns her over like nothing.Thanks for the help guys.

[firestorm13666]

Well still having problmes.Seems like when i get one ting right something eles pops up.The stop solenoid stoped work for some reason and i took it off and cleaned it and not it works just fine and i get power to it like it should.This car sat for sometime before i got it and was on E and not has 3/4 a tank of freash diesel with fuel injection cleand and and anti gel in it.Iam do to eather the starter or the timing is way off some how.I am going to fellow what it is says in the Bentley,but it only tells you how to test the solenoid and not the startor motor.I called around to parts stores and none can test it.So any help on testing it?Also i can crank and crank it and it wants to start but after i let of the key the engine kicks back form compression.What do you guys think i should look for and test?Thanks for any and all help

[gunny]

I have an n/a 1986 golf also, but I've never had problem one starting in cold weather, even down to -10 without plugging it in. One of the things you should probably have checked is the valves, on some models, even in '86, they had mechanical valves and not the hydraulic ones, which means about every 25000 miles or so you need to have the valve clearance checked. If for some reason one or more aren't adjusted properly, they can hang open, causing you to lose compresion at a critical point. I would also do a compression test to see what shape the rings are in. As a general rule, if the compression is good, and your valves are adjusted properly and you have good glow plugs, the oil burner will start up in damn near any tempurature. I also have a stock sized battery installed. Run the rottela oil and a diesel modifier to help replace the sulphur which lubricates the injection pump, and to clean your injectors once you get it running well, put 2.5 oz of acetone in with the diesel when you fill it up, this helps the diesel to atomize better and really cleans the injectors nicely, I've even noticed an increase in mileage using it every other tank or so. and a quart can of acetone is cheaper than any injection cleaner you can buy, and last a lot longer.

[rubberducky]

I recall a while back, i mentioned the acetone thing...  i think the general opinion was that no one wanted to put that stuff in their fuel.  there's the url:

http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2007

for me, i've been adding a few ounces of "diesel cleen" or something rather, and i've been getting good results, in terms of mileage (roughly 46mpg).  and i've been able to get my 91 n/a to start down to -20 or so without plugging it in, on a 575CCA battery.

Cheers

[wyldman]

There is no problem using Acetone in either a deisel or gasoline engine.The amounts your using are so miniscule,that it will have no effect on any parts of the fuel system or the engine.

As far as economy,it does work.It works exceptionally well in small engines,or engines which are not very efficient to begin with.Carburated engines seem to see bigger economy increases than fuel injected ones.Diesels will see a small improvement in mileage as well.

I have seen 2-3 MPG improvements in testing on a 1987 Toyota Corolla (carburated).Most of the fuel injected engines I've used it on picked up 1 MPG.My Cummins gained 1 MPG.The VW diesels will pickup around 1 MPG as well.

I've been using around 2-3 ounces for every 10 Gallons of fuel.

I have not noticed any cleaning efffect from the acetone.It does not seem to clean fuel injectors.This is probably due to so little of it being used oer tank.

If your worried about the effects of it,just read the bottle of your favorite fuel treatment,or injector cleaner.There are way more harmful chemicals in those compared to a few ounces of Acetone.

[LeeG]

Guy I know used to run his carburated v8 charger on 50/50 gas acetone mix cause he was broke and the acetone was free to him.  Did it for months and never seemed to cause any trouble.  Didnt make any power difference we could tell, pinged a bit more.