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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: akrallysport on June 07, 2006, 06:48:45 am

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: akrallysport on June 07, 2006, 06:48:45 am

I've noticed that's it's been getting progressively worse until this morning when it just wouldn't start. Luckily I have a 2nd car and drove that to work instead. (damn reliable Acura  :evil: )

On cold-starts, it started sounding as if it would crank for two rotations then fire right up... in all cases outside temps around 65-80°F. Hot starts were then no problem. This morning, I go to start it and it just cranks and cranks, pumping smoke out the exhaust - not a lot, just more than usual. Glow plugs were changed 8 months ago and I can't imagine this being a leaky injector, but I am open to upgrades. ;) It has a good rush of power as it swings through the 2200-4000 rpm range.
In retrospect, I have only been getting 600km on a 42L fill-up, so I will be investigating a fuel leak, but nothing visible under the car. Fuel filter is clean and was also changed 8 months ago.

Any ideas?

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: QuickTD on June 07, 2006, 06:56:28 am

Check the timing. I'm willing to bet the crank pulley has come loose and sheared the key. Don't try to start it again until you check the crank pulley. If you're lucky the valves won't be bent yet and you can just get the crank repaired.

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: akrallysport on June 13, 2006, 07:40:39 am

With suggestions from the local guys, my Bentley and some intuition...

I've found the problem to the main 50A fuse for the glow plugs. Replaced it, but popped a split second after the glow plugs were activated. The car DID start, however.  Temperature at the time was around 18°C (64.4°F).

Should I be looking at bad glow plugs or trying to find a short in the harness?

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: jtanguay on June 13, 2006, 08:31:30 am

There has to be a short in the system somewhere.  Inspect the glow plug copper strip and make sure nothing else is grounding it.

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: akrallysport on June 13, 2006, 04:35:31 pm

Poked around a bit more... the strip isn't grounded. I guess I have to start cutting into the harness. Oddly enough, this is my family's first VW with electrical problems... the one that needs it the least to actually run. :roll:

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: hoyt on June 13, 2006, 07:16:09 pm

Have you check the glow plugs?  They can fail as a dead short.

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: akrallysport on June 13, 2006, 09:02:54 pm

That seems like the only option right now... my harness looks ok.

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: jtanguay on June 14, 2006, 11:28:41 am

take out each glowplug and use a multimeter on the resistance mode.  if it reads 0.00 for resistance, then its bad.

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: akrallysport on June 14, 2006, 08:40:04 pm

Quote from: jtanguay

take out each glowplug and use a multimeter on the resistance mode.  if it reads 0.00 for resistance, then its bad.

I kinda figured... I picked up a full set of glow plugs and decided to change them all and keep the old (good) ones as spares. Al new ones registered about 1.1 - 1.3 ohm resistance.

Has anyone removed the injectors to gain better access to the plugs? I find it a pain in the a$$ to get to them...

Title: Cold-start problem
Post by: jtanguay on June 14, 2006, 11:35:15 pm

removing the injectors is probably going to add to your frustration.  you will need to buy some more heat shields for the injectors, and you will need to be very careful at how you remove the injectors (from the nice soft aluminum)