Can a VW diesel engine be push started if the battery dies??
if the battery is totally dead there is no hope, but if it just is too dead to start the car, usually it will have enough juice to run the solenoid and excite the alternator.I have rollstarted my diesel many times, I use third gear, as it gives more mechanical advantage to the pulling and requires less of a hill.also, I hear about this lock in first gear, and have never run into it, if I put my car in first on a hill and let it sit it will "walk away" just like if it is in second, albeit slower.
That solenoid on the pump only needs about 3.6 volts. I tested it with a power supply and turned the voltage lower and lower and the engine did not shut off until about 3.6 volts. So the battery has to be REALLY dead for the solenoid not to supply fuel to the pump.That is handy information and the alternator takes a dump right before a 5 hour trip while half the trip was in the dark. We ended up unplugging one of the head lights and made it just fine.