Author Topic: cold start cable - easy to replace? (Read 4155 times)

chrissev · « **on:** January 13, 2005, 03:48:25 pm »

Cold start cable broke today. I can pull it out, but cannot push it back in. I can move the cold start lever on the pump with a screwdriver and it moves back and forth without resistance. Bentley manual is sketchy on how to replace these things. I am just going to take the bottom off of the dashboard and try to pull the cable through the firewall, then push the new one through and out into the engine bay I guess. Anyone done this before? Any tricks I should know about?

J-mo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2005, 03:32:47 pm »

I just finished replacing the cable on my 84 rabbit TD. It may be a different setup for a mk2. But the only way it wanted to work for me was to pop out the rubber gasket in the firewall (new cable came with one on it) and pull it out from the engine bay, then push the new one through from the engine side. it comes through just above and to the right of the the pedal assembly inside, and can be bent around to the proper position from there. getting the end of the wire through the eye at the backside of the pump can be tricky though, long needle nose pliers and a screwdriver for a pry bar and some fiddling around is about as detailed as i can explain it.
-James.

dubCanuck1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2005, 08:50:54 pm »

Thanks J-mo. The ol's man's cold start is permanently out as well as having the handle broken. Chrissev, did you ever get it replaced?

chrissev · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2005, 11:07:38 am »

Quote from: "dubCanuck1"

Thanks J-mo. The ol's man's cold start is permanently out as well as having the handle broken. Chrissev, did you ever get it replaced?

not yet. I am waiting to get my rebuilt TD injection pump and then will replace both at the same time. I've sort of got it working but it only goes in half way, so it is always half out. Doesn't seem to affect fuel economy that much so I am just leaving it for now until I replace the pump.

J-mo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2005, 12:52:41 am »

I drove with mine out for months, pump timing was off and it smoked a lot less that way. Doesn't make much difference either way but it is nice to run a lower idle and cut down on engine noise. I'm just nitpicky and like things to either be working perfectly, or removed from the car entirely. since the injection pump is kinda critical I'm going with plan A. haha.
If you need I can find out if the A2 cold start cable is any different, I know a few guys who have had to deal with them. Let me know and I'll get on the horn and figure out a walk-through.