Starting issues.

[zwp1990]

Well newly acquired jetta with the 1.6td new alt,belts and battery. Car has issues starting  I tried wd40 in the air filter and it didn't work so had to use starting fluid. I was wondering how can I use the wd40 effectively? I'm assuming since it goes intake filter to piping to turbo and turbo to intake its not getting any. But don't want to mess it up. I need to check glow plugs and most likely replace. Oil psi is at 100 at start up and stays healthy during running temps. Car has 137k miles.

[air-cooled or diesel]

Wait! dont use starting fluid!; id 1st start with something like new glow plugs, one thing to check is make sure you at least have voltage at glow plugs when light is on.
check if you have fuel when you try to start

[zwp1990]

That's what I've read. That's why I asked since its on the filter if it will still damage. And go plug light doesn't always come on so what exactly do I check voltage on? I've drove the car 400 miles in past two weeks so I know it has to be something minor.

[air-cooled or diesel]

try new fuel filter; prime at inlet, new air filter, napa me likes, while your doing the air filter check all intake/turbo piping, its clear, in my na's you can see down the intake. when you get it started up, prob flush oil, fresh oil/filter, again napa, oil, depends on prev owner, if he used syn oil, you can use, if it seems he maintained motor good, you can use a hi-grade syn, other wise prob stick with a basic syn like mobil1, or you may need to use conv oil if thats what was in her.

[zwp1990]

How do you prime it? And where is fuel filter located I didn't see it.

[zwp1990]

Well had my wife turn ign on and I checked voltage at the glow plugs and had nothing. But the orange light on dash lit for a second.

[zwp1990]

Well definitely a wiring issue. I know this was a swap so how would I wire in a switch for glow plugs? Just + to glow plug wire and have a switch?

[ORCoaster]

Check in the general section here for the mod on pimping your glows.  You need a switch to turn on a relay and then let the relay do the heavy lifting on the circuit.  Throw in individual or one honking 40 or 50 amp inline fuse. 

If the light on the dash is coming on a bit then get up under the dash and pull the glowplug relay and see if the tabs are corroded or just needs to be reset in the fuse panel.  Something is amiss there but I bet it is a simple fix.  Check the tin fuse on the firewall is it blown? 

You can in a pinch just use a jumper cable from the battery + to the buss bar if that is your setup.  Count to 15 or 20 and have the wife hit the starter.  Should fire up. 

[zwp1990]

Thank you sir very informative! I'll reply back how it goes.

[air-cooled or diesel]

light only seems, that one time he said, to come on for a second; relay?? i think on my mk2s the fuseable link is on top of the fuse box, under the dash.

How do you prime it? And where is fuel filter located I didn't see it.

fuel filter is located right by the passengers side shock tower, to prime get a small length of 3/8 fuel line, a funnel that fits 3/8 line; you can find one that size at your local supermarket, the smallest one should be a fit for 3/8 line, hook up to inlet and fill filter with fresh diesel.

[vanbcguy]

Can also be a bad temp sensor - if it is bad and makes the glow plug relay think the car is hot it won't turn on the glows. If you unplug the sensor it'll think it's freezing out.

[zwp1990]

Wired in a push button switch and works perfectly. Like I said before wiring is not original with the car so would be very hard to track down everything. I'm going to have to thin out the harness soon so I can track down any and all other problems.