Dieselsicles

[Stonewall]

Re: Dieselsicles

Ouch I didn't pay over $100 for my canadian energy battery if I remmeber correctly. If you are taking your car to George get him to check out your glow plugs, you may have a bad one which would make your car a lot harder to start.

[Klobi-One-Kinobi]

Re: Dieselsicles

What about letting it run over night?

[forkdork]

Re: Dieselsicles

A bad glow plug would throw a CEL.

[stefan]

Re: Dieselsicles

negative.. i had a dead one and a weak one and no CEL

**it really should throw a CEL though. I'm pretty sure it's supposed to. The one plug would pass no power at all with a multimeter hooked up, and still nothing on the dash.

[stefan]

Re: Dieselsicles

What about letting it run over night?

why not? thats what CPR does. unfortunately VW doesn't use any kind of high idle switch in their diesels, so any lengthy idling is bad.

[djstorm]

Re: Dieselsicles

I think I'm probably a little too knew at all this, I'll give it another shot when I get home tonite - someone had said that rather than cycling the glow plug to just leave your door open - that that holds them on longer and builds them up for the start...anyone heard of this?

[forkdork]

Re: Dieselsicles

wtf? that makes no sense at all! lol

Here is what I do when its really cold:
1. Get in Car
2. Put in key
3. Turn off all electronics (heated seats, fan is all you really have to worry about).
4. Turn key to on - wait for glow plug light to turn off.
5. Turn key back to off and back to on - again wait for the glow plug light to turn off.
6. Do this one more time except crank the car right after the light turns off. Keep cranking untill it "fires up" (don't crank for over like 20 seconds though because thats bad for the starter).
7. Turn the electronics back on and drive off immediately.


If the car doesnt start using this method then you probably have something else to worry about (maybe frozen fuel, bad glow plugs, timing is off etc). Mine always starts (even in -35!)

[stefan]

Re: Dieselsicles

I think I'm probably a little too knew at all this, I'll give it another shot when I get home tonite - someone had said that rather than cycling the glow plug to just leave your door open - that that holds them on longer and builds them up for the start...anyone heard of this?

heard of it, yes, (so you aren't crazy) but its holds no truth.

7. Turn the electronics back on and drive off immediately.

it doesn't have to be immediate. feel free to scrape windows and such . and drive it, but don't rev the crap out of it right off the bat... it takes a couple minutes to get good oil flow (like no more then a minute or two - especially with synth. oil). you don't want to work it to hard right away, but on the other hand, this little engine produces next to no heat at an idle, and a cold idle is bad too. The letting it warm up for 20 mins is good for the engine thing is a myth. Guys who NEED to idle their diesel trucks/cars often have a high idle setting so that the engine is working a little. Keeps it hot. I figure by the time I get out of my neighbourhood and to a major road, its ready to giver.

I too have started below -30, I think yesterday was bad because of my battery more then anything. Still sucks that the bastards here didnt flick the outside plugs on though...

[forkdork]

Re: Dieselsicles

Ya glow plug times are based on coolant temperatures arent they? I guess that would make sense if the temperature sensor was located inside the car though.

[stefan]

Re: Dieselsicles

ya, when my coolant sensor was throwing codes, my glow plugs would stay on for may 5 secs tops, even when it was really cold. took a lot of cycling

[MentalSideArm]

Re: Dieselsicles

I haven't been able to get mine started for 3 days now, its a 2000. Problem is, its about 200 feet from any plug in, and nothing seems to be happening with my 4 50ft extension cords... Oh, and while the poor guy was doing his best caveman impersonation....This happened. So everyone else out there, just be happy with your situation. Atleast no one is kicking your dub while its down!
(the person was atleast kind enough to leave a phone #, but still....)

[Stonewall]

Re: Dieselsicles

If you are running a 200Ft cord to a 1000watt heater you are going to have a marge voltage drop unless you are running a very large cord. If you are having starting issues it is more then likely glow plugs. Personally I think I have a dead plug so I am going to phone around and get 4 new ones. The dealership wants $55 a piece so I won't be getting them there though!

[MentalSideArm]

Re: Dieselsicles

I actually think its my battery as well, because it barely lights up the dash lights. I would love to have parked closer, but I wasn't watching the forcast and didn't drive a couple days. My bad all around.

[stefan]

Re: Dieselsicles

of you run the battery dead and leave it, the fluid in it looses its acidity and is susceptible to freezing. if it does freeze, it will never properly hold a charge again.

[karna]

Re: Dieselsicles

damn im trying to start my parants 2004 TDi and no luck already 3 days, any tips? i tried leaving the glow plug light go off like 7 times and still no luck. any diffrent tricks people use? my mom will need the car tommrw mornin but cant get it started hahaha