92 Jetta Turbo Diesel cold starting issues

That's about the problem. If the starter won't turn the engine fast enough it won't start. When your glow plugs are defective the car might not start either, but if they work it won't make the starter turn the engine any faster.

Have the battery and the cahrging system tested - if the battery is never fully charged a new one won't keep up long.

See above.

This might be a a factor given where you live, but again, this won't have any influence on the starter turning the engine fast enough or not.

This point's to a charging problem. Some more things that come to mind:

- too "heavy weight" oil, not very likely because temperatures where not that low, and if the block heater works oil should be warmed up a bit too.

- starter wiring, my next candidate after battery and charging system, but as re-charging did the trick last time...

- current drain with engine off, discharging the battery

Ingo

Last time? How long ago was the last time you had the problem? Is the alternator output up to spec? A single diode failure in the rectifier can cause the alternator to operate at a reduced output which is enough to keep the thing going besides exceptional periods of draw. Are the battery terminals and starter cables in good condition? Corrosion free connections? What weight oil are you using? The block heater does not heat the oil and pumping conventional 15W/40 when it's below freezing takes a lot of energy. IMHO, an hour on the block heater is not enough; I'd go two hours. In the experience with my car (below -15c), an hour seems to heat things just enough to reduce the preheat time and causes the engine to not start or start extremely hard and rough.

On the flip side, if the car is parked all day somewhere that does not have a place to plug in and it's that cold out, you could be in trouble... good thing they build in those tow hooks!

--TW Plugging in. It's not just for diesels.

Since you use celcius I assume your in Canada. So maybe you should use synthetic motor oil. I have a 99.5 jetta tdi and vw calls for 5-40 synthetic. Some tdi users in Canada use a 0-something they get at petro Canada I think. The A2 vw's seem to be setup looser and you may get the oil alarm whern the temps get over 50F. I'm using Shell Rotella 5-40 in all my vw's. (son's 92 jetta gas, wife's 93 Eurovan I5 and my tdi) As a test leave some of your current oil outside overnight. You'll most likely see jello in the morning and the oil pump just can't handle that. See

Jo Bo

Canadian Tire... STP...

AJ -- do yourself a favor, and deal with folks who know their butts from their elbows.

Sounds like either a defective battery or a charging system issue. The 15w40 weight oil could be used year-round in Toronto (I live there too) altho I personally use 5w40 Delvac synth in winter (only because I bought a bunch a while ago). It's gotta crank fast to build up enuff compression to start.

1. Check out E&W Motors (Kingston Rd, just west of Warden Ave). They really know VW diesels. If Nick can't fix your problems, then nobody can.

1. The only STP diesel stuff I have seen is a diesel cleaner, suggested usage is semi-annually -- it is NOT a conditioner. Check out DEL (Laird Ave, just south of Eglinton) and buy a case of Stanadyne Performance Formula. Use as directed. Reduces smoke, improves starting, eliminates winter gelling, slightly better economy

-- it will pay for itself in fuel consumption and you'll get clean injectors and reduced wear in the pump as a freeby benefit. Personally, I mix the Stanadyne with 2stroke oil, equal quantities.

1. Crosstown Battery (Musgrave Ave, around Victoria Park and Gerrard E) sells 850CCA VW-size battery for < 0 installed.

rgds, g.

AJ, I just had the same problem you delt with. This morning where I live in New Jersey it was about 2C and my engine cranked a few times until the battery was no good. When I bought this new TDI beetle with glow plugs, they suggested keeping the car in a garage but I don't have one. I'll have to wait until it warms up around here a little to try again. I love the disel mileage but the cold not helping the engine to start is more than irritating. For you I'd say keep the car in a garage if you can when its cold, or try to keep the block warmer on for more time. Antigel additive worked for me last year however, it wasn't as cold as it is now.

- CP

Do you use a diesel additive? I use powerservice in white bottle and wondered because I have a TDI (love it!).

Hi:

It turned out to be the battery (least suspected since it was a new battery time, I got the battery checked at Canadian Tire and it tested OK, so just