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92 Jetta Turbo diesel - problem starting in morning

Hi:

1992 Jetta Turbo Diesel, recently has started having problems starting in the morning. It is parked in a garage overnight. The overnight temperature has been in the range of 0C to -7C.

Symptoms are: I turn the ignition, cold start lever out, glow plug indicator light goes off in about 7-10 seconds, I turn the key all the way, the engine is turning over nicely, but no ignition. I let the starter turn it for about

7-8 times, turn ignition off, cycle glow plugs again, let the starter turn it for about 7-8 times, still no ignition. I see smoke from the tailpipe and smell of unburnt fuel. Next, I plug in the block heater for about 20-30 mins and it starts up in the first attempt. I drive to work, park it indoors, it starts up OK in the evening when I'm going home. It's only in the morning that I face this problem.

First, I got the battery checked at two different places and both tested "replace battery". I replaced the battery this week, problem is still persisting.

The indications to me are that next, I need to look at and replace the glow plugs. They are 4 years - 50K kms old.

Comments/suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

AJ.

Reply to
AJ
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Since you're smelling fuel when it doesn't start , the malfunction is probably in the glo-plug circuit. Looking at an older vw electrical schematic for a diesel there is a relay that supplies power to both the light and the glo-plugs. If it were mine I'd pull one wire from a plug and put a 12v lamp in it's place (circuit wise). Turn the key to warm the plug and see if the light glows. What happens in the cold mornings if you;d do the warm plugs up three times with/out trying to crank the starter till the third time? I never owned a diesel or worked on one though so all that is to be taken as a comment only. ;-)

Reply to
samstone

I used to have a Diesel Transporter. I had the same problem, spent ages looking for the problem and was just about to buy a new Solenoid valve and spotted that the 30amp fuse had blown. Just a few pence and I was on the way. Baz

Reply to
Baz

AJ:

There is a fuse, and glow-plugs crap out. If you are getting smoke from the tailpipe, it is likely that one or two plugs are glowing and that is what ultimately gets you started.

Check the fuse (really, a wide U-shaped link in its own carrier). And TAKE IT OUT to check it. I have experienced a near-invisible hairline crack failure on two different diesels that looked great to the eye, but loosen one screw and out half fell.

Failing that, check each plug. The lamp-in-series will tell you if it is open. No light, open plug, no glow. Been there with several diesels as well. Glow-plugs are relativelty cheap and easy to install however.

Once upon a time some 24+/- years ago, we drove a diesel Dasher up to Vermont in the early winter. Wouldn't you know it, the glow-plug fuse failed on a Saturday morning. A friend drove us to the VW dealer, naturally the parts department was closed. However, at the front desk was a bowl with glow-plug fuses in it, and a styrofoam cup behind it with $2 marked on it. We were not the only ones sticking our $2 in.

Peter Wieck Wyncote, PA

Reply to
pfjw

lol Fuses in the cup. That is one of my favorites diesel stories I like to hear! ;-)

If you determine that your glow plugs are bad, and they probably are, then I recommend the use of those Gear Wrenches (ratcheting wrenches). Really makes that job go much quicker IMHO. ;-)

Also check the coolant temperature sensor for the glow plugs.

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

This test will tell you if the relay and fuse are working , the lamp in this test is not in series with the glo-plug, it is directly gounded.

Reply to
samstone

Reply to
none2u

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