A lady at work has a newer Jetta TDI. She has been having quite the time trying to get it started lately. It has been in the low teens during day and was -14* F last night with wind chill. She had battery replaced yesterday and LOF with Rotella 15/40. She plugged it in last night and no starty this AM. She added Diesel power stuff and also added #1 fuel. I even tried jumping her today and still no luck. Engine turns over but nothing. Any ideas just for my own curosity's sake.

Ben

first thing I would try is the fuel filter, it is all to often overlooked on these cars. If you are looking at the motor it is on the left side of the engine compartment in front of the coolant bottle. It only takes about 10 min to swap out.
Does the car throw any codes or is the CEL on?

My sisters starts hard in the winter but it will always start within a couple of seconds.

I dont think any codes are thrown but I am not 100% sure. I am just curious as what culd be the problemo.

Ben

If it is cranking over and not starting I would guess fuel related, I am by no means a tdi expert. I had a question the other day about glow plug relays and ended up on tdiclub.com.

This site will probably be able to answer your question pretty quick, I did a search for my problem and found 10 exact results, and solutions for the problem.

Make sure to check all of the fuses. If you find anything else let us know and we will see if there is anything else we can do.

Tdiclub.com

Read this thread: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=121675

It is a timing issue, IIRC.

Good luck!

BTW, Rotella 1540 is the wrong oil. She needs a 5W40, especially in that cold. mobil 1 truck and SUV is a great choice, can be found at WallyWorld.

good luck

Oh, Hey Ben, I didnt even know it was you! Nice new avatar.....

Oh, Hey Ben, I didnt even know it was you! Nice new avatar.....


Thanks Manny!


I agree that the 15/40 is the wrong choice.
This lady is wierd anyways. I was just trying to finger it out for my own curiosity.

Ben

I even tried jumping her today and still no luck.

Ben[/quote]


Well, better luck next time.;)


:lol:

CWB

Thanks Brock for bringing up bad memories!!!!!!!!!

Ooohh, I stepped in it again, Ben. Ack. Sorry. I'm an incurable bore and a smartass, to boot. I missed the part where you said she was a bit, um, different.
Sooo, did you get the car figured out???
I'm assuming it wasn't gelled up; was it? I'd like to hear what was up. I have a Jetta, too. Just in case.


Brock.

Have not seen her lately. If I do I will ask.

I have seen a number of bad glow plugs in these engines. Checking the resistance is very easy and would be a good place to start.

Sounds good, Matt. Can you explain?

CWB

Simple, pull the boot connector off of each glow plug, set your meter to ohms. Now put the ground lead on a good ground source and the other lead on the center of the glow plug. It should Zero out (closed circuit), if it is open, (no change in the meter) then the glow plug is bad. Every one I've seen go bad will give a Ck. Eng. light and set a code in the ECM.

Thanks. I'll file this away in my Jetta stuff. Never know when it'll come in handy, eh? (appologies to Red Green)

CWB