Just a Glow Plug problem?

[smudge1]

Hello .

A year ago I bought private sale, a Mk1 which was perfect J , until I tried to start it in the morning from cold.  It does start after a good few turns with blue smoke puffing out when it does.

 

 Glow plug fault I thought

 

Measured the voltage to each when I turn on the ignition .

Result   +11V  IIRC

And noticed the voltage stayed present for the same amount of time the ‘fasten seat belt ‘ warning buzzer sounds for.

 

I then discovered that , from cold , if I switch on and off and on , the ignition 3 times for the duration of the buzzer , the car would more often than not, start up fine.

 

Car went for MOT only and passed no trouble, but garage mentioned I might ( to be confirmed ) have an High Pressure Injector fuel pump problem causing this .

 

So , has anyone had a similar issue or could it be just in need of a set of glow plugs , which I haven’t tried yet as been running like this for a year now . But time to fix it.

Many Thanks in Advance 

[KenONeill]

It could well just be glow plugs, but the same time as the seatbelts light seems about right for full power on plugs on this engine (when it uses them at all).

 

I would not spend out on an HP pump without VCDS and possibly a diesel specialist confirming that it's needed.

[pauldazzle]

I would check the coolant sensor reading & timing in VCDS before throwing any money at it.

[FUBAR]

I would check the coolant sensor reading & timing in VCDS before throwing any money at it.

+1 CTS never any harm in changing anyway. Unless like me the newer green one from dealers doesn't actually fit right for some unknown reason :( 

[pauldazzle]

+1 CTS never any harm in changing anyway. Unless like me the newer green one from dealers doesn't actually fit right for some unknown reason :(

Never known a VAG car to have a different CTS.

Are you sure the old O ring wasn't still stuck in the housing?

[FUBAR]

Never known a VAG car to have a different CTS.

Are you sure the old O ring wasn't still stuck in the housing?

 

Nope it didn't want to come out and caused an good bit to escape, new one went in or so I thought and retaining clip went in correctly then under load driving along in pitch black car behind me vanished into a cloud of molten coolant pulled over and it was gone. Bloody thing blew out still attached to plug new o'ring gone. Couldn't even see the length of the car in middle of a forest road and had to get someone to give me a lift to go home get a pile of G13 and the old one. With all the time on earth I opted to put it back in with old oring and after 90 min it just wouldn't sit in there straight at all old one plugged straight in so it is not back. new retaining clip was still in place correctly too. 15 year old black one still in there a month or so later lol. 

[pikpilot]

I would check the coolant sensor reading & timing in VCDS before throwing any money at it.

Has the cam belt been changed recently? I twice experienced difficulty is starting but with white smoke (unburnt fuel), after a cam belt change. Correcting the timing with VCDS was the cure or an improvement.

[smudge1]

Thanks for the suggestions all.  Waiting for the car to come back from the garage as had rearend shunt and ive bought it

back as a cat c . so thats will be another topic shortly 

[ninhan]

I have the same problem with my ASV 110bhp octavia 51 plate.

Have changed my glow plugs and still does it.

[sebring]

where are u based?

 

i have a tdi which i am breaking which used to start on the button - i never had to wait for glow plug lights to go out etc.

 

if you need any bits, give me a shout and i can sort something out for you.

 

Kaz

[Lee28]

Same issue here Asv rubbish

[miofan]

hi folks just share my experiencies,

had a problem with cold start, changed glow plugs (originals was good, I saved them) checked the wiring to glow plugs, positive poles form battery and fuses and the relay 103. The original with number103 was bad, bought a cheap one, what I checked and worked good when I checked, BUT the problem not solved. Under 10 Celsius rough cold start, at 11 Celsius everything OK. I lost. Used a year with this issue this winter and changed the starter, but it was a bad idea, it was a weak cheap french and rebuild the rebuilded bosch with my friend and took it back. Cold start not changed. Somwhere on VW forum I red, the cheap relay not working properly, so I bought a Beru GR081. Indeed changed the cambelt, waterpump and the coolant too. When i changed the relay problem solved. I was very happy. So my opinion need a good relay like bosch or beru and need to change the coolant too. I think with old coolant the CTS cant send a proper signal to the computer, what is very sensitive for weak resistant. I had an issue with coolant level sensor, cleaned inside the bottle a very thin copper stick and the problem dissapeared. I had before an A3 with abs problem (change the abs cube to used 500 british pound) but when I cleaned the fuses on the top of battery problem solved. So the resistance is very important. I hope can help to anyone