running cold and poor starting

I think I am having two separate problems. The car has started always running cold. About one notch below 190F. Should I be worried about this? What do I do?

Second. The car doesnt start well. When starting after its been sitting overnight, it takes a little extra cranking and then runs poorly for the first 1-2 seconds. It seems like this problem was a lot worse when it was colder out. Could this be a leaky injector? I have new nozzles to install. Will they likely fix this problem?
Thanks
Dan

check your battery, it could be weak (not enough amps to run the glow plugs)

the glow plugs or harness could be bad, search the forums for "glow plugs"

The battery, glow plugs, harness, 180 relay, and 109 relay are all new. Glow had quit working before, but that problem has been fixed. From what I can tell this is not related to the glow plugs. This may take the best minds here.

No help? Really?? I thought somebody out there would have some ideas.

Dan, do you have VAGCOM? Can you make some basic checks for DTCs and verify the coolant temp sensor is doing its job?

What DD said:
VW programmed in a "flat spot" at 190* in the guage of @7 degrees either side of 190. I guess so that people wouldn't freak when the guage went over 190 climbing a hill and under 190 coasting down the other side. Your reading below 190 makes me think you're running substantially below that.
Since the CTsensor controls both the guage and the ecu:
A its bad, giving the guage faulty info, and possibly the ecu as well.
B its good, and you're running cold because the thermostat is sticking open. Your engine isn't running in its sweet spot either.

I'd replace the CTS first, and see if you read 190*. If the CTS was feeding erroneous info to the ecu as well, you may have solved both problems.

The coolant temp sensor has been replaced. Because during the winter the glow plugs werent working and the car wouldnt start. I dont have access to VAG-com. Frank06 is about 45min away. I guess I'll have to go use his services. I need to get my new PP nozzles installed anyway.

What are DTCs?

Diagnostic Trouble Codes

Since the CTS is new, getting connected to Vag-com to read the actual temp as well as seeing what else is happening seems the next best step. Hopefully nothing serious.

not getting up to temp: could be your thermostat is bad or your temp sensor is bad out of the box (happens a lot on the cheaper parts)

hard start: given the parts you already replaced I would think you have a small air leak in your fuel system, either injection pump or lines. Does your golf have a clear line inbetween the filter and IP? If so, watch it in the morning for large air bubbles.

Hard starting and poor initial running could be timing too.

greengeeker said:

not getting up to temp: could be your thermostat is bad or your temp sensor is bad out of the box (happens a lot on the cheaper parts) (snip)

Click to expand...

__. Yes, that was my first thought. This just "feels like" temp sensor for both symptoms.

Bob_Fout said:

Hard starting and poor initial running could be timing too.

Click to expand...

Agreed Bob, had TB done and timing set correctly,before it was at 39-40 and now at 62-64 and cold start issues seem to have deminished.Still a little smokey.

Once I have started the car in the morning, the following start-ups are fine. But again the air temp is higher now than when the problems first started. So I was thinking along the lines of GreenGeeker, that there could be an air leak, or a leaky injector.

Whiterabbit7, what was the cause?

What battery did you put in? Is it a proper rated 80aH?