luvsoccer
Member
Hi - first post, new owner of used 2001 Jetta TDI sedan. Love the car, averaging 51mpg on first two tanks from long road trip. Only issue is cold starting problem. Car has lots of cranking power, but the first start of each day, with outside temps ranging from 25-45 degrees F, is difficult - takes 5-10 seconds of continuous cranking, and generating lots of smoke, to get it started. My partially-successful work-around has been to cycle the ignition 5-7 times prior to engaging the starter. On most mornings, that seems to shorten the start times (my theory - repeat glow plug warming, even if they aren't at 100%, should help preheat the engine). CEL has never been on.
Mechanics said the coolant temp sensor had erroneous readings so they replaced the sensor during oil change service a couple of days ago, but on starting the following morning I still have the cold start problem. I just checked the glow plugs, including the 3 in the air inlet, and all are 0.5 - 0.9 ohm. A couple of the plugs in the air inlet are around 0.5, the rest are all 0.7-0.9. Might that be a problem? The only other thing I noticed is that the rubber tubing that encases the glow plug wiring supply line (single tube that provides juice to each of the 4 plugs on the block) is cracked in a couple of spots - could that disrupt the current flow? Again, no CEL or codes are present.
I have not had the timing checked - from reading the forum posts I understand that's about the only other thing to check? Appreciate any more guidance anyone can offer. The guy that had the car before me is a mechanic but apparently just lived with the problem - the trunk lid is covered in baked on soot (can see it even though car paint is black) so I suspect this has been acting up for awhile. He said he recently put in new plugs and a glow plug harness along with all the other major maintenance items (timing belt, pumps, etc.).
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Mechanics said the coolant temp sensor had erroneous readings so they replaced the sensor during oil change service a couple of days ago, but on starting the following morning I still have the cold start problem. I just checked the glow plugs, including the 3 in the air inlet, and all are 0.5 - 0.9 ohm. A couple of the plugs in the air inlet are around 0.5, the rest are all 0.7-0.9. Might that be a problem? The only other thing I noticed is that the rubber tubing that encases the glow plug wiring supply line (single tube that provides juice to each of the 4 plugs on the block) is cracked in a couple of spots - could that disrupt the current flow? Again, no CEL or codes are present.
I have not had the timing checked - from reading the forum posts I understand that's about the only other thing to check? Appreciate any more guidance anyone can offer. The guy that had the car before me is a mechanic but apparently just lived with the problem - the trunk lid is covered in baked on soot (can see it even though car paint is black) so I suspect this has been acting up for awhile. He said he recently put in new plugs and a glow plug harness along with all the other major maintenance items (timing belt, pumps, etc.).
Thanks in advance for any advice.