need4speed
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2004
So; the saga continues on this 2003 Jetta.
(from here: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=484921 )
(and here: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=481319 )
Since I got the engine back together, I have started it, and taken it for a couple of quick test-drives. The smoking has stopped, and it was definitely burn-off of engine degreaser. There's no more leaking going on, as far as I can tell.
The engine does not overheat anymore. It seems to have a little more pep than it did before all this, or that may be my imagination. The exhaust seems clear, no smoke.
No coolant leaks.
The problem is, when I let the car sit, and cold-start it (and when I say "cold" we're talking, California-cold, like 50-60 degrees F, don't be a hater - I have to move out of state anyway) - when I first start it up, it will run for a second or two, then stumble and die. Then I will go through a couple more rounds of startup and die, and each time, it gets a bit worse and worse, until it won't run at all and it's 100% crank.
Then, after about 10-12 tries, it miraculously chugs it's way to life, and it runs fine.
When the car's warm - it starts just fine.
(Brand new battery, by the way.)
So that's the symptom.
I've gone through this rigamarole about 4 or 5 times now. I'm guessing that the problem might be fuel-related. Maybe there's fuel between the pump and the injectors, but air in the line between the filter and the pump?
Fuel lines are all new - the original lines were dry rotting, so a few months back, we replaced them with new diesel-safe fuel lines. Not the OEM parts. They fit snug, and are clamped good and tight, but I don't have the clear one, so I can't see if there's a bubble in there.
Does this symptom seem familiar to anyone?
(from here: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=484921 )
(and here: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=481319 )
Since I got the engine back together, I have started it, and taken it for a couple of quick test-drives. The smoking has stopped, and it was definitely burn-off of engine degreaser. There's no more leaking going on, as far as I can tell.
The engine does not overheat anymore. It seems to have a little more pep than it did before all this, or that may be my imagination. The exhaust seems clear, no smoke.
No coolant leaks.
The problem is, when I let the car sit, and cold-start it (and when I say "cold" we're talking, California-cold, like 50-60 degrees F, don't be a hater - I have to move out of state anyway) - when I first start it up, it will run for a second or two, then stumble and die. Then I will go through a couple more rounds of startup and die, and each time, it gets a bit worse and worse, until it won't run at all and it's 100% crank.
Then, after about 10-12 tries, it miraculously chugs it's way to life, and it runs fine.
When the car's warm - it starts just fine.
(Brand new battery, by the way.)
So that's the symptom.
I've gone through this rigamarole about 4 or 5 times now. I'm guessing that the problem might be fuel-related. Maybe there's fuel between the pump and the injectors, but air in the line between the filter and the pump?
Fuel lines are all new - the original lines were dry rotting, so a few months back, we replaced them with new diesel-safe fuel lines. Not the OEM parts. They fit snug, and are clamped good and tight, but I don't have the clear one, so I can't see if there's a bubble in there.
Does this symptom seem familiar to anyone?