Frustrated

OK people, I'm not having good luck w/vag-com and get results that I dont expect. First of all, I have posted comments about my 01 NB not starting good when cold. I read that the basic timing setting may be too retarded. OK. I hooked up the COM and watched the active graph plot the timing in real time...Great.. It hovered right around the center line (49-54). OK, so I got out the wrenches and "advanced" the pump a bit. I loosened the 3 screws, and rotated the pump shaft "against" the normal rotation a tiny bit and retightend. Started eng went back to see what the graph was showing, and guess what? I went DOWN to like 12-14, saying too retarded to graph! What the!!! I thought I was advancing it by turning shaft against rotation, BUT, nope! I re-set by turning shaft a bit more back WITH rotation of sprocket. NOW, it shows 117, too far ADVANCED! OK, re-did again, tried, and now it sits right at the top line about 68-70. So, I left it there. I also tried to advance the what I call: dynamic timing, the timing that the ECU sets injection start too by a couple degrees. OK, I'm not sure what it is doing, but now shows like 2 degrees or so. Dont know if it;s BTDC or ATDC. Anyway, not much change in starting. Ya, a bit less smoke, but still have to crank for a bit (5-9 sec) till she catches. This long cranking happens especially when the stupid ECU wont let the glow plugs light off, because it "thinks" they arnt needed. Sorry, I think glow is needed to about 65deg. And, it needs to be on longer at lower temps! I've learned how to do the multiple key cycles trick,that helps a bit. AND, I think my MGG's went right through the floor! So bad, that I see wetness on the inside of the tailpipe! What is the deal here? The ONLY difference in performance, is that it idles a bit smoother. Does'nt shake as much. I dont know about the rest of you folks, but this is NOT my first diesel car I've had. All as I can say, is that I'm NOT impressed with all the glitches for something being so "wired up"! And, like some others here, I cant figure out the EGR thing either! Same problems. NOT that I want to turn it off, but just "experimenting" to see how it behaves. One thing I noticed that I have seen mentioned, is that the vag will cycle things during idle. Like it'll advance and retard the dynamic timing, cycle the EGR valve open and close, turn the turbo boost on and off, etc. Kinda neat. We need more practical input on the Ross-tech Vag-Com here, AND, get a petition going to have the software written for us old farts who have problems interpreting all the measuring jargon. Yes, I like the metric system, but have all the "old school" pounds, PSI, gallons, stuff too deeply rooted. What's the big stink Ross-Tech? Just re-write and have a switch to toggle between metric and American. Well, enough for now. I'll wait a bit for anyone to speak out on my comments.
This is a great site, chuck full of good info, but still a bit disorganized. We need to more specifically organize topics better.

What would you like to see in place of milligrams?

Thousandths of a scruple? There are 24 Scruples to a Troy Ounce.

Or perhaps you'd prefer hundredths of a grain? There are 480 grains to a Troy Ounce...

VAG-COM is intended to act as a substitute for the dealers' much more expensive tool, so you can carry out procedures called out the the factory repair procedures for your car. We want the units displayed by the program to match those found in the repair procedures, and those procedures do NOT use fathoms, stones, furglongs, chains, hogsheads, knots, hands, bushels, or barrels. They use metric, a system which actually makes sense.

-Uwe-

I can't really help, but I will comment that you have something else wrong.

My TDI starts on first crank always. It does not need any glow whatsoever until at least below 5 C (40 F), probably lower. I usually don't wait for the glow cycle unless it is below freezing and it alway fires in less than 1/2 second.

Have you checked compression?
Have you tried other fuel sources?

The metric system is so unfair.
For instance:
100 cents = 1 dollar
If it was 8 cents = 1 dollar, then I would be in much better financial shape.

What would you like to see in place of milligrams?

Thousandths of a scruple? There are 24 Scruples to a Troy Ounce.

Or perhaps you'd prefer hundredths of a grain? There are 480 grains to a Troy Ounce...

VAG-COM is intended to act as a substitute for the dealers' much more expensive tool, so you can carry out procedures called out the the factory repair procedures for your car. We want the units displayed by the program to match those found in the repair procedures, and those procedures do NOT use fathoms, stones, furglongs, chains, hogsheads, knots, hands, bushels, or barrels. They use metric, a system which actually makes sense.

-Uwe-

Click to expand...

Does it use Pascals for boost pressure ?

If this car is that hard to start at 60F, there's something not right, gp's or not. This thing doesn't even THINK about cold start timing and such until 45F or so.

I betcha the cranking speed is below minimum requirements. Possible causes: weak battery, weak starter motor. It has happened before.

I betcha the cranking speed is below minimum requirements. Possible causes: weak battery, weak starter motor. It has happened before.

Click to expand...

I second that. (from personal experience)