04 Jetta TDI BEW Cold Starting problems

04JettaTDIMK4

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2016
Location
Charlottesville, VA
TDI
2004 Jetta TDI
My Jetta is not starting in the cold at all. Just put a brand new battery in. It will turn fast but it won't fire. I removed the glow plug bracket and it did the exact same thing so I'm wondering if it's the relay for the glow plugs? It started last night using starting fluid. Once it starts it runs great. Need some help cause this is my daily driver!
 
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Golfrunner

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Location
Saratoga NY
TDI
2005 Golf TDI
Did you check for voltage to the glow plugs? Fairly easy to do...and they do stay lite for a while after the car has started. Check all 4 caps to be sure you have all of them juiced up. You can also check the resistance at each glow plug...If I remember right they should show like 1.4 ohm or something in that range.. If you find no resistance with a meter from the head to ground - then the plug is no good and should be replaced. If you do replace zap them with PB for a few days beforehand and pray they come out ok.
 

04JettaTDIMK4

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2016
Location
Charlottesville, VA
TDI
2004 Jetta TDI
Checked the resistance and all the plugs were good, when I check the voltage to each cap and they were reading between 9 and 10 volts which from my research is low. But also is it supposed to bounce around when you're getting your readings? Cause my multimeter wouldn't stay on on number for very long when I was checking the caps
 
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Vince Waldon

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Location
Edmonton AB Canada
TDI
2001 ALH Jetta, 2003 ALH Wagon, 2005 BEW Wagon
Yes, they are pulse modulated which will cause the voltage reading will bounce and the reading to be low.

Also worth nothing that:

- the glow plug system is carefully monitored by the ECU which generally detects any fault to the system
- glow plugs are not actually needed to start the engine except in the dead of winter
- starting fluid and glow plugs are an explosive combination that can cause severe engine damage... I'd strongly recommend putting away the ether. :)

All of the above is to say if your diesel is having a hard time starting it's unlikely to be the glow plugs, particularly if there's no Check Engine light.

Perhaps back up a bit: what work has been done to this engine, when did the hard starting problem show up, when was the timing last checked, does the car use much oil? :) :) Cold starting issues are generally related to the starter, battery, timing, or compression.
 
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04JettaTDIMK4

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2016
Location
Charlottesville, VA
TDI
2004 Jetta TDI
Just had the timing belt replaced on tuesday last week and the starting problem started thursday morning and then completely stopped starting that night. Put the new battery in friday and it was starting for a little while then I let it sit for about 6-7 hours and it failed to start again until i used the starting fluid and then I drove it home and it drove great. But since I parked it in the driveway it hasn't started since.
 

04trd

Veteran Member
Joined
May 20, 2012
Location
Cleveland Ohio
TDI
06 golf tdi
NOOOOO DONT USE STARTING FLUID!! R u sure your in tank pump is working? Lift the rear seat. Put your head on the passenger side. You should hear a motor running for a second or two. if you don't hear it double check by pulling the fuel line and turning the key on. Fuel should be coming out of the tank where you disconnected the line. If you don't like that menthed take the fuel line off of the fuel filter and do the same thing.


If your in tank pump is bad it's super super easy to change. That's most likely your problem.
 

04JettaTDIMK4

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2016
Location
Charlottesville, VA
TDI
2004 Jetta TDI
I appreciate everybody's help! Found out it was a loose ground underneath the battery. Lesson learned to always check the simplest thing first. Again I appreciate all of the help!
 
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