Car won't start? Check your Anti Shudder Valve

[l_c]

John, I strongly recommend getting the TB job done (by a "good" mechanic who's done plenty of those, on VW TDIs). It does cost over $1000, I'm pretty sure. I think mine did. Though I don't think I had a new water pump put in ... will have to check that if I can find my papers.

Some of those other service items that are costing hundreds of dollars, well, you can definitely skip (get around) some of them; and other ones, you can get done by local mechanics who are trusted on this (TDIClub) forum; or, learn to do some of the other really simple ones.

I'm trying to say, don't do anything drastic yet, just because of this (dirty intake / ASV) issue. I'm assuming too that getting the TB done would increase your value when you do decide to sell/trade this one. Larry

 

[whitedog]

John, skip the dealer, please, please, please. For $1200 you can get your timing belt SYSTEM changed, intake manifold cleaned, vacuum lines replaced, tires rotated, oils and filters changed and probably a few other things done by someone that actually knows how to work on your TDI, which is something that your dealer probably doesn't know.

And KROUT is more than just a local person, he is your local GURU. WHat I'm saying is that I'm sure that I could do just about anything that Krout can do, but it will take five times as long and I'll struggle with it. He has worked extensively on these engines and can do that same stuff blindfolded... Well, maybe not completely blindfolded, but visually impared anyway.

 

[Indigolf03]

Well I certainly thank you both for your VALUABLE input. I drove the car last night and it seems fine but I know I could be sitting on a disaster waiting to happen.
I hear you loud and clear on the dealership. I have trouble associating them with a car company that manufacturers such a good vehicle.

I truly do NOT want another car either. I will try to locate KROUT and see where he is located and go from there.

Thanks again!

john

 

[whitedog]

KROUT

 

[Indigolf03]

Well it looks like I am approx 150 miles from those listed on the trusted mechanics list.
KROUT did make a terrific offer to help though. I just need to find the time to get up to JAX.

Thanks!

 

[Chris Borden]

I have tried to find the intake manifol cleaning procedure with no luck. Can anyone advise how this is done ? I am having the starting problem deveolp.
Thanks in advance. Please reply to:
ccborden9@yahoo.com

 

[l_c]

Intake cleaning

Chris, it's in a pdf file,
I'm on my cell phone right now, you can locate it by searching in pics.tdiclub.com
Larry

 

[Chris Borden]

I thank all for the tips re the anti shudder valve problem. I cannot believe the amount of black crud that came out! The car starts perfectly now, but, after a 1/2 hour drive and a period of, let's say 2-3 hour rest, has difficulty starting again. I put in a new fuel filter, but that did not seem to work. Can anyone advise?

ccborden9@yahoo.com

 

[werdna]

I had a variation on this problem today: my anti-shudder valve was not sticking, but I believe it was closing and killing the engine at start-up.

Near as I can tell, my problem is that my vacuum solenoid (N239) is stuck open. Unplugging the electrical connector for it changed nothing (still runs for a second at start and then dies), but pulling and plugging the vacuum line for the ASV immediately got it going. No DTCs were noted during the entire process. (Well, except for my two unrelated and long-standing errors of "single-wire communication with the comfort controls" and "no communication with the radio".)

The only problem with my diagnosis is that I had no assistance, so I'm not 100% sure the ASV was closing.

Note: symptoms were very similar to an Immo-3 lockout, except without the indicator light. (Since the valve was initially open, the engine would start and run for a second or two before crapping out.)

Any comments on my diagnosis? Do the N239 solenoids actually stick open with any frequency, or am I just lucky?

 

[RMHayes1954]

You might add that a characteristic of the stuck anti-shutter valve is that the engine cranks faster than normal when it won't start. This is because the closed valve stops air from entering on the intake stroke so there is less to compress on the compression stroke.

 

[Clownfish]

Answer this.

So, thinking my timing belt may have skipped when my car died while I was driving... and having various people look at my car, they are boggled by the problem... I have been without a car for about 3-4 months now scared to even dive into the issue because it could be more than the timing belt due to the TDI being an interference motor(not much money and gonna DIY)... Then I started looking through the How To's....just decided to look at this post... at first it didn't seem convincing... but after reading may peoples posts and how common the issue is I am almost Convinced this is my issue...(still need to change the timing belt but Im trying this first)... So one question is that I did not see... When the engine is turning over it does sound like there isn't compression and turns over almost too easy... Could Smoke(almost smells like starter fluid) also come out the intake if the anti-shudder valve is stuck? And if so is it potentially stuck and is it Open or Closed?

Thanks,
Brandon Peterson

 

[Clownfish]

just follow-up

This was not the problem, the timing must be off.

Brandon

 

[l_c]

Brandon, can't one turn the engine by hand, to determine whether the valves are hosed?
Larry

 

[Clownfish]

Turns over

It turns over, doesn't sound right, but It doesn't sound like anything is crunching or clanking... as for turning over by hand I haven't taken anything apart or researched how to do that. I don't really want to hijack this thread anymore with the anti-shudder valve not being the issue. I will post under the newbie forum with some more details within the next little while.
Thanks for your response though Larry, maybe you can PM me with some direction.

Brandon.

 

[mjhandy]

Just to add my problem here. My ASV is sticking closed, but moves freely manualy. The EGR doesn't seem that clogged, not as bad as the last one i had.

If it does need a clean, this may not be possible with the weather here.

 

[marktwain]

Thanks compu-85 for posting this. Thought we had a dead battery, but jump starting it didn't help. I've gotten great advice on this forum before so I thought I'd see if anything related to our problem was there. Sure enough, your thread pointed me to the anti shudder value which was, indeed, closed. Manually opening it got the car going again.

Thanks again. You saved us a lot of inconvenience and a lot of money in towing charges, mechanic fees. etc.

 

[ccs32]

Hmmm... This thread has saved me some headache. I thought that it was a much bigger problem, but I happened to stumble onto this thread stating such an easy fix. I thought that I would check and see if this was the problem... SUCCESS!! You have saved me some money... I should buy you a beer.

I guess I will be cleaning my EGR and intake sooner than later!

 

[Cezar_1]

Big thank you Compu_85 (Jason)!

I came dangerously close to have my car towed to my "friendly" VW dealer again (for the third time) because out of the blue, the car won't start!
This time I refused to give in and become part of the dealer's plan, and with the help of dedicated people like you on this great forum, I managed to get the car started after it died on me at the neighborhood gas station.
When I read your posting last night at almost midnight, I had a revelation that my car must be ailing of the exactly same problem: sticky EGR valve. I ran quickly to the garage, opened the hood and sure enough, the valve was stuck in the closed position. Just a gentle bump to the lever and it sprung back open. The rest is history.
Thanks to this useful posting, I am going to follow up with removal and cleaning of the intake manifold and EGR valve, but under my own terms.
Just like someone on this post put it, it seams like the VW dealers' cash registers start out at $1,000 nowadays...that's exactly how much he quoted me to have my car fixed this third time it fails for the same problem: plugged intake/EGR valve.
Thank you again!
Cezar
2002 Jetta TDI GLS 5-speed, 100k miles

 

[TheLongshot]

Ok, I broke the nipple off, silly me. How do you glue it back on?

 

[red2002camaross]

What do you think?

Hello,

I own a 2006 Jetta TDI, about two weeks ago my engine light comes on and I take it to Advance Auto to have it checked. They told me it was the Anti Shutter Valve. I came to this forum and found out some really good info, so thank you to all that have posted pictures and explanations. Anyways, they cleared the computer and about two days after it came back on, I had some Lucus diesel fuel additive and put about three or four ounces into the tank. About a week went by and the light went off then came back on the next time I started the car. On the next fill up, I put another four to five ounces of the additive in and now the light stays off. I opened the hood and had my wife turn the car to the on position and everything sounds fine. I do not hear any grinding or sticking sounds from the ASV. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thank you,

Bill

 

[BobnOH]

check the vacuum line to the valve.
check to see if the valve moves freely, they sometimes get gummed up with oil residue

 

[ryanhorlacher]

yesterday I had my lca bushings replaced. it started fine for them but suddenly wouldn't when they wanted to move it and bring another car into the shop. they were pretty sure it was cruddy oil making the lifters stick. they had a torch on it and "the lifters still weren't draining out, this is really weird". the shop owner emptied out his car and was going to let me drive it home while they left an electric blanket on it all night. I was in his car figuring out where all the controls were when they got it running. it was a stuck anti shudder valve.

 

[BobnOH]

---------shop. they were pretty sure it was cruddy oil making the lifters stick. they had a torch on it and "the lifters still weren't draining out, this is really weird"-----------

that's just scarry

 

[budda477]

1996 Passat tdi would not start, cranked over fine but would not run for more than 30 seconds or so. Cause, worn spot in the fuel return line fron injectors and injection pump to fuel filter, sucking air into system, thus injection pump has little fuel to pump to injectors. The clear fuel line rubs on the timing belt cover, the underside of the line rubs through and sucks air, does not leak fuel onto engine, making it hard to troubleshoot. It leaked fuel once we moved fuel line away from the timing belt cover.

 

[All of Us]

Jason:

Thanks for this write up. It saved me much frustration just the other day. The amazing part is when my A4 refused to start just minutes after its initial startup for the day I remembered this post and looked at the ASV. Sure enough it was stuck closed and a simple touch was enough to get it to pop open again. Now I guess I need to take a seroius look at the inside to determine whether an intake cleaning is called for. Thanks again!

Dan

 

[rsquare]

rsquare

thanks a million-saved me a bunch and it worked for me.

 

[Mark of Diesel]

Just had is happen to an acquaintance recently and it made me look like a genius when I walked up to the car, touched spring loaded valve and told him to go ahead and start it... and it did! Good trick to know.

 

[msutdi]

My car wouldn't start this afternoon at my job (75 miles away) at quitting time. I have identical symptoms: starts begrudgingly and will idle, but any throttle will make it stutter/smoke like only 2 cylinders are getting any air, then it either kinda idles or dies.

The major difference here is that I JUST cleaned my intake/EGR. Based on all of the cautions about getting the EGR diaphragm wet I did the best I could cleaning it, but there was still some minor buildup in it. Could the anti shutter valve (ASV) have gotten stuck without major buildup? Any ideas would be appreciated (PM me). That tow is gonna take a chunk out if I can't solve it.

I will report back ASAP tomorrow and with the <hopefully> final diagnosis.

UPDATE 27JAN:
I checked ASV and it was in the open position. I pushed in on the arm and it sprung back open. No problems with any vacuum lines in that area (EGR, ASV). I tried once more to start it again with the following sypmtoms:
- glow plug lamp lights normally and goes out (seems normal)
- turns over, fires off and runs 1-2 seconds
- dies
If I gun it (like trying to flood the carb on a gasser) right when I start it, it will rev up a bit, but not smoothly. Relesase the gas and it drops back to a VERY rough idle <VROOM duh duh duh VROOM duh duh duh> where VROOM = ~1000-1100RPM and duh = ~850). I don't have my VCDS cable or computer with me at the office so I can't get codes.

Any ideas of what this could be? Timing belt? Relay 109?

I will start a new post since this is clearly not ASV, but please PM me if you have an idea.
Thanks,
Dillon

 

[mikesy1]

2002 beetle tdi no-start

I have a shop at home and a TDI Beetle for work. My son just did timing belt @171K, second one. He is not a Disel guy but helps me when I ask about the bug. He is a fast learner and good tech.

We had a no start after we put everything back together, first we though there was air in fuel line, cked that we had fuel. Then my son remembered about the anti-shutter valve. Took the arm off the pin connecting to the valve and she started right up.

It was late and time to quit for the night. i am back at it today.
We have vacuum at the line going into the little electric actuator that supplies the vacuum to the dash pot with the arm. So is there a testing procedure to repair this issue? Is there problems with the actuator? fuse, relay?

By the way this is a great Website, your pic are very helpful too. Thanks for your help up front. mikey

 

[mikesy1]

Just prior to this we did the intake cleaning X-2. I sent the intake to a machine shop to boil it out, well he got too aggressive and sand blasted a hole in the intake. VW wanted too much so I started looking around, I thought a used one but we would have to do the same thing to be sure it was clean. I then found this website, have bought several parts including an intake for my TDI; $100, fuel filter, air filter, glow plugs all great prices.

http://www.volkswaparts.com/