Cold weather starting -- Jetta TDI Wagon

[JOlson]

Hello...
I got a 2004 Jetta TDI (automatic) wagon in March 2004. Recently it's been very cold here in Ottawa, Ontario and I've had trouble starting it on two occasions. Today (the second time), I had to call VW service. He boosted the battery and was able to start it. I've a couple of questions that perhaps someone out there could answer.
1) The manual says that when it's cold, you should just wait til the glow plug symbol goes out and then turn the key, but keep your foot off the 'gas' pedal. However, the tow truck driver said I should floor the pedal when it starts to connect. The dealership suggested turning the key on and off a few times before trying to start it. I presume the manual knows best. Does it?
2) The dealership tells me that VW has finally come out with an in-line heater (instead of a block or oil pan heater) replacing the nothing that was available when I bought the car. I assume that my $322 investment will be worth it. Good assumption?
3) The local gas station that sells diesel (a small local chain) told me that in the winter at the diesel fuel tank farm they adjust the fuel mixture to compensate for the temperature. Do you think it would make any difference if I were to buy my diesel at a bigger place, say Esso or Shell. I should add that my local dealer has a contract with the City, so he probably moves more diesel than the brand names.
4) Re diesel fuel additive. Is one any better than another...ie Kleen Flo compared with STP? And is there such a thing as adding too much? My tank is about 55 L.
I see that my couple of questions have added up.
Any answers would be useful...as would any cold weather tips that you might have.
Thanks in advance
John Olson
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

 

[eyetdiman]

There is a recalll on the '04 TDI PD that pertains to your problem. If your engine code is BEW it is involved in the recall.

Keep your foot off the gas pedal when starting.

Put in a deiceing additave. I use Staydine. I don't know that there is a lot of difference. Both Staydine and Power Source have good reputations.

Purchase fuel where there is usage. The more the better.

Keep your tank as full as possible.

An in line heater is a good investment. Mine is a TDI Heater. (On this site. It works very well.)

An overnight trickle charger on the battery will give it it's full power in the morning.

All should be well if you do this.

 

[xsbank]

The problem with plug-in heaters is that they work fine plugged in at home, but when you are at work, after 8+ hours outside, cold car. My 04 Golf, turn the key 'til the glowplugs turnoff, hit starter. Chug chug chug, smoke, sounds very agricultural, but runs fine. Bloody thing never produces any real heat though.

 

[K2 TDI]

It's been cold here in Syracuse also, however with proper care it has never been a problem in the 5 years I've owned my TDI.

Like the previous poster said - Keep your foot off the accelator when starting and use an antigel (I use powerservice - white bottle - $10 for 3 quarts at Autozone). I also use cycle the glow plugs a couple of times if it's really cold out and I'm away from a place to plug in my TDI Heater.

 

[Parahiker]

Check your snow screen,have a right engine oil,cycle the GPs,take good care of your battery and use some additives like Stanadyne.BDW we don't have a "gas pedal" we have accelerator (potentiometer telling ECU how fast you would like to drive).HI,HI.

 

[snorksca]

I'm in Ottawa also.
- pick up some Stanadyne at Diesel Fuel Injectors or Kleen Flo from Blastech (they are right beside each other). Both are suppose to be very good.
- inline heater - get the TDIHeater or the zerostart from Cdn Tire. I'm sure Blastech or Advanced Autowerks would install if you don't want to. Much less expensive and very good.
- fill up at good stations -- Sunoco Gold Diesel seems to be the most popular (3 locations- Woodroffe, and 2 in east end)
- Ask dealer for one of the solar chargers (tell them most places give them away- I got a free one from Bytek). Plug it in if your car is outside to keep the battery topped up.

Have fun. There seems to be quite a few of us from Ottawa on the board now.

 

[WSP]

I'm mechanically inept but I wouldn't touch the gas pedal while starting the engine. That technique is from the good old days of carborators. My understanding is there is no mechanical connection between the gas pedal and the engine in my TDI, it's an electrical connection, that is, a computer senses your foot on the pedal and instructs the engine accordingly, and it's unlikely that the car is programmed for a "pedal-to-the-floor ignition assistance" sequence. Let the laughter begin, I'm used to it from my more mechanically gifted pals. I took a bicycle maintenance course twice and still end up with bloody hands and upside-down bearings when I try to tune my bike.

 

[WSP]

...sorry,as Parahiker says re: "potentiometer".

 

[JOlson]

Parahiker says...check your snowscreen.
What's a snowscreen?

 

[Parahiker]

Do some search on snowscrean modification remooval! My was congested after sommer driving and is hard to get to soo
I cut it out and clean all the mess more often in the air filter with a tootbrush between the air filter changes.
The fine mosqito net is in front of the air intake right of the battery.

 

[Jwagen04]

What's a snowscreen?

I have a '04 Jetta Wagon as well, and I didn't see a snow screen on mine when I looked to clean it. The airbox has been modified from previous years and it appears that this has been eliminated, but I am sure someone will chime in and tell me I am wrong!

Anyway, I didn't see one on mine, take it for what its worth

 

[simonr]

For what it is worth I live in Ottawa and own a 2003 Wagon with 78K Km on it. I park outside and have never had a problem starting in the cold. I don't have it plugged in and it has started fine for the last two and a half winters (bought it in Sept 2002)

I generally try to my Diesel from Sunoco (Gold Diesel) or at Drummonds (Bronson and Queensway). Drummonds is a high volume seller as the city seems to fill all their snow ploughs there.

HTH

Cheers

 

[JOlson]

I got my 2004 Jetta Wagon at the beginning of March last year, so this was my first real winter. Part of the problem might have been that I live virtually downtown (Glebe) and work at home so I don't drive a lot...and when I do, it may be for relatively short little hops. In any event, today I got the new VW inline heater installed by the dealer. Also got a solar trickle charger from them as suggested by someone here. (BTW...does it matter if this is plugged into the rear electrical socket rather than the front one?) So we'll see what happens. I wasn't too thrilled when I saw that they cut out part of the plastic grill for the heater plug, but was told that's the way it goes.
Thanks for the tips.
John

 

[simonr]

I live in the glebe as well ! Fifth Avenue.
Look for the TDI Club license cover.

Cheers

 

[swartzentruber]

There's another bit of advice given that I think is faulty -- cycling the glow plugs (ie. turn key on, wait til gp light goes off, turn key off, turn on again and start). The glow plugs were significantly changed starting with the PDs (2004), and there good information that cycling doesn't help, and may actually increase hard starts.

 

[JOlson]

Thanks re glow plugs. That's consistent with the manual. BTW...I just got the new VW inline heater installed. I was surprised to find that the plug was fixed to the front of the grill...sticking out like a mosquitoe's probiscus, with two strips of the lower grill cut out to accommodate this. I wasn't too pleased. After speaking to the sales manager, they said they would replace the grill and have the cord loose...ie affixed to something on the inside and hanging out (so I could tuck it back in when not needed). The dealership said that the fixed outlet approach was how VW asked that it be done. I didn't like the look of the plug sticking out there all the time...and the fact that two of the plastic grill struts were cut and therefore loose. Can anyone give me any reason for changing my mind and leaving it the way they did it originally? Thanks.
John

 

[paramedick]

I would get a new grille.

Can't say for the Jetta. On the Golf, I passed the cord through a grille at the left corner. I have found that I can push the tapered edge of the plug between two grille slats, and have it stay there when not in use. Not very noticable.