Glow Plugs and KESSY(Keyless ignition)

rockerdan

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2010
Location
Niagara/Sanborn NY
TDI
09 Jetta TDI,2012 GLI
I have been searching for info on glow plugs and havent been able to find much about KESSY.

Many yrs ago i owned a 1980 VW rabbit diesel and it had a choke,and glow plugs that would take awhile to get hot,and it rarely started when below 32 degrees....lol...that car was awesome on fuel economy but it really was hard to start each day!

My new 2011 jetta will be here in a couple weeks(the wait time is killing me!) It has the nav/kessy system on it.

So,is there a glow plug light on these models?....do i need to activate them somehow?...i have read some old posts saying the door activates glow plugs when opened....or does the car read that im within close proximity and activate them?....it seems to me that would be bad for battery since i might get in to just get something but not start car.

I believe on KEY models the first turn of the key might activate glow plugs.

anyway,id love to know the start procedure with KESSY specifically(salesmen seem useless on the KESSY models) and Id love to hear from my northern neighbors more then anything,cause your temps would need a longer glow cycle im guessing.

thanks
Dan
 
Last edited:

Gallium65

Member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Location
Ottawa ON CA
TDI
Jetta TDI 2011 (in progress!)
Hi Rockerdan, I just got my Jetta TDI w KESSY and the glow plugs activate when the star button is depressed (foot has to be on brake pedal). I have not found how to do a double cycle yet. I used to perform two cycles on very cold mornings with my Jetta TDI A4...
 

astoryatthree

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 15, 2011
Location
Baltimore, MD
TDI
2012 Golf TDI 6mt
From my understanding, if you press the start button once to turn on the accessories, its will turn on the glow plugs. The light will turn off when the cycle has finished. If you want to run more than one cycle, turn off the accessories and then back on again. This is just my understanding, feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
 

TDI_Timmy

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Location
Seattle
TDI
2012 JSW, DSG, Pano
Hi Rockerdan, I just got my Jetta TDI w KESSY and the glow plugs activate when the star button is depressed (foot has to be on brake pedal). I have not found how to do a double cycle yet. I used to perform two cycles on very cold mornings with my Jetta TDI A4...
Clutch pedal for us manual guys. :D

I feel that the glow plugs have gotten so much better. I just push the clutch in and hold the start/stop button until the engine fires. I think that glowplugs have gotten hotter and heat faster. I just know on my dad's MB 300CD it is about a 45 second wait before light goes out and on his 91 350SD it takes about 10-15. Just between those years is a good difference and it is still improving!

I think astoryatthree might be right, but I doubt there is a need to do a double cycle. My experience of driving a 2006 or so Audi A4 Avant TDI in Germany through winter never had to do a double cycle. Probably anywhere from 20-32 degrees in the morning - glow plug out and engine fired up fast!
 

planger

Member
Joined
May 19, 2011
Location
Olympia, WA
TDI
11 Jetta DSG W/nav
These new diesels use so much fuel pressure and compression they barely need glow plugs. They are super fast.
 

rockerdan

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2010
Location
Niagara/Sanborn NY
TDI
09 Jetta TDI,2012 GLI
thanks guys,

so the consensus is that we really dont need to wait...just a press and HOLD of the start button will do the trick in cold weather.

I guess ill get a feel for it once winter arrives.

thanks!
 
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