Hard Start / No Start - Is your intercooler frozen? Check Here!

[VeeDubTDI]

Just put a deposit down on a 2014 Jetta TDI Premium, very excited to sign the paper work tomorrow and get my car. These forums have been very helpful in choosing my next car, so thank you all!

My question: Worth demanding the kit be installed before I sign for the vehicle? I live outside Boston, MA and the weather has been exactly as described: 0 at night, 40 the next day. I drive a lot for work (25,000+/yr) and will blow through the the warranty within a year and half.

Congrats and yes, that is a very good idea. Ask them to include the revised intercooler kit (and don't let them try to convince you that it's already on there, because it isn't).

 

[Matt927]

Don't sign without the kit being installed.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

Don't sign without the kit being installed.

It's not likely to be installed. Sad fact is unless you have a documented case of IC icing, they won't budge. It's not as if "they all do that" because they don't. Mine does, my wife's doesn't.

From a business perspective, I can understand the rationale.

From a customer perspective, it sux.

It wouldn't stop me from buying but I'd hold their feet to the fire at the first hiccup.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

It's not likely to be installed. Sad fact is unless you have a documented case of IC icing, they won't budge. It's not as if "they all do that" because they don't. Mine does, my wife's doesn't.
From a business perspective, I can understand the rationale.
From a customer perspective, it sux.
It wouldn't stop me from buying but I'd hold their feet to the fire at the first hiccup.

It bugs me that we still haven't figured out why some do it and others don't. *scratching head*

 

[SundanceGS]

Or why it sometimes ices up and sometimes not, even on days with virtually identical conditions (at least that's they way it has worked for me).

 

[Samcar222]

I saw another JSW two weeks ago while filling up. We chatted for a while about FE, reliability (85k on his 2010 DSG no issues, bought local, used with 12k) and he said he was going up to Lake Placid NY. This was when low's were -15*F and highs were 0-5*F...
I just saw him again today filling up. Didn't speak to him. However first time I met him he gave no mention of any "unreliabilities" (ic issues) in his 68k miles of NY ownership. You'd think if it had no kit it would have thrown a code/glow plug for filling up with ice.
Interesting.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

You'd think if it had no kit it would have thrown a code/glow plug for filling up with ice.
Interesting.

Mine never threw a code when icing/watering up.

 

[SundanceGS]

I saw another JSW two weeks ago while filling up. We chatted for a while about FE, reliability (85k on his 2010 DSG no issues, bought local, used with 12k) and he said he was going up to Lake Placid NY. This was when low's were -15*F and highs were 0-5*F...
I just saw him again today filling up. Didn't speak to him. However first time I met him he gave no mention of any "unreliabilities" (ic issues) in his 68k miles of NY ownership. You'd think if it had no kit it would have thrown a code/glow plug for filling up with ice.
Interesting.

That is interesting.

I bought my TDI Cup Edition in San Diego in 2010 but have had it here in the DC area since December 2011. I had the icing occur once last February even though our winter was relatively mild. The local VW dealer found moisture in the intercooler line and installed the cold weather kit without argument.

This year we've had a much harsher winter and I've had the icing with resulting hard start recur three times. The first time it was after driving in approximately 25 degrees F, while the other two times were considerably colder (about 10 degrees F). I only drove for about 10 miles each time and then parked in a relatively warm garage (40 degrees F) overnight. I had a lot of trouble starting the engine the next mornings.

I took the car to the dealer and they opened up the intercooler line to find... nothing. No water, no ice. The dealer communicated with a VW Field Engineer who opined that the fuel in the filter might be gelling and that this might be contributing to the problem... this didn't sound right to me but I figured "what the hell" and had them change the filter out anyway. Interestingly, I haven't had a problem since... even though I've driven extensively in essentially the same conditions in which I experienced my three events this winter.

I've never had any other problems with the car except for a squeaky driver's seat (which I fixed by pushing down on the adjustment handle once). So, other than this, it's been a great car. But, I have to admit, every morning when I go into my relatively warm garage I wonder if I'm going to have a problem. Frustrating.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

It bugs me that we still haven't figured out why some do it and others don't. *scratching head*

I know. You'd think all those great VW engineers would be able to figure it out...

 

[Matt927]

It's not likely to be installed. Sad fact is unless you have a documented case of IC icing, they won't budge. It's not as if "they all do that" because they don't. Mine does, my wife's doesn't.
From a business perspective, I can understand the rationale.
From a customer perspective, it sux.
It wouldn't stop me from buying but I'd hold their feet to the fire at the first hiccup.

I recently brought my car in for the 10,000 mile oil change. I spoke with the service advisor about the issue and what I believed were some symptoms that my car had experienced in the last few months. Went to pick the car up and the kit had been installed. Tech's note stated there were no codes and could not duplicate the problem, I do not know what, if anything, was found in the lower IC hose. It seems cases by case, dealer by dealer.

 

[MonsterTDI09]

Does anyone every see water or steam coming out of the tail pipe. On the morning start up.I just wondering if this has something to do with it.

 

[bassman5066]

Does anyone every see water or steam coming out of the tail pipe. On the morning start up.I just wondering if this has something to do with it.

I think that was the original symptom reported when all this started happening. Hard start followed by a cloud of white smoke. I believe a few others also mentioned seeing clouds of steam when water was ingested at speed too.

Sent from my VCDS CAN Gateway

 

[VeeDubTDI]

A little bit of steam is normal in cold weather... not to be confused with the giant plumes of steam people have reported when accelerating and they get the water ingestion stumble.

 

[MonsterTDI09]

Just maybe the people who are having icing problems. Don't see any water or steam.

 

[PlaneCrazy]

I believe a few others also mentioned seeing clouds of steam when water was ingested at speed too.

Yep, that happened to me.

 

[MAXecutive]

I wish I knew about the steam before. I never paid attention to that. I got my new IC installed yesterday and the car seemed fine today. I'll drive it for a week and see how it is. The temperature is back in the 30s so we'll see what happens. I've had lots of stumbles shortly after start up last winter. Maybe it was the start of the issue and this year it finally froze up solid.

 

[path23dv]

Unfortunately it took less than 3 weeks(about 350 miles) for the problem to occur again on 1/28. Here's the large block of ice I removed from the passenger side. This is really a pita:

 

[JBell]

I looked at the intercooler hoses today and couldn't figure out how to remove the clamps. How exactly do you do it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bassman5066]

I looked at the intercooler hoses today and couldn't figure out how to remove the clamps. How exactly do you do it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its a little wire sort of clip on the drivers side. I think you would pull the clip out towards the drivers side IIRC. Pass side is a hose clamp.

Sent from my VCDS CAN Gateway

 

[JBell]

Thanks. I looked at both the driver's side and passenger side, and they both have the wire clamp on them. Is there any specific reason why the passenger side is supposed to only be a wire clamp?

 

[roostre]

If you are asking about removing the ends of the hoses at the intercooler side, this thread may help:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=406180

 

[ctmoore79]

Update: Have noticed using OBD reader and Torque app on phone there is a voltage drop during any drive longer than 10 min. The voltage starts at about 14.6 and has gotten as low as 13.6 after 25 minutes. This is with stop and go as well as highway driving. Have noticed this happening since installation of me IC kit. Battery ground seems tight. Not sure what to do next.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Update: Have noticed using OBD reader and Torque app on phone there is a voltage drop during any drive longer than 10 min. The voltage starts at about 14.6 and has gotten as low as 13.6 after 25 minutes. This is with stop and go as well as highway driving. Have noticed this happening since installation of me IC kit. Battery ground seems tight. Not sure what to do next.

13.6 is still perfectly acceptable and could be due to high electrical load (like electric cabin heat).

 

[ctmoore79]

VeeDubTDI: Thanks for the information. I am observing this with only the radio and headlights. I will keep an eye on the guage and know that it is in the acceptable range. I figure that if it gets low enough I will get a warning light.

 

[Jayg]

Anybody else besides me having multiple issues AFTER the IC kit installation? Multiple egr codes and check engine lights. The dealer went to far as to replacing my DPF. Just throwing parts at it really but I get lots of hiccups and hesitation now. It's never run right since I got the kit put on. I have driven it maybe 3 days in the last 2 weeks since its been on.

In a loaner gasser Jetta again. Getting 35 mpg hwy in the 2.5. Not bad, still don't want one.

 

[Matt927]

I have had my kit installed for two weeks. No hesitation or hiccups. Slight fuel economy decrease but temps have been extremely low.

With regards to the electrical load, I have not noticed a difference. When I have many accessories running and fan on 3 or 4, I will notice a fan speed change at idle but that is normal.

 

[bassman5066]

VeeDubTDI: Thanks for the information. I am observing this with only the radio and headlights. I will keep an eye on the guage and know that it is in the acceptable range. I figure that if it gets low enough I will get a warning light.

My car has been running at 13.5-14 consistently through these cold temps so I second that its normal.

Sent from my VCDS CAN Gateway

 

[cristoaca]

Intake Air Box

It got warmer outside so I removed the pipe insulation and re-installed the snorkel and the intake air box. I noticed that the rear wall of the plastic air box is missing. Just as though most of the air goes straight through the box (open in the back), and only small part of it gets sucked up into the snorkel. This is the box located right under the hood, behind the upper grille, driver's side. Maybe it was like this when I removed it but I didn't notice. Could anybody please confirm if this set up is normal or I am missing a rear panel/plate on the box? Thank you in advance.

 

[HNKS]

Anybody else besides me having multiple issues AFTER the IC kit installation? Multiple egr codes and check engine lights. The dealer went to far as to replacing my DPF. Just throwing parts at it really but I get lots of hiccups and hesitation now. It's never run right since I got the kit put on. I have driven it maybe 3 days in the last 2 weeks since its been on.

In a loaner gasser Jetta again. Getting 35 mpg hwy in the 2.5. Not bad, still don't want one.

I had the kit installed less than 2 weeks ago and noticed during the last few days that gearing seems to have changed on the DSG. Seems like it is quicker to jump to a higher gear and run at lower rpms at lower speeds. More sluggish and slower to shift as a result. Do they reflash the DSG and or the ECU when they install the kit?

 

[ctmoore79]

My car has been running at 13.5-14 consistently through these cold temps so I second that its normal.

Thanks for giving your experience on the situation. I will keep an eye on things. Today was a little warmer and the voltage drop was much less.