High Idle & Remote Start

[1120JettaTDI]

Does VW offer a high idle feature on the Jetta TDI? Why no remote starts? I undersand its not all that great to idle a diesel at low rpm for too long in the cold. If they had a high idle feature the car would warm up quicker and melt ice off of windshields quicker. As far as remote starters go. Whats the difference if I remote start my car from inside my house for 10-20 minutes or sit in my car for 10-20 minutes to defrost my windshield so I can see while I'm driving down the road. What good is a 4 or 5 star safety rating if I can't see out my windshield? I understand the older cars won't make heat at low idle but if the newer cars have supplimental electric heating elements they should defrost the windshiled at idle.

 

[JSWTDI09]

I believe that Malone Tuning offers a tune with the high idle option, and several sellers have a remote starter that will work with a TDI. You just have to make sure that there is a time delay from ignition on to start so that the glow plugs can work.

The only possible issue with the high idle tune is that any tune has the potential of voiding your engine warranty.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[1120JettaTDI]

My local remote start shop doesn't have any information yet on the install for a 2011. I'm his first request for the 2011 Jetta TDI. He is looking into it. I've been using remote starts in all of my other diesels and have never had a problem even though they have dpf filters. They all have had a timer built in or are tied to the glow plugs and know when the light is out before cranking.

I'm not one for custom tuning. I don't want to jeopordize my warranty. My dealer says the remote start will only void my warranty if a problem is directly related to the remote start. I'll only idle it long enough for the VW supplimental electric heater to defrost the windshield during winter months so it shouldn't be a problem. I can't drive it if I can't see out of it anyway. Might as well stay warm in the house rather than sit in the car for 5-10 minutes.

 

[MayorDJQ]

Either buy a scraper or install a Zerostart/Frostheater for cold weather. I installed a Frostheater kit in my '10 Golf and it's one of the best $100 I've spent on a car in a long time.

Idling a TDI, especially the newer generations, does not warm the engine up significantly.

As for the remote start directly causing a problem, I could see a dealer getting creative and blaming EGR issues, DPF issues, or turbo issues on a the remote start as idling a TDI to warm it up is not a good idea.