I have a 2001 Jetta and the car has 74000 km. It has always run well until this summer when it got harder to start, almost as if the glow plugs were not working. The starter would turn over much more often before ignition with some white smoke coming out the exhaust. I read all the info on this site as to solutions and have tried almost everything on the Glowplugs 101 site. Here is the list - checked glowplugs for resistance and they check out ok, checked out the harness and no break in the continuity of current, checked fuse at battery and no problems, even got a new relay and still no solution. What I have found out is that my glow plug light goes on for a few seconds and then goes out like it is supposed but there is no power getting to the glow plugs. There is no just no power travelling along the circuit to the glow plugs. I have traced the entire line and there is no power . I am absolutely stumped as to the problem as to why there is no power to the plugs and I have replaced the relay. My mechanic is absolutely stumped too and does anyone have any other ideas I can try to resolve this issue? Help.
Major Glow Plug Problem
- Thread starter pandsa
- Start date
Joe_Meehan
Top Post Dawg
During the summer, warm part of the year (like above 40º) the glow plugs are not needed and don't come on.
Is that battery in your 2001 car the original. If so that is likely the problem. Many auto-parts stores will test it for free. Have your checked. While you are at it check out the battery cables to make sure both ends are clean and tightly connected.
Is that battery in your 2001 car the original. If so that is likely the problem. Many auto-parts stores will test it for free. Have your checked. While you are at it check out the battery cables to make sure both ends are clean and tightly connected.
NC01NBtdi
Well-known member
Sounds like the glow plug system is acting correctly depending on outside temp. What is the temp when you are trying to start the car?
If you want to check the glow plug(s) and system, you can unplug the coolant temp sensor and try to start. This should make the car think it is very cold out and the glow plugs are needed. You can do a search on here for instructions and location of the cts on your car. Last winter I got so I could pop the hood, unplug the sensor, start the car, plug the sensor back in and close the hood in under 3 minutes. Of course after it got below 35 degrees the glow plugs cycled anyway.
If it is cold enough to be slightly hard to start but not cold enough for the glow plugs to cycle then the battery needs to be full strength, the starter can't be lazy and the timing needs to be correct.
If you have not changed the timing belt that is a problem, if you have then get the timing checked.
Get a battery with at least 1000 cranking amps and try it. The battery needs to be great, not good and that original is too old to have full strength.
You can read the newbies and the faq threads and do a search and learn alot about other things to try.
If you want to check the glow plug(s) and system, you can unplug the coolant temp sensor and try to start. This should make the car think it is very cold out and the glow plugs are needed. You can do a search on here for instructions and location of the cts on your car. Last winter I got so I could pop the hood, unplug the sensor, start the car, plug the sensor back in and close the hood in under 3 minutes. Of course after it got below 35 degrees the glow plugs cycled anyway.
If it is cold enough to be slightly hard to start but not cold enough for the glow plugs to cycle then the battery needs to be full strength, the starter can't be lazy and the timing needs to be correct.
If you have not changed the timing belt that is a problem, if you have then get the timing checked.
Get a battery with at least 1000 cranking amps and try it. The battery needs to be great, not good and that original is too old to have full strength.
You can read the newbies and the faq threads and do a search and learn alot about other things to try.
KS97Passat
Veteran Member
Yeah, a 2001 model's battery is seven years old!
I suppose there may be only one Moose Jaw, but it might save interested persons some time in figuring out where you are if you were to tell us where that is.
I suppose there may be only one Moose Jaw, but it might save interested persons some time in figuring out where you are if you were to tell us where that is.
peteman
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2003
- Location
- Golden, British Columbia, Canada
- TDI
- 2003 Golf TDI 504 000 km and 2003 Golf TDI 225 000 km
Who doesn't know where Moose Jaw is! Al Capone spent some time there hiding from the Police. Check it out, the tunnels are really cool! It's in Saskatchewan, a stones throw from Regina.
doofus
Active member
Give this a try, I didn't see it in the posts:
Make sure the relay is actually sending voltage into the harness. Could be that the connectors for the relay are bad or the harness from relay to glow plugs is open just a little beyond where the relay plugs in.
Also, don't take electrical grounds for granted, test to make sure.
Hope it works for you.
Clayton
Make sure the relay is actually sending voltage into the harness. Could be that the connectors for the relay are bad or the harness from relay to glow plugs is open just a little beyond where the relay plugs in.
Also, don't take electrical grounds for granted, test to make sure.
Hope it works for you.
Clayton
cage
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Mar 25, 1999
- Location
- lakewood, ohio
One question. Has a timing belt change been done prior to this problem?
The reason I ask is that any time my car has had a starting issue it has been timing related. Unless my timing is in the upper 1/4 of the timing graph I get smokey rough starts.
The reason I ask is that any time my car has had a starting issue it has been timing related. Unless my timing is in the upper 1/4 of the timing graph I get smokey rough starts.
NC01NBtdi
Well-known member
I think you are wasting your time checking glow plug stuff if it is not approx 35 degrees or less, they are not supposed to get current from the relay until it gets cold.
Change the battery
Check the timing if the belt has been changed, if not, change it.
Unplug the coolant temp sensor (cts) if you want to check the glow plug current.
You can use the vag-com to set the amount of time the glow plugs stay on but you should fix any other problems first.
Change the battery
Check the timing if the belt has been changed, if not, change it.
Unplug the coolant temp sensor (cts) if you want to check the glow plug current.
You can use the vag-com to set the amount of time the glow plugs stay on but you should fix any other problems first.
Thanks for the reponses - The timing belt has been changed at 64K so that is not an issue. The temperature during this summer was hot, hot - greater than 27 degrees C. on most July days.
I am going to have my mechanic unplug the coolant sensor and see if that does allow power to get through the glow plug wiring system. That is all that is left to try.
I am going to have my mechanic unplug the coolant sensor and see if that does allow power to get through the glow plug wiring system. That is all that is left to try.
rdkern
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- May 21, 2004
- Location
- Humboldt Co CA
- TDI
- Passat 1997 silver (sold after 11 years), Jetta 2000 atlantic blue
The glow plugs are NOT the reason you can't start easily. They may mask another problem if you force them to, but look elsewhere for your problems. Starter motor is what I would suspect if the battery/charging system tests good. Timing is another big possibility.
Don't mess with the gps at this point. The SHOULDN'T work now.
Don't mess with the gps at this point. The SHOULDN'T work now.
My mechanic noticed a lot of air bubbles in the fuel line. This is another possibility of why it is hard to start after sitting for a while. We cannot figure out how to remove the air as there is no indication of a leak anywhere. Any solutions?
KS97Passat
Veteran Member
Your fuel pump sucks fuel through the lines. Static air bubbles shouldn't hurt, but if you have bubbles moving by as the engine runs, that could be your problem. If the fuel line connections have adjustable clamps on them, make sure they are snug. The o-rings on the thermostatic plastic tee plugged into the top of your fuel filter often leak. They should be replaced every time the fuel filter is replaced. You should be able to get them from your dealer. I'm not sure what size they are, in case you want to get them somewhere else. To get the air out, I think that you could try pulling a vacuum on the return line or bleeding injectors.
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I keep reading about bubbles in the fuel line being a problem. I have always seen bubbles moving through the clear line when the engine is running (2001 Golf TDI). I have seen it in other well running TDI's, so I believe it is normal. The injection pump plunger intake is in a chamber filled with pressurized fuel. Bubbles in the clear line are not a problem. Now, if you see only small bits of fuel passing through the clear line, that is a problem. The injection pump would not be full of fuel.KS97Passat said:
KS97Passat
Veteran Member
I think it's a matter of degree, how much air is being sucked in.
weedeater
Top Post Dawg
There is no such thing as a 'major glow plug problem'. You could pull then out and replace them with bolts and the car will run just fine.
You replace the belt a while back.
Your timing has slipped. It is now somewhat retarded. Makes it hard to start when warm, smoky, etc.
You replace the belt a while back.
Your timing has slipped. It is now somewhat retarded. Makes it hard to start when warm, smoky, etc.
Well we are still absolutely stumped as to what the problem really is. The CEL is now on shortly after starting and stays on all the time. We have checked everything over short of a new battery - mechanic says it is working just with lots of power, starter is working fine because it is turning over and eventually starting the car.
Does anyone know of someone in Regina, SK with a VAG-Com. I need to get the fault codes for the CEL and continue to search for a solution. Thanks.
Does anyone know of someone in Regina, SK with a VAG-Com. I need to get the fault codes for the CEL and continue to search for a solution. Thanks.
rdkern
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- May 21, 2004
- Location
- Humboldt Co CA
- TDI
- Passat 1997 silver (sold after 11 years), Jetta 2000 atlantic blue
Check the timing. Obvious place to start.
Has a good "load test" been done on the battery? How does the mechanic know that the starter motor is good? Does this start easily later in the day, after it's been started once previously, or is it always hard to start? Can you try another battery to see if there is a difference?
My bet is still on the starter motor. It's got to get the engine up to a certain rpm before the ecu will inject fuel (300? 250? something in that area). A weak starter tends to have more problems as the starter motor itself is warmer. An early morning start may be easier than an afternoon start, for instance.
Has a good "load test" been done on the battery? How does the mechanic know that the starter motor is good? Does this start easily later in the day, after it's been started once previously, or is it always hard to start? Can you try another battery to see if there is a difference?
My bet is still on the starter motor. It's got to get the engine up to a certain rpm before the ecu will inject fuel (300? 250? something in that area). A weak starter tends to have more problems as the starter motor itself is warmer. An early morning start may be easier than an afternoon start, for instance.
weedeater
Top Post Dawg
During a belt change, the bolts on the pump are loosened. These are TTY bolts and can't be reused. So if the mechanic put them back, chances are they aren't holding as well and now the timing has slipped. Check the timing.
It also wouldn't hurt to make sure the other TTY bolts were replaced properly. Else somewhere down the road you'll have much bigger problems (motor falling out, etc).
It also wouldn't hurt to make sure the other TTY bolts were replaced properly. Else somewhere down the road you'll have much bigger problems (motor falling out, etc).
Bolts were changed when the belt was replaced. It is always hard to start after the car has not been for a while throughout the day. For example - hard to start in the morning after sittng all night (in warm weather) with some white smoke. It will start easily throughout the day if it doesn't sit too long (three hours). But if it sits longer then the same problem - hard to start.
I noticed yesterday that when I started the car in the morning and had a short ride so the engine really did not have a chance to really warm up (temp. guage did not move up at all) and then let it sit for half an hour it was even harder to start. In fact it would just keep turning over and over (probably 30 or 40 times) without ignition and then finally it started but really like it was flooded or something.
Symptoms are baffling and I will now have to take it to the dealer to get CEL diagnosed.
I noticed yesterday that when I started the car in the morning and had a short ride so the engine really did not have a chance to really warm up (temp. guage did not move up at all) and then let it sit for half an hour it was even harder to start. In fact it would just keep turning over and over (probably 30 or 40 times) without ignition and then finally it started but really like it was flooded or something.
Symptoms are baffling and I will now have to take it to the dealer to get CEL diagnosed.