What did you do to your MKIV today?

[braddies]

+10°f, Glowed twice and cranked right over, latest burpod tune is doing good in the cold. Entertainment was watching the steam from a hot coffee turn to snow.
Anyone else's 5speed feel like it's filled with molasses until it warms up?

 

[jmodge]

It's almost abuse but I started it

Using celsius is cheating, false negative

 

[J_dude]

Using celsius is cheating, false negative

That’s only because you’re using the wrong system, water freezes at zero.

 

[Sting]

I think my battery might be getting weak... not at all terribly cold, just below freezing, but I hadn't touched the car since Friday. Had to crank a little bit today. Buuuut... It's the same battery (OEM) since I got the car in 2020... so it's at LEAST 5 years old, probably 6 or 7. I used a VW OEM diesel battery in my old E30. It was slightly used, but I still got 7 years out of it, and that all Ontario winters.

Hoping I might be able to get it to warmer temps, which aren't that far away in Victoria. Probably will just get another OE, unless there's a better recommend?

 

[norbert77]

+10°f, Glowed twice and cranked right over, latest burpod tune is doing good in the cold. Entertainment was watching the steam from a hot coffee turn to snow.
Anyone else's 5speed feel like it's filled with molasses until it warms up?

The shifter itself is sticky for a while. I put in some aftermarket recommended synthetic gear oil in the summer seems to shift fine in cold too

 

[jmodge]

That’s only because you’re using the wrong system, water freezes at zero.

Not down here, unless by the improper use of glycol

 

[P2B]

Probably will just get another OE, unless there's a better recommend?

I used to get my batteries from the dealer until a few years ago when new ones let me down in their first or second winter, then I switched to Canadian Tire AGMs.

Just checked my spreadsheet - turns out the CT AGM in my sedan was purchased in December 2016. I hadn't realised it was that old, but I haven't had any problems starting the car in 20 below weather the last few days.

 

[Sting]

Thanks P2B. I have a CT AGM in my motorcycle and it's been great. I'm on my second one. I'll check them out!

 

[TDIGAZ]

Lots of rattling noise lately coming from serpentine belt area.
Hadn't had a good look to see what was going on, but just assumed it was the tensioner shock starting to fail (again).
Then, the afternoon before I was about to see what's what, whilst driving the noise suddenly stopped (oh oh ).
I lost power steering and the battery light came on, so I knew the serpentine belt had jumped off.
Pulled over and was able to ensure the belt wasn't caught on anything and then limped home.
As you can see from the pic, the noise WASN'T coming from the tensioner shock... looks like the bearing failed on the idler roller and the roller eventually separated from the bearing.
Failed Serpentine Belt Relay Roller Idler Pulley:

Ordered new part though Amazon.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0066QSTBO?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Installed today and all is quiet again.

 

[TDIGAZ]

Of course in order to do this ^^^^^ repair, it's necessary to remove my skid plate.
I'm always amazed at the amount of scratches, scrapes and gouges my Evolution Atlas skidplate has had to endure through the years.
Just thought I'd give a "shout-out" for how well this plate is made and shudder to think what damage may have occured to my car without it.

 

[norbert77]

I used to get my batteries from the dealer until a few years ago when new ones let me down in their first or second winter, then I switched to Canadian Tire AGMs.

Just checked my spreadsheet - turns out the CT AGM in my sedan was purchased in December 2016. I hadn't realised it was that old, but I haven't had any problems starting the car in 20 below weather the last few days.

CT AGM here too, lasted 6 years when I put it in the car, only replaced it with the same because I put a new alternator. The old one said made in Germany on it, this one does not.

 

[GlowBugTDI]

Idler bearing noise revisited. Not sure the spare idler I had is any better so if anyone knows where I could obtain just an idler bearing without the whole kit let me know!

 

[P2B]

Idler bearing noise revisited. Not sure the spare idler I had is any better so if anyone knows where I could obtain just an idler bearing without the whole kit let me know!

Idparts has the bottom roller separately, I'd give them a call about the top one.

https://www.idparts.com/timing-belt-small-bottom-roller-alh-038109244e-zp01651-p-349.html#product_tabs

 

[GlowBugTDI]

Described as bottom roller, I'd give them a call before ordering

https://www.idparts.com/timing-belt-small-bottom-roller-alh-038109244e-zp01651-p-349.html#product_tabs

Thanks, not it but when I clicked on the link this popped up under it. Which is the one I need. Didn't see it before.

https://www.idparts.com/small-top-timing-belt-roller-alhckracvcacrua-058109244-zp01611-p-348.html?ceid=73d77b15807b90a05f8bcc36e333d181

 

[csstevej]

Lost 5th gear on the shifter the other day , took me 3 days to find the diesel geek shifter bushing kit I had gotten last year.
Replaced large deteriorated yellow bushing with the new one from the kit . It’s nice to have 5th gear back .

 

[burpod]

This morning, 6:00, 1*F, I cycled the glow plugs twice. It started right up like nothing.

Of course, I had to look through the frost on the inside of the windshield for the first 15 minutes of the drive to work, breathing as little as possible.

good to know this

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

+10°f, Glowed twice and cranked right over, latest burpod tune is doing good in the cold. Entertainment was watching the steam from a hot coffee turn to snow.
Anyone else's 5speed feel like it's filled with molasses until it warms up?

My car sat at the Boston airport over the weekend. Came off the red-eye from CA at 6:30 AM yesterday, 10F here. One pre-glow and IBW fired right up. And yes, the shifter was a little stiff. But I have G050 gear oil in there.

 

[PakProtector]

Idler bearing noise revisited. Not sure the spare idler I had is any better so if anyone knows where I could obtain just an idler bearing without the whole kit let me know!

Let me check my pile of bits. My swap car came to me with a new Continental kit installed poorly, and I replaced it but kept the bits as they only had a few miles on them. If that small idler is still there, it's yours. Check PM later wednesday evening if I find it.

Douglas

 

[Sting]

Morning start today was better. I think the few colder days and no driving sapped the battery a bit. I'll have to load test it... hopefully it can wait until next fall.

 

[Zak99b5]

Yesterday's start at -5*F was much like the day before--double glow, started right up. But I let it idle for 5-7 mins before driving. Still got frost on the inside of the windshield from breathing, but it came up to temp sooner during the drive, so it wasn't as much of an issue.

This am it was 10*F. Did everything the same as yesterday including the idle time, and four minutes into the drive the temp "gauge" was pointing at 12:00.

 

[dieseldonato]

+10°f, Glowed twice and cranked right over, latest burpod tune is doing good in the cold. Entertainment was watching the steam from a hot coffee turn to snow.
Anyone else's 5speed feel like it's filled with molasses until it warms up?

Shouldn't need to glow twice running burpod tune. -2*f this morning, waited for the glow light to go out, car fired up on the third revolution, sputtered for a half second and smoothed right out.
I work with the guy I bought the car from, and he told me this week he can't believe ive been driving the car. He's said in the past (and when I bought it.) He didn't drive it over winter since he couldn't get it to start under 30*f. Only thing I've done to correct the problem I'd adapt slightly longer preglow duration on vcds, and replace the haggard glow plug harness. Burpod did some tweaks to the tune fairly early on that made positive improvement in starting too. (No idea what.)

 

[J_dude]

Not down here, unless by the improper use of glycol

Well to quote my grandfather (who grew up well before Canada went Metric), “I never understood that, even when I was a kid. It’s 32 above and it’s freezing? I mean, how genius do you have to be?”

 

[SilverGhost]

I miss my Golf. Winter starts in Montana with -20F to -30F were single glow and rattle to life. First 30 seconds sounded like YouTube videos of Big Cam Cummins starting in same weather, but smoothed out considerably after that. Worst were the almost -40F with wind chill reaching -60F. BEW really is a good engine. Frost heater was added quickly after a few of those horrid sounding starts. Bonus - it defrosted a small patch in the middle of the windshield - coolant thermo-cycled thru the heater core.

Jason

 

[braddies]

The shifter itself is sticky for a while. I put in some aftermarket recommended synthetic gear oil in the summer seems to shift fine in cold too

Hmm, I've got one quart of Synchromesh with one quart of Lucas synthetic, might try straight Synchromesh next time it's changed.

Shouldn't need to glow twice running burpod tune. -2*f this morning, waited for the glow light to go out, car fired up on the third revolution, sputtered for a half second and smoothed right out.
I work with the guy I bought the car from, and he told me this week he can't believe ive been driving the car. He's said in the past (and when I bought it.) He didn't drive it over winter since he couldn't get it to start under 30*f. Only thing I've done to correct the problem I'd adapt slightly longer preglow duration on vcds, and replace the haggard glow plug harness. Burpod did some tweaks to the tune fairly early on that made positive improvement in starting too. (No idea what.)

Probably didn't need two glows, figure if one's good two can't hurt and might help it. Yesterday at ~22f I glowed it, left key on to get a vcds log going for the cold start and by the time I got the log name set up it had been a few minutes since the glow plugs cycled, cranked for 4-5 seconds and it caught and got going.

 

[norbert77]

I have a Malone stage 3, my mileage sucks. Corrected is 6.39L/100km. But I also drive a bit quicker since speedometer is accurate. Curious if the Burpod tune should improve mileage? How is it installed? Local guy said my ecu was older style he had to do something to it to accept a tune. I'm noob to all that

 

[norbert77]

Hmm, I've got one quart of Synchromesh with one quart of Lucas synthetic, might try straight Synchromesh next time it's changed.

Probably didn't need two glows, figure if one's good two can't hurt and might help it. Yesterday at ~22f I glowed it, left key on to get a vcds log going for the cold start and by the time I got the log name set up it had been a few minutes since the glow plugs cycled, cranked for 4-5 seconds and it caught and got going.

I meant the shifter itself was stuff in the housing, but tranny shifted great. I lubed the assemble with some grease when replacing the shifter boot

 

[braddies]

I meant the shifter itself was stuff in the housing, but tranny shifted great. I lubed the assemble with some grease when replacing the shifter boot

Ahh ok, might try greasing the ball and socket joint under the boot.

I have a Malone stage 3, my mileage sucks. Corrected is 6.39L/100km. But I also drive a bit quicker since speedometer is accurate. Curious if the Burpod tune should improve mileage? How is it installed? Local guy said my ecu was older style he had to do something to it to accept a tune. I'm noob to all that

2001 beetle? Should be able to flash tune through the OBD port, @burpod would know

 

[P2B]

Shouldn't need to glow twice running burpod tune.

Or a stock tune. I've never understood this glow twice nonsense, makes no difference in my experience. If it does, something is not right.

 

[Bradm]

I agree. Would two glow cycles draw enough voltage to effect CCA?
In sub-zero temps

 

[braddies]

Or a stock tune. I've never understood this glow twice nonsense, makes no difference in my experience. If it does, something is not right.

Maybe twice adds a little extra heat into the compression area? Heats up the cylinder more than just one glow?..
Now I have to try and see if there's any difference between one glow and two glow cold starts

Edit: 28f, turned key to run, let sit for ~10 seconds until glow plug light went out, cranked without re-cycling the plugs and it took a few seconds of cranking before it caught and a few more seconds to smooth out. Indeed two cycles of glowing makes for a significantly smoother cold start. I do have a code that just recently popped up for plug #1