HDi Cold starting rough...

[FarmerPug]

There is an old caterpillar forklift 1988 with a perkins diesel and its a real session to get started, you have to hold in a button for 30 seconds then start it, if it doesnt start do another 30 seconds until it does start, and when it sounds like its going it splutters like mad for about a minuite so you need to keep blipping the throttle to stop it cutting out.

[totaleclipse]

vw tdis sound terrible in the cold morning start

my dads transporter sounds the same 1st morning early start in winter, as any other time. Best cold start diesel i've ever driven. and it goes like f&%*

[Jimblob]

i didnt want to be the controversial one who would say that but yes i agree they are awful

Why are VW TDis awful? I also have a VW Passat estate TDi (1998) and it's incredibly strong, reliable at nearly 200k miles and does 55 mpg without much trying.
The suspension on the Passat isn't great but apart from that I find the car a solid workhorse.

Only minor problem it's ever had has been the central locking on one door.

J

[FarmerPug]

its a bit too loud thats really it. I suppose its not really awful when actual facts come into the debate dont quote me i just agreed

[jasper5]

well, I replaced my glow plugs this morning, I didn't bother checking everything, too cold to be messing about.
Plugs came out very easy, just had a couple of brackets to move out the way.
Started up right away and run ok, I'll see how it is tomorrow morning before I say it's alright.

One thing that's different is the glow plug light came on for longer first time I started it, then less afterwards.

[rwb]

Definitely taking a few more cranks that usual at the moment. And it shivers until it gets warmed up a bit -- time for some new engine mounts?

On the rare occasion that my glowplug light comes on (which it is at present), it goes off almost immediately (took about 5 seconds on the XUD). Is this normal?

[FarmerPug]

My glow plug light is usually away before the traction control light dissappears.

[jasper5]

Mine is doing the same now, but it did that before I fitted the new glow plugs.

New plugs have made no difference at all.....so far.

[FarmerPug]

how many turns is it taking to start?

[rwb]

It normally starts instantly, but its up to 4 or 5 in the morning now. (Anything out of the ordinary has me fretting like an old woman )

I usually end up letting go before it fires because I'm used to it starting instantly, so I have to try again.

[jasper5]

Mine is starting first time, but needs a lot of cranking.
I'll have another look when I get chance.

[FarmerPug]

Put videos up in that thread i started for comparison purposes.

[rwb]

Put videos up in that thread i started for comparison purposes.

They're here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12955

[FarmerPug]

thats it, record your own startup and add to the thread. PLEASE