Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 Bonjour. I know it's not a raddo, and it's a diesel, but i'm wondering if anyone here knows anything about diesel engines because my entire knowledge on them could be writtern on the top of an average sized sausage. My car ( 1.9 diesel Golf P reg ) doesn't like starting in the mornings. It takes at least 2 attempts. After the first start it's fine for the rest of the day. It had new glow plugs,battery,starter motor before I bought it (( obviously the previous owner tried to get to the bottom of it )) The car is also veeeeerryy sluggish, it feels very smooth for a diesel but just even more sluggish than I would expect, so i'm wondering if there could be some sort of fueling problem?..maybe the fuel filter? could this cause problems with the starting and lack in performance ? :? I'll be trying to get something a bit quicker very soon (( either Mk2 GTi or cheap Raddo )) So I want to get the golf running perfetly before I flog it. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Certainly i've heard that fuel filters on the diesels are a much more regularly replaced part than on petrol cars - think they are in the service schedule to be done at every 20k mile service.. might be worth getting it changed as its a cheap part and a doddle to do! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 Yeah, cheers mate, usefull to know. :D I'm planning on doing the fuel and oil filter next week, just wondering if any other probs are glaringly obvious to anyone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billinjah 0 Posted January 8, 2006 you can unscrew the botom of the fuel filter and let any water that has collected there out. a common cause of bad running on diesels. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Could it be a temperature sensor that needs changing if its a bit of a pig to start in a morning? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 Thats the thing that's bothering me, the car isn't running badly , it just doesn't like the first start, and it feels a hell of alot slower than my mother in laws p reg 1.9 diesel clio ... which it shouldn't :( :? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 Could it be a temperature sensor that needs changing if its a bit of a pig to start in a morning? I dunno if it has any :oops: Thats the problem , on a raddo, i'd know what to play with , but I haven't got a clue with this thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted January 8, 2006 It should have. My TDI certainly has a few temp sensors, and its been mentioned on UK MKIV's that a bad temp sensor can often be responsible for morning start woes.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Valerian 0 Posted January 8, 2006 If it runs fine apart from cold starting ...the usual supects are the glow plugs The Glow plugs are used to ignite the fuel in the cylinders on start up. *wave from just up the coast* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 Yeah , The previous owner had them changed :? *wave from down the coast* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billinjah 0 Posted January 8, 2006 Yeah , The previous owner had them changed id still check them though, the water thing i mentioned solved my audi 80 tdi's sluggish feeling and bad starting, best of all its free! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Wales - you are letting the glow plug light go out before starting up I assume? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 LOL...yeah, i'm bad but not that bad :wink: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Just checking... If the glow plugs are ok then maybe try the capacitor... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 don't blame you for checking mate! Right...what a capacitor when its at home ? are they easy to change? and how much are they? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Easy to change and very cheap... Just go to VAG and ask for a Flux Capacitor for a mk3 TDi... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 it aint a TDi...belive me... :roll: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Sorry TD - they should have one instock, usually about a fiver... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 LOL..now you're really rubbing it in aren't you? Its a 1.9 D!! :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Oh... forget that then as only turbo diesels need a flux capacitor... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 ..grrr..well i'm fluxed then :wink: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Right, next thing I'd do in your position... Go to VW, explain the problems with it not starting up properly in the mornings and suggest that someone has a quick look at your big-end.. they may be able to see what the problem is just by getting under there and taking the cover off... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 Nah, bollox to that!..they'll want £80 an hour to look at it and tell me " its a 10 years old car mate" It's a simple looking engine, but i've just never done anything on a diesel at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted January 8, 2006 Ok, are you sure the glowplugs were changed or were you just told that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walesy 0 Posted January 8, 2006 I had a reciept for them , and the boxes for them were in the glove box aswell, i may just change them again. Would the glow plugs make it run a bit sluggish aswell then? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites