Honeymoon w/ 350 sdl is over
 

I unlocked my door this morning and noticed that only the driver's door unlocked. I turned the key to glow position and no GP light. I cycled the switch on/off anyway to give the GPs heating time just in case they were working. They weren't. Cranking the motor it felt like it was turning over slower than usual but I kept at it and about 20 seconds into cranking I saw the GP light flicker....2 minutes later after multiple combos of crank and wait the motor started. I felt some surging the first minute of operation. When the motor heated up everything was back to normal unless making right hand turns...The darn thing surges on right hand turns only! :confused:

Temp was 41F.
Could I have a weak battery?
What's with the surging on rt. turns?

I want my 617 back!

Your not going to believe it but one of my diesel jettas quit on moderatly sharp left turns. But would key start up right away again. Took me a week of thinking and doing this and that. Problem stopped when I found a water separator towards the back of car had a crack in it. Was not leaking fuel either. Problem ceased when I changed it out. Not infering this is your problem but the air leaking into the jettas system that far away was not really a possibility at first in my mind. Plus why only on left curves? Even today does not seem to have a lot of logic to it. My first thought was the shut off solinoid that is electrical on jettas was shutting down on left turns either through poor wiring or end connections. It only took a few minutes to eliminate that as a possibility but for a few days it had me quite interested. I would do an extensive search of the archives on your problem unless someone posts a simular experience as yours and solution. Your overall problem sounds more electrical in nature. In fact if you fix one problem will probably eliminate every other symptom you are experiencing. Perhaps I would start with checking the various grounds. Seems like too much is going on to be just a fuse. You may have lost a major power feed too. I think i might concentrate on finding out why the glow plug circuit is inactive first. most likely to point you to the problem.

Barry,
Thanks for your response.
I think I have solved the surging...I had an inline filter installed just prior to the lift pump. On right turns, just enough of the air would enter the pump. Either place the filter north south or make sure there is no air in the system.
The no start issue will have to wait until another cold morning as it is now working fine.
Don

It sounds like a real weak battery, the air pump in the trunk didn't have enough juice to to anything.

Is the alt light on? I would check the alt to make sure it is charging and check the battery. If it is old, winter is coming so just replace it. Check the ground cable and make sure it is making a good connection.

sounds like
 

glow plug function is not right. the other probs are prob related. did you check your fuses?

tom w

air problems?
 

maybe there is clogging in the tank,
you could try blowing it out from the pre filter with a bicycle pump or something.

Just be sure to blow into the tank and not the engine, and to purge the air after with the thumb pump.

Mark

I think it is a weak battery issue.
This morning was 31F.
Again no door lock function.
Turn key to wait position and only the SRS light comes on.
Crank crank crank...15 seconds and the glow plug light flickers.
Another minute or so of flickering and the motor catches.
If the door locks functioned properly I would even suspect the ignition switch (what do you call the key switch in a non ignition car?).
Tomorrow AM I will connect my booster battery and if things work out I'll get a new battery.

What's the opinion on higher amp batteries?

Does not sound like battery problem to me but??? Reason I say that is your comment on the glow plug light eventually flickering..... if it was a bad battery why would it eventually flicker AFTER the battery gets more drained from trying to start it several times.

The spinning of the alternator generating more juice than that used to turn the starter? :eek: :confused:

Could cold weather affect the key switch?

Suggestions:

1. Check glow plugs. Leave the door open, turn the key. If the dome light dims, some are glowing. If there is no dim, none are working.

2. Check the glow plugs with a multimeter. Lots of threads on how.

3. If you can crank enough to start without proper glow plugs, your battery is probably OK for now. Go back to #1 and #2 above... ;)

4. Do your power locks not work on unlock AND lock? Listen for the vacuum pump in the trunk. If it's running, you may have a door lock vacuum leak.

Let us know.

Oh, did I suggest that you check the glow plugs?

yeah
 

i dont know the cause but it sure sounds like the glow plugs are not on duty.

tom w

I hooked up the battery charger last night. This morning same thing but I didn't crank the motor. I turned the key back and forth without cranking and all the lights lit up and I was able to start w/ just a touch of the starter motor.
I don't think it is the ignition switch as the door locks and interior lights were not working.
I tightened the main ground strap but that looked like it had a good connection.
Is there some main breaker or fuse off the battery? All the fuses in the fuse box look okay. I replaced all the small fuses when I bought the car about a month ago.
I keep selling the simplicity of diesels to all who are willing to listen...and I make it a point to tell them that a diesel will even run w/ electrical systems disconnected....I need to get this sorted before anyone discovers I am having 'electrical' issues w/ a diesel. :mad: :o :eek: :D :confused:

sounds like you need to start using that multi-meter and start testing things. As others have mentioned here, start with the glow plugs. What is the resistance of the 6 plugs?

Question
 

How many AMPS is your battery charger?
A seriously sulfated battery can eat 25 - 50 AMPS per hour during cold weather, and never charge.

Step #1. Take the car to your local Sears and have them test the battery and charging circuit.

Step #2. Post results.

Yeah that doesn't really mean anything, dead batterys will charge forever.