[Vwdiesel] push starting

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/29/2002 1:47:04 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
jjhoehl at hotmail.com writes:

> Ok guys, this is a problem I've had for quite a while and I can't figure it
>  out.  When I crank my engine over with the starter it won't start - no
>  matter what temp.  If I get the car rolling just the littlest bit, I can
pop
>  the clutch and it will start right up no problems.  What's going on here?

  Either no glow as suggested or no fuel.  Of course a neglected air
filter could do the same.
>
>  Is it possible that the starter is taking the juice away from the fuel
>  cut-off solenoid when I crank the engine?

  If the body ground is the only one (engine ground strap broken) then
it's possible.  Put a test light on the solenoid while you crank.  Otherwise
I'd suspect a bad ignition switch or wiring to the (I never can remember
the circuit numbers) 51 circuit?  It's the one that's on while in the
cranking
position, same as the on position only different.  :)  Sort of the opposite
of
the x circuit.
  Other than "wiring" I'd check the air flow (dirty filter or rats nest in
the
intake tube) and the glow plugs themselves.  The other thing could be
if your battery has a dead cell, bad battery cable or weak starter.  Any
of these could cause slow cranking speed and you can crank all day
like  that and never start!  My Audi 5000 TD has the only ground connecting
to a small thin fender brace.  The whole brace gets hot while cranking!
I believe it's a lot of my starting difficulty!  I plan to run an "eye" to
"eye"
6 V sized cable from that to the block.  Should make a huge difference!  :)
  Oh yeah, bad injectors could cause the same problem especially if
coupled with a bad glow plug.
     Loren