[Vwdiesel] cold weather starting help 1.6L Jetta diesel

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

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Are there any tried and true methods for having RELIABLE starting once the
ol' Mercury drops really low? (like -20'C/-4'F)
(Like bigger battery?, new thinner oil? new block heater (mine's
toast)?...........anything else?  PO said to pump the accelerator pedal when
starting in cold weather---will this REALLY help at all on a diesel?


  Sounds like you have a dead glow plug or two.
  You don't need a bigger battery, just a GOOD group 41.  A 42 fits but has
enough less CCA to be a problem.  Oil can do it however I've never gone
to thin oil in the winter and although it cranks slower, it's never been a
problem.  A good starter makes a huge difference so have good bushings
or brushes.  I know a lot on the list don't wholeheartedly agree with me
on this but if the starter's old and tired just do a Bosch rebuilt.  I went
through mine, replacing all the bushings, cleaning things up, checking
brushes and so on.  I finally put a Bosch rebuild in and the difference in
cranking speed was HUGE.
  Get some BIG battery cables too.  They really help with cranking speed.
Either build your own from auto parts store's stock items or get a pre-made
cable for 6V applications.  They're 1 or 0ga.  :)  Huge difference.  You
could
go with an Optima or equivelant battery. :)
  Clean air filter, no leaks in the fuel supply or return lines.  This will
make
it hard to start and rob you of power when it sucks air instead of the
colder,
thicker fuel.  Make sure all the glow plugs work well and the relay is
cycling properly.  Worn injectors will make for harder starting as well
as improper pump timing.
     Loren