[Vwdiesel] (Glow Plugs) Have I reached the end...for now.

[McCanless, James]

Last week the Rabbit would not start so I immediately went to another
vehicle. I got back to it last night. Having read all the archives on
the Glow Plug system I have a question but first a little back ground.
1983 Rabbit Diesel NA 2Dr 124K miles, new pump about 10k, new injections
1k, glow plugs 2k, timing belt 5k. Although I am new to the Rabbit
diesel I am not new to diesels and my skills are not at the expert level
but certainly above average. I pulled the GPR and ensured the contacts
were clean. I reinstalled the GPR and cycle the power. I could feel the
relay energize and de-energize. I check the fusible link and its
connections all good. I took a hot wire from the battery to the GP side
of the fusible link for 7 seconds and vehicle started immediately. I am
at a location away from all my tools and test equipment, so no
multimeter with me, just a few hand tools. My questions. Is it possible
for the relay to cycle but, not allow power to transfer? I would think
that the power could cycle and if the transistor does not transfer that
power to pin 87.  Without a multimeter I can't think of a way at this
time to check pin 87, the power out pin from the relay. This has been my
process of elimination. Power is getting to the relay and providing
power directly to GPs allows the engine to start as normal. This leaves
either the wiring leaving relay, the relay, the socket at the back of
the relay or ______(you fill in the blank to help). If I had my
multimeter I would probably not be writing this!

On the heels of yesterdays emails about the pump I pulled the cold start
after it started last night and I got a slight change in sound and no
smoke. I don't know what Loren's definition of "A nice, noticeable
change" is. I was thrilled to hear it start. 

"I've always used the sound change in pulling the advance lever as a 
quickie indicator of if the timing is set properly.  Cold:  If there is
no 
change, the timing is usually too retarded.  If there's little change
but 
it's really rattly then too advanced I'd guess. Never have encountered 
that scenario.  A nice, noticeable change and a bit smoother running 
and the timing is usually just right or real close.  Hot engine:  No
change, 
timing is slightly retarded.  Very slight change in the sound is just 
right.  Never have seen it make a change in smoke but the most probable 
causes of white smoke is a bad injector or low compression (glow plug/s 
if just the first couple minutes.  Black smoke would likely be a bad 
injector.
     Loren

I had it running directly beside the 01 Jetta TDI. It sure makes the
rabbit sound unrefined...but I guess it would be and unfair comparison.

Troy