[Vwdiesel] Re: Starting a Rabbit D with no battery.

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

At 1157 AM 12/17/2004 -0800, Hagar wrote
...snip..............

I swear that I can drive Bunny Bondo home ----even if battery was 
stolen  ----no
electrics are needed to run a Rabbit 1984 1.6L Turbo.    --- great feeling 
to do that.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
OK, Hagar, I think that would work.

I _know_ you could drive the Rabbit home with no battery IF IT IS ALREADY 
RUNNING, because I've done it a few times.

But, getting a battery-less Rabbit D to execute a cold start in the middle 
of the winter requires a few special circumstances.

I guess if the hill was long enough, and we could coast fast enough, we 
could spin the engine and alternator enough to both activate the fuel 
shut-off valve release and heat up a few glow plugs, enough to fire a few 
cylinders and then maybe get all of them going.

I would want a LONG hill, with the Rabbit at the top. Then I'd coast the 
Rabbit down that hill and let out the clutch in 3d gear at about 15-20 
miles an hour (to spin the alternator), at which point we turn on the 
ignition key to glow plug position and count to ten. And pray that the 
alternator is putting out enough current to open the fuel shut-off valve 
and fire up a few glow plugs. Maybe it will be running after a few 
seconds....who knows 'til we try it?  But I can't see that Rabbit starting 
with a cold engine and no glow plug involvement. Or, it would have to be 
one LONG hill....

OK, I guess I agree with you. But somebody with a long hill should try it.

Doyt