[Vwdiesel] automatic cold start-Paging Roger

[Libbybapa at wmconnect.com]

(Eventual diesel application/idea) On the CIS-E system on one of my inline-4 
vanagons, there is a sensor to control the cold start valve (5th injector).  
It is called the thermo time switch.  It apparently is a temperature sensor 
that screws into the coolant flage from the center of the cylinder head.  
Whenever the coolant is below 38°F it will turn on the cold start valve.  I know this 
sensor well, as it failed not too long ago.  It actually failed to always run 
the cold start valve.  Made for a hot no-start situation.  The temporary 
solution for starting the van was to plug in the cold start valve whenever it was 
too cold to start without it, and unplug it after the van was running.  As 
this is my work van, that was a real inconvenience of late (cold mornings) as I 
needed to keep the rear hatch area clear in order to acces the engine.  I was 
very pleased when the replacement thermo time switch arrived and solved the 
problem.  Fast starts with any temperature.  
It would seem that a similar sensor could be used with a solenoid to farly 
easily control the cold start on a diesel, on an older cable operated pump.  
Current to the sensor and then to the solenoid to advance the pump.  When the 
coolant got above the desired temperature the sensor would cut the current to the 
solenoid and stop advancing the pump.  I do not think that the thermo time 
switch would work in this application as it has an internal heating element to 
cut current in 8 seconds.  I am sure there are similar sensors without that 
feature that would be less expensive.  I have heard mention that the volvos had a 
system like that.  Anything else similar?  Like Shawn I will be installing a 
1.6TD in a non-diesel vanagon and would like to make the cold start automatic. 
 I am looking forward to Roger Brown liking this idea, running with it and 
offering a bolt on system on his site for cheap.  :-)  I am pretty sure he has 
at least two customers already.  Probably three if I can count David Cook 
also...

Andrew