[Vwdiesel] Looking for Tips to Minimize Startup Smoking in Winter

[Sandy Cameron]

At 11:13 AM 11/01/2008 -0600, you wrote:
>I have an '82 Rabbit which smokes generously for 30 seconds if less than
>40 F and not preheated fully by block heater.   I assume this may have
>been the normal condition out of the showroom, but I wanted to make sure
>I am not missing something.  My problem is that I don't know what
>"normal" cold weather starting is.
>

One or more glow plugs are open circuit, and/or "after-glow" time is too short.
Cars made from 93 up have an extended glow period after starting, to reduce
polution.

But it's still imprtant that ALL the plugs are OK for a clean start

I'll bet it runs very rough until the cold cylinders light up, then the
cloud of smoke ensues, followed  by smoothing out the roughness, and the
smoke stops a short time later

Cure:

1) Remove buss bar completely and toss it (into a copper recycle bin)

2) connect a length of #12 or #14 solid insulated (stripped from a piece of
romex) wire to each plug. Readily available at any construction site dumpster.

Test each plug separately with a test lamp, or ammeter, good for 10 amps,
from the Pos. batt. terminal.....replace duds.
Ohm meters have been known to lie, as they dont use enough current. The 10
amp ammeter is the best indicator the plug is functioning

3) Bring the wires together a few inches above the injector lines.

4) Connect them together, along with the heavy wire you removed from plug #4.

5) Carefully tape the joint and bind the wires to the top injector pipe with
ty-wraps so they dont flail around from the vibration.

If you make the joint with a nut and bolt, you will be able to take it apart
quickly, and test each plug individually with a test lamp from the Positive
battery post. (I re-typed that from Pos. as that now seems to have a
different meaning from an abbreviation for positive.)

 Getting old, I guess

Sandy