Starting a diesel in the cold is annoyingly difficult..

"Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy" (zipppyart)
12/31/2013 at 15:19 • Filed to: None

I tried starting the diesel Jetta, after being parked for 2 days in -10*C to -20*C weather, with a battery that's on its last legs.

After trying for 3 minutes of cycling the glow plugs and cranking, I couldn't get it to start, and I could hear the already slow cranking getting slower and slower with each turn of the crank, as the original battery is already 9 years old.

I connected a trickle charger with a boost function, still didn't work after trying for 5 more minutes trying to boost it.

At this point, I decided to leave it trickle charging for half an hour, and lo and behold, it started on the first try on my return. I was greeted with a lot of white smoke, the smell of diesel, and a rough idle at about 500-800 RPM, which spiked to 2000 for a split second and settling at 1000.

EDIT: added footage of it failing to start

DISCUSSION (13)

Textured Soy Protein > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
12/31/2013 at 15:30

So....time to get a new battery?

Drsweetdik > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
12/31/2013 at 15:31

My parents has diesel Cadillacs back in the early 80's. Loved the 30 mpg, hated everything else. They had twin batteries and they would drain unbelievably quickly. Unfortunately when the batteries drained the starter solenoid would short out and the starter would crank itself to death while you watched helplessly. Oh, the bad old days.

RotaryLover > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
12/31/2013 at 15:34

Wait til you have to boost a semi-truck. You can be outside for 2 hours trying to make them start, especially for a goddamn LNG trucks where you can't put a 24 volt shot when it's cranking or you'll damage some electrical parts (I found a trick to start them with ease since then). Me and a coworker took 1 hour to start a Detroit Diesel powered truck with the booster truck plugged to the batteries, a charger plugged to the starter and another charger plugged to the batteries. It was insane! And consider this, in extreme cold places they leave the diesel engines running 24h/7, like we do with our booster truck when it's under -15 Celsius.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Textured Soy Protein
12/31/2013 at 15:36

Absolutely. Since this is technically still my father's car, I can't really work on anything on it wihout him telling me off about it. He's still thinking the battery has a good amount of life left.

Textured Soy Protein > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
12/31/2013 at 15:38

If you have an Autozone nearby, take it to them for a free battery test. Your dad will appreciate you taking the initiative and not spending money.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > RotaryLover
12/31/2013 at 15:38

..and this is why semis separate the men from the boys.

. . > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
12/31/2013 at 15:45

Crikey, that sound of the car not firing on all cylinders is rather unpleasant.

RotaryLover > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
12/31/2013 at 15:46

hahahahhahaaha not that much. It's a different world. It's much less cramped than car tho.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > . .
12/31/2013 at 16:01

Fortunately, in my case, it only happens when it's really cold.

Ken > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
01/04/2014 at 11:12

I noticed you waited a few seconds for the glow plugs to turn off before starting to crank. This makes it harder to get started. The cylinder needs to be as warm as you can get it for an easy start, especially in the winter. Next time, try cycling it a few times, then as soon as the glow plugs are off, get on the starter.

I've never seen my TDI idle that low (500's i think I saw). Just hit the accelerator till its at around 1500, and hold for 30 seconds. It should be closer to the 902 idle target and not rough.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Textured Soy Protein
01/04/2014 at 15:55

Just brought the old battery to test, The test said it needed a charge.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Ken
01/04/2014 at 16:19

I was always told to wait for it to turn off, although the issue I had was that the battery couldn't hold a charge at -20 weather. The low idle is something I'm concerning myself with as well, I'm thinking the fuel filter hasn't been changed in a while, because my brother knows nothing about the filter.

Ken > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
01/05/2014 at 10:10

Yep, good call on the filter. Check the lines under the seat too. Theres no sense in replacing if the path to the filter remains Spray some compressed air through either end (with the other end to atmosphere) to clear any crap that may be there!