Need new glow plugs or else the glow plug fuse is blown.

Lynn

I am not sure exactly what you are saying, but it sounds like either a
leak in a fuel line allowing it to drain back into the tank, or it it only
happens when cold (like below freezing - warmer if the compression is down)
then it may be a glow plug issue.  If that is it, remember that glow plugs
can be checked without removing them and they don't have a fixed live.  If
one is out that's all you should try and replace.  Don't try to replace a
glow plug unless you know it is bad (resistance check will confirm that).
Trying to replace them can create a much larger problem if the break off
half way out for example.  They are not like spark plugs that you routinely
replace.

My theories...........
Possibly the little electric shut off valve in the Injection Pump is not
fully sealing so when the engine is off air gets into the fuel lines.  Then
the pump has to push out the air and suck up the fuel from the tank.
Look for bubbles in the lines after you shut off the engine or when you
first get it started.

Or it could just be the glow plugs or its fuse or the temperature sensor or
the relay.  :-)

Gotta test things with a 12 volt probe or meter!

test the glow plugs first.

On Nov 8, 5:17 pm, mil...@connect.ab.ca wrote:

If you have a lot of miles on the engine, you may have a worn seal on
the injection pump shaft.  It keeps air out of the pump.  The seal can
be replaced but it is labor intensive since you have to pull the
pump.  Straight forward after that.  If you have over 150,000 miles on
it, consider also changing the water pump, new timing belt, and the
oil seals on the belt end of the engine block since they are due and
you have it apart.  You will be good for another 150K miles then!

Regarding glow plugs, the most common failure is a cracked 50Amp glow
plug fuse.  They crack right through the 'A' stamped in the fuse!  You
can't see it until you remove the fuse and it falls out in 2 pieces.
I fixed mine with a section of lamp cord stripped and terminals
crimped at each end.  Just long enough to connect to the fuse block
terminals and after the first terminal was crimped on, pull the
insulation off and then crimp on the second.  12 ga. cord.  Blows a
little slower than stock but good enough for a 16 year old car.

81 Rabbit Diesel LS  300,000 miles - sold :(
86 Jetta TD  265,000 miles - Used body parts on 88 Jetta Carat, kept
diesel drive train for another, future, project.
89 Westfalia 2.3L Vortex Motor  140,000 miles on body
91 Jetta ECOdiesel 135,000 miles
93 Corrado SLC VR6 105,000 miles
05.5 MkV Jetta TDI with DSG