doomkauf at it again!!!

[blubugger]

Ok...a couple weeks ago I put 5 gallons of unleaded in the TDI [TechnoBLUE New Beetle] ...got that all fixed..car ran excellent for a couple weeks. Then the weather changed...got a bit colder her. the car became a bit harder to start. and as the days progressed...got harder and harder to start. Turn ignition key on, let cycle thru the glo-plug heater cycle and at the 3rd to 4tg try would start. Then one morning, while repeating this, the red battery light came on..it no start at all. So, the car has 90k miles on it, so I thought I'd replace/check all those things...checked the battery [Sears DieHard], replaced the glow plugs...still no start. Am getting 12.5 volts for ~10-15 seconds at all the glowplug terminals. So, looking at what is left...I am going to check the alt. Maybe have the remove it. Anyone know of something I am missing? Sad again....

[DZLBUG]

Any white smoke from the tailpipe when cranking or when it finally starts? How fast does it crank, normal or slow?

[scarabY2k]

I say it would be the battery more so the alt. The battery volts and CC amps are what starts the car, the alt. takes over after the start.
With the seasons changing and the temps dropping, I'm guessing that your battery's CC amps might be lacking- how old is the battery?
I'm a gasser, so I'm TDI ignorant, and my battery prognosis is loose.

Good luck buddy.

[simonsi]

Originally Posted by blubugger

...checked the battery [Sears DieHard]

You don´t say how the battery was tested but it seems to be failing the real-world load test in that it can´t start at cold temps. TDi´s need lots of cold cranking amps in any case (way more than gas), and it gets worse in cold weather.

I´d put money on it being a battery issue BUT before changing it, check the terminals are clean and secure.

Not sure what you mean by the red batt light on, that light should come on when you turn the key and only go off when the engine starts, if she won´t start the red batt light will stay on as the alt isn´t generating any volts.

[blubugger]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

I say it would be the battery more so the alt. The battery volts and CC amps are what starts the car, the alt. takes over after the start.
With the seasons changing and the temps dropping, I'm guessing that your battery's CC amps might be lacking- how old is the battery?
I'm a gasser, so I'm TDI ignorant, and my battery prognosis is loose.

Good luck buddy.

thanks...the battery is only a year old..and Sears did a check...is Ok. I am looking into fuel starvation etc. ..like the one thread indicated...the red light should c ome on if the car doesnt run..which is what the heck is going on.

[blubugger]

Originally Posted by simonsi

You don´t say how the battery was tested but it seems to be failing the real-world load test in that it can´t start at cold temps. TDi´s need lots of cold cranking amps in any case (way more than gas), and it gets worse in cold weather.

I´d put money on it being a battery issue BUT before changing it, check the terminals are clean and secure.

Not sure what you mean by the red batt light on, that light should come on when you turn the key and only go off when the engine starts, if she won´t start the red batt light will stay on as the alt isn´t generating any volts.

thanks...my thoughts exactly...i did check all the terminals..and re-tightened them just in case.