Irratic Idle,white Smoke Now No Start Passat Tdi 97

**craigdix** · 08-11-2007,06:07 PM

hi guys,im new so bear with me if you can! i have a passat tdi (97) hatchback,

problem is

i had an irregular idle that fluxuated when foot was not even on gas,i had a look and did see air bubbles in the filter line ? in the morning it never started ,so i chaged fuel filter, and glow plugs,changed oil changed coolant,STILL NOTHING,so in desperation i sprayed wd40 on the wires etc recharged battery,and after a while it turned over yipppeeee!!,then again this morning NOTHING again, checked injectors bled them,checked fuel pump etc ,4 days later im still no further forward with it

i turn the key and oil light now flashes?(is that normal?) all i get is unburned fuel from the exahuast(white smoke) ,so i checked wiring harness to the glow plugs which is fine!!!!
im at a loss of what to try next any information will be most helpfull .
thanx in advance

**adamss24** · 08-11-2007,06:40 PM

Hi, do you wanna sell it ? Regards, Chris-07841206564.

**craigdix** · 02-12-2007,11:38 PM

HI,THANKS BUT NO THANKS,if you have and information regarding this problem i would appreciate it,
i have changed glow plugs and g/p harness, relay 109,fuel filter,battery,starter,fuel lines,oil,oil filter,,hard start or no start when cold,if left to cool down no start again,only starts on a bump only get white unburnt fuel from tail pipe, i had air in fuel return pipe so replaced filter,also checked the in tank filter also had fuel pipes blown through, no codes to read on code reader (PURCHASED TESTER)
tested all relays and wiring with meter,can SOMEONE help thanks craig

**the_old_diver** · 03-12-2007,10:08 AM

Hi Mate,
I had similar symptoms on my Passat (a TD Umwelt 1996, 210,000 miles) and it turned out to be a broken key on the cam belt pulley where it slots on to the crankshaft. This allowed the pulley to move around a little so the timing varied. The white "smoke" was actually unburnt fuel. My garage had also replaced all the things which weren't at fault :-(

Cheers.

**craigdix** · 03-12-2007,03:55 PM

hi thanks i,ll get that looked at,I RECHECKED THE WIRING TO THE IN TANK FUEL PUMP and found it to be 0.20v can any one tell me if this is normal or should it be 12v i also checked the relay again and it seems to work i.e.click when turing key and checked it through 12v battery and also clicks regards craig

**Col** · 03-12-2007,04:58 PM

Have you had it read for faults ?

My guesses are;

Cam / crank position sensor(s)
Needle lift sensor on injector Nr3
Imobiliser.

But they are all guesses.

Go to the vagcom sub-forum here to find someone who may be able to help or have a look at Eshrules Enterprises and others with a view to setting yourself up with vagcom.

Checking the car for fault codes is the only way forwards !

**craigdix** · 03-12-2007,06:51 PM

hi thanks col,
i'll get looking at that in the morning,(is there anyway to test cam sensor?)

had it tested on an obe reader and had no codes,only the codes were the ones from unplugging the power supply to the units,can you tell me if the 0.20v to the fuel pump (intank) is normal or should it read 12v,as i was going to bypass and put it straight to a 12v supply to see if it stars the car any easier? if i crank and crank and crank it does eventually start but takes up tp 15min of cranking,starter starting to smoke so trying to be a we bit more cautious.
thanks again for your info regards craig
ps no imobiliser

**Col** · 03-12-2007,08:50 PM

They don't have a tank mounted pump and what you may have been testing was the fuel level sender.

You must get the car read for faults.

**craigdix** · 04-12-2007,11:58 AM

ooooooooooooppppss,well at least i know what it is now.
BTW its a 1996 car(n) reg,does that make any differance to the cam sensor position(location), i have the mitchel on demand system on cd and cannot locate the cam sensor?,only says cold start injector are they the same? ive had a scan with the reader i bought,but is that an appropriate reader?or do you recomend a vag scan?
once i have the car started it runs perfect no missing or irratic idle etc its gr8,i just cant get it started when cold

????? thanx again craig

**craigdix** · 04-12-2007,03:13 PM

ive just been out for the past 4 hrs in pssn rain up to my knees in mud
( as i live on a farm,)
had it checked with code reader and no codes,checked all connections with meter and they also read fine

#
turned ignition after dryin myself off and still crank crank crank????????
pushed it 5ft jumped in and 2nd gear and away it went, took it for a run with no probs.
i am now grey haired and dreaming about my car (sad) i know
checked timing belt position and thats fine

i live 5miles away from the nearest village and its a hell of a walk in the rain/snow, so i need my car fixed
ANYONE ANY IDEAS?
regards dripping wet and filthy.