MK4 TDI 110 SLOW TURN OVER WHEN COLD,smoking and chugging,HELP

[veedub76]

Hi,
Had my 110 bhp TDI for 3 days now.Turn over first thing in the morning is a real nightmare as it's slow and doesn't always fire up first time.Took 3 attempts the other day,but it's parked on a hill and it was low on diesel.So i refuelled and aded some Miller power diesel additive.Still the same.When the car has been run it's fine starting when warm,just cold it's a pain and it chugs a bit and smokes a tad too like an old timer with a 60 a day habit!!
Thinking it may need a service,or injectors,or a MAF thingy,but it runs fine after pulling off and boosts up ok,the turbo is audible closer to 2000 rpm.
I'm no mechanic and have just got into the diesel persuasion on the VW front after having petrol dubs.
Any advice would be great as i don't want to take it to a ******** and get mugged but i do have a VW specialist down the road who i can use.The car has done 130k and has full VW history up to 90k then private garage after that.
Just the slow turn over is a worry,maybe it's just the battery on it's last leg.
Any ideas guys??

[kenney]

Hi It goes without saying,if your battery is as you say, is on its last legs then you best renew it.A diesel needs a certain speed on turn over to fire up.On a lazy turn over, the fuel is injected into the cyls and will not ignite,and when it eventually does with the excess fuel,you will get a lot of smoke.

[Edjet]

Find someone with Vag-Com in your area, and have them check your timing. Your timing may be retarded enough to not allow it to start easily when cold. This is a common problem with the diesels if the timing belt change was not done by a good diesel vw mechanic.

Try logging into the tdiclub.com pages. This is a great source of information, a list of tdi "gurus" in your area, and a list of Vag-Com owners in your area. I go by Edjet. Here is a list of trusted mech. by state:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=130044

The http://www.ross-tech.com/ will give you an idea of the Vag-Com program and how it works. Dealerships are not always helpful with TDI repair.

With 130K on your car, you may be past due for another timing belt.

My no is 770-985-6198 or 770-733-3128 if I can be of help. I am near Atlanta, GA. Home email is e_dantzer@hotmail.com

Here is a sample post from tdiclub.com on poor starting
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread...tart+when+cold

Good luck, Ed.

[veedub76]

Cheers for the info.I'm in Great britain.I have a VW specialist nearby so will give him a call and hopefully get the problem checked out.
Thing is it's easy to start when the engine is warm but when it's stone cold it's a nightmare and today was even worse as i was freezing last night and snowing today!

[dirtyderv]

Could be glow plugs too which are a cheap and simple fix.

My bora is a bit rough in the cold so im goin to change mine and hopfully it will solve it.

[stuarto76]

I had the same problem on an identical vehicle and it turned out to be the starter motor.

[veedub76]

Thanks for the replies,i'm ringing a VW specialist near to where i live and booking it in asap for a service and starter motor investigation.I've heard that the starter gets full of dirt etc and fails to turn properly,also that the wrong grade of oil can be a problem too.
Do any of you guys use dealers still or specialists to service your motors??