MK1 TDi Starting problems

[bigjeeze]

I'm am unsure of a problem on my wife's MK1. It seems like the battery is flat - and as she hardly goes anywhere that sounds fine. I checked the electrolyte etc and charged it up. It then starts fine. Then a day later hardly turns over. SO I then jump start and test alternator - output 14.5v steady. Battery 12.5v with no drain. I tehn suspect the starter motor but again all seems fine. Today the temp outside was - 5c The engine turned over slowly but then started ok. I am happy to buy a new battery as this one is at least 9 years old but, it seesm OK. COuld it be the glow plugs which are the orignal ones? It's 15 years old this year and done 149K. Any suggestions ( Yes I know buy a new battery! but I am not convinced!)

[Chrispb]

You really need to have the battery drop tested to be certain, but 9 years come on most cars would have had two batteries in that time

[Mirez]

14.5 is good, the alternator is definitely charging the battery. 12.50 when off sounds like a good battery as well, how are you testing the drain? It could be a parasitic drain flattening it overnight but it would have to be fairly substantial to flatten it overnight. Get it drop tested but also measure the current draw when the car's in "sleep" mode (about 20 mins after engine off).

If you've not done this before you need a multimeter with amps mode - connect it in series with the battery terminal and DONT use anything (ie ignition / start / windows). You should see a few amps when you first connect it and then it should settle down - after 10 minutes it should be next to nothing and after 20 it should be almost zero.

Glowplugs, again you can test these - put the meter in resistance mode and measure the resistance between the block and the plugs electrical connector - ideally they should all be less then 1ohm and anything above indicates a plugs poor or failing.

[bigjeeze]

Thanks guys - I don't have the ability to do a proper drop test but then despite Chris's scorn at the age of the battery I don't think it has a fault. The battery doesn't necessarily go flat - in factI would quicker suspect the starter than the battery!.. I think that maybe the glow plugs are a more likely option. They are original and have never been touched so I will test them and see what happens.

[gregers]

take it to your local tyre/battery place,there do a drop test for you.

[bigjeeze]

Update:

The car has been starting fine for the last weeks or so then 2 nights ago the temp dropped to around freezing and the car wouldn't start in the morning. Again I checked the Alternator etc and all seems as it should. So I bought a new battery - Ã,£78 Alphaline 3 year warranty next day delivery. Jesus it is heavy!! Anyway fitted and so far all seems well. Mind you the weather has improved of late so we will have to wait and see.

Ho Hum, - money seems to flow out the door a lot faster than it comes in!!

[gregers]

Ho Hum, - money seems to flow out the door a lot faster than it comes in!!

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