1.9 tdi mk4 jetta ALH/AHF starting issue and white smoke

[Burvix]

So the JET is struggling to start in the cold. Starts after the 6th swing and puffs white smoke on cold start or warm start. (Starts easier when the motor is warmedup).
Power is down boost dissapears at about 3000rpm. The low power is probably the intercooler leaking nice oil patch in the fender lining and at the bottom where the plastic tanks and metal meet of the intercooler. All pipes are connected properly.

Question is this can the cam,crank and injector pump Timing do this if it is out?
How can I check the timing and how do you set/adjust it without doing a full timing belt job? ie can you loosen the tensioner on the timing belt and re-use it?

Thanks guys

[VWicked]

I think your turbo is saying bye bye

[Cass]

howsit i posted about the same thing last week.

so i had a comp test done , which turned out fine. i moved attention to the glowplug , which i found 2 dead plugs. replaced with a set from goldwagen. it now starts way better but not as perfect as it use to.

google suggests having a look at sum realys i think it was 109 ....
perhaps a maf can also play a role. try cleaning it with electrical cleaner , and if all else fails replace the maf 1500 from gw.

coz to me it sounds like ur car is in limp mode

[Burvix]

Thanks guys I have a spare set of Glowplugs will replace and see if it helps. The excessive smoking and long cranking makes me think that the timing is out. Hope not the turbo is on the way out.

[panic-mechanic]

even if the turbo is on it's way out it will not affect cold start. start with th glowplugs for that yes.

[graham savage]

Either the glowplugs or the relay is going, check there is current to the glowplugs while you're at it

Then check that induction leak, if it a massive hole your motor is getting unmeasured air and losing measured air...

[Tdi jetta 4 ever]

If the injector pump timing is out then it will also struggle to start. Check that and also the condition of the cam belt and the tension of the belt.

[VWicked]

The reason I said turbo is due to lack of boost n white smoke

[MK2 G60]

Has anything major being done to car of late?
Start with the most simple stuff like the glow plugs and comp. test.
Check if there is errors on the ecu before you move onto the more diff stuff.
Cam timming and injection timing does not always warrent removal of belt but thats only if its out a small amount.

[Burvix]

Thanks guys glow plugs will be 1st stop Vag shows no errors except for a door lock module.

[Clev]

Just started up my AHF 2001 with the same issue. Thick white smoke, can't distinguish between oil smell and diesel smell. Car was standing for a few weeks due to a non start issue. Turned out the shut off solenoid plunger was stuck, I managed to fix it. Started the car up with engine start fluid in the intake, thick white smoke emits with a high idle, and the engine sounds like a diesel bakkie without a turbo then cuts out. Like the car's got no air filter connected. Had the same sound when the alternator fuse went and car eventually dies. Any advice?

[Clev]

Hi yall. Having the same problem I think. Had an overfill with oil. Drove at a high speed, engine died/ cut out with lots of black greyish smoke. Started up again after engine cooled down. Engine was very noisy. Glow plug light was flashing. No check engine light. Replaced glow plugs and car was over fuelling. Did pump timing, consumption better but engine shudders with each start up with white smoke. Cant distinguish between diesel smoke or oil smoke. Changed air filter as well. Checked the diesel filter. Clear. The smoke and engine shudder is rife in the morning startup with heavy white smoke. It disappears when car reaches normal operating temperature along with engine shudder. Idles normal at 800rpm but when using gears 1,2,3 theres a flapping noise coming from the injection pump side. When it idles, theres a noticeable ticking sound like tappets. The smoke, engine shudder and flapping noise from the pump bothers me. I was told to set the injection quantity using vcds together with doing the pump timing. Will it solve problem of the loudness of the engine?

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[panic-mechanic]

get the injectors out and have them tested.

[Clev]

get the injectors out and have them tested.

Possibly a blocked injector?

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[Clev]

get the injectors out and have them tested.

Possibly a blocked injector?

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I noticed that the car starts the same way as when I remove tge glow plug rail. These are new gliw plugs installed but it seems like theyre not working. However tge glow plug light isnt on

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[panic-mechanic]

Glow plugs will only work when it is around or below 0 degrees Celsius outside. with summer temps in SA they never work.

[Clev]

Glow plugs will only work when it is around or below 0 degrees Celsius outside. with summer temps in SA they never work.

So its definitley a blocked injector? Will it cause the pump to be noisy? I used the spanjaard diesel fuel system cleaner to try and flush out any dirt inside the system. Didnt help. Its almost as if the diesel is laying on top of the pistons before the combustion chamber gets heated

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[VAG Fan]

Glow plugs will only work when it is around or below 0 degrees Celsius outside. with summer temps in SA they never work.

Interesting.

My AHF glow plug light always lights up for at least 5 seconds when the engine is cool, and with colder weather (e.g. 10°C) it even lights up for 10 seconds. And I can hear a click in the engine bay, so the dash light is not telling lies.

Does that mean that my temp. sensor is faulty?

[Chets]

Hi guys

My diesel pump packed up recently and I had it replaced with a reconditioned one. I just got it back on Saturday. The car runs fine on the open road and turbo also kicks in at 2000rpm.

Problem:
[Cold Starts] - I notice the car struggles to start in the morning. I have to crank the car for about 3 time until it start and when it starts alot of white smoke comes out. But once the car is warm, it doesn't give me the problem. The Glow plug lights are working normally. This only happen for cold starts. Any idea what the issue is and where I can get this fixed?

Thanks in advance

[VAG Fan]

Has the injection timing been checked/adjusted with VCDS? The pump has an adjustable sprocket, and once installed in the car, this needs to be timed to the rest of the valve train. This can only be done approximately with the mechanical timing marks. The fine timing has to be done with VCDS.

The white smoke is probably unburnt Diesel vapour.

[Clev]

Has the injection timing been checked/adjusted with VCDS? The pump has an adjustable sprocket, and once installed in the car, this needs to be timed to the rest of the valve train. This can only be done approximately with the mechanical timing marks. The fine timing has to be done with VCDS.

The white smoke is probably unburnt Diesel vapour.

Did the mechanical pump timing at tdc and bdc but dont have the hex-can cable for vcds. Still dont know if the injection quantity has an effect on the pump making a noise though.

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[Chets]

Has the injection timing been checked/adjusted with VCDS? The pump has an adjustable sprocket, and once installed in the car, this needs to be timed to the rest of the valve train. This can only be done approximately with the mechanical timing marks. The fine timing has to be done with VCDS.

The white smoke is probably unburnt Diesel vapour.

Well I don't know if my mechanic did all of those checks. Do you know of anyone that can check that for me please?

[VAG Fan]

In my opinion, you (Chets) should actually revert this back to your mechanic. The timing check is a standard part of installing the pump. And if it was reconditioned, then the injection quantity should possibly also be checked/adjusted.

If you write where are you based, then the forum could recommend someone.

[Clev]

In my opinion, you (Chets) should actually revert this back to your mechanic. The timing check is a standard part of installing the pump. And if it was reconditioned, then the injection quantity should possibly also be checked/adjusted.

If you write where are you based, then the forum could recommend someone.

Im based in PE. The mechanic who did my mechanical pump timing doest do the computer stuff. He only said the pump timing was out by 30° and set it to spec. I still feel that the engine isnt performing well in terms of the cold start and the drag of the throttle( delay in response when applying acceleration accompanied with a noticeable jerk when accelerating)

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[VAG Fan]

Sorry, bit of confusion. My posts in this thread were all directed at Chets.