Accesscode for changing glowtime - where do I find it?

[UK-IanC]

You might want to take a look at the cranking sensor speed. It's in one of the measurement channels. if that isn't a reading the ECU is happy with then starting can be difficult.

 

[ErikHM]

But it starts right up arter the initial «hard start»

 

[Viking]

Just try disconnecting the coolant temp sensor and see if it makes a difference to the glow plugs duration. It's possible that doing so might default to a worst case situation and make the glow plugs run at maximum duration.

 

[ErikHM]

Just try disconnecting the coolant temp sensor and see if it makes a difference to the glow plugs duration. It's possible that doing so might default to a worst case situation and make the glow plugs run at maximum duration.

I will try that
Only thing is that the sensor is behind the intakemanifold, so I have to do some research to find the right wire

 

[UK-IanC]

But it starts right up arter the initial «hard start»

You mean it starts easier when the engine has had the cylinders firing a bit to help splash oil around and so the starter motor has to work less hard on a 2nd try to get things up to speed? Maybe try watching the crank sensor readings during a "hard" and an "easy" start?

 

[ErikHM]

You mean it starts easier when the engine has had the cylinders firing a bit to help splash oil around and so the starter motor has to work less hard on a 2nd try to get things up to speed? Maybe try watching the crank sensor readings during a "hard" and an "easy" start?

That's right.
Sure! I can do that. What values am I looking for when watching crank sensor readings?

 

[ErikHM]

I may have found "a" problem tho.
I don't know which sensor this is, but the outsidetemp was not -39°C (It was more like 0°C).I don't think it is the tempsensor for the coolant tho. Can any of you make sense of these numbers?

There was a few minutes between the screenshots, so that is why the temperature has rised a bit between the pictures. However, the VCDS said the coolanttemp was 62.1 °C while the dash told me it was just over 70°C. Should that tell me anything?

 

[Uwe]

may have found "a" problem tho.
I don't know which sensor this is, but the outsidetemp was not -39°C (It was more like 0°C).

In your HVAC module, Group 4, Field 2 should be the A/C refrigerant temperature as measured by the G454 sensor. I am not an A/C specialist, but I agree that -39°C seems unrealistically low.

That said, I do not think this has anything to do with a hard-starting engine.

-Uwe-

 

[UK-IanC]

That's right.
Sure! I can do that. What values am I looking for when watching crank sensor readings?

Have a look for "Engine Speed (G28)" in the Advanced Measuring Values for Engine. Log the data on a few hard and easy starts and plot a graph to see if there is a difference.

 

[ErikHM]

You guys are probably going to dislike my solution, but I have solved my starting issue. Since it is only getting colder, and the car was harder and harder to start, I just made my own glow-system . I now have to push a button to make the car glow, and the car fires right up! I have not done anything with the original "glow-system" so the plan is to fix it over the winter The new "system" is put together by a pushbutton and a starterrelay. I think is an acceptable sullotion considering the car is from 2004, has nearly done 340 000km and I got it for cheap. I have also made the installation as clean as I possibly can

 

[Uwe]

I have also made the installation as clean as I possibly can

That reminds me what I once did with an old Mk.1 with respect to the radiator fan. The stock fan thermo-switch would let the coolant get quite hot when the car was not moving. The next cooler one would run the fan too much, even when the car was moving. So the solution was: Stock fan thermo-switch plus a toggle switch on the dash wired in parallel with the thermo-switch. Come to a stop: Turn on fans manually. Drive away again, turn them off manually.

-Uwe-