Hope someone can help me. I have a mk3 golf TD (not TDI) and am having problems getting it started. First noticed it about 6weeks ago, thought it was just the cold weather as it became difficult to start, needed a long time turning over. A couple of weeks ago i left it for a couple of days and it would not start at all. battery would not take a charge so replaced it with a new one , slightly embarrassing this bit , still couldn't get it started until i realised that the immobiliser had cut in due to flat battery. Doh!! Locked the car on the key, unlocked it and then jump started it. After that it was fine as long as it gets started at least once a day. It doesn't even need to be driven, just let it warm up on tickover and it starts fine next morning even when freezing. if you leave it longer than a day it won't start without a jump start.
Anyone got any ideas?

 

It sounds like you have something draining the battery as its standing.

You need to check the current draw on the battery using a clamp meter then remove each fuse in the fuseboxes until the current draw drops then you will know which component is drawing this current. A current draw of about 0.5 amps is acceptable.

 

Thanks for reply Keith.
I don't think it is an electrical problem, engine turns over fine it just won't start. only reason it needs a jump start is because it has to turn over for so long the battery drains completely without jump leads. Thats what i can't figure out, if i start it daily then it starts immediately. after battery i thought possibly glow plugs but they are fine, and i would have thought low compression would affect it all the time. i am guessing it must be fuel and checked to see if there was a lifter pump in tank causing low pressure but it only seems to have mechanical injection (as i expected but thought i should check). doesn't seem to leak diesel from any hoses, though i did replace the diesel returns as they were leaking just after i bought it last april, but there is a faint smell of diesel under the bonnet, more than i would expect but can't trace it and it has always been like this.

 

Not sure if this is related but found some broken insulation with iffy looking connections on the injection pump. This comes from the centre of the pump between the 4 high pressure pipes. i have temporarily soldered some wires on and covered in tape. any idea what this is for? the wires run back to the main harness. my old haynes destruction manual does not show this, it appears to be a blanking plug to take a dial guage for setting diesel timing. think this also may be where the diesel leak is coming from as well as there was some left on my fingers while fiddling around there.
any help gratefully received as it is doing my head in.

 

Sorry I've never heard of a Golf TD and if you it you only get the TDI showing up.

Is it petrol or diesel?

 

It is a Turbo diesel, not tdi model.Engine code is AAZ. They made these from '91 before the TDI but also produced them alongside TDI (which are 1Z and AHU engines) from 93 until about 97/98. Not as powerful (only 75bhp) or sophisticated as the TDI as no ecu /mass air flow meters etc easily recognisible as it has a proper throttle cable that goes to the injection pump.

 

You don't say what year your mk3 Golf is but on the later PD engine if you unplug the engine coolant temperature sensor and try and start the car the glow plugs will be force into a 20 second activation time so you can be sure they are working. If it does start quicker then you need to check out the glow plug circuit.

I also suggest you join a good TDI forum even though yours isn't a TDI as alot of things will be the same. VW TDI forum and Audi TDI forum - myturbodiesel.com