Club 80-90 Forums

My van was converted from petrol to diesel by the last owner. He did not bother putting the cold start cable or level in when he did the conversion. I have always had problems with white/blue smoke on start up until the engine is up to running temp. The van is currently with a diesel specialist who is trying to make it less smokey, as its now got really bad. One of things he is keen to do is to try and get the cold start working properly. (along with timing plus checking the turbo etc etc)

Does anyone know if you can still buy the cold start cable? If not has anyone made something else to fit? Or have a 2nd hand one for sale? I have never even seen how one mounts on the dashboard, a photo would help?

Thanks in advance for the help ...

Joe

In all the 7+ years of owning my van I have never used the cold start lever - the only time I had white smoke at startup was when the final glow plug stopped working. Blue smoke would be oil and nothing to do with the cold start. Quite honestly it most probably isn't worth all the effort putting one in, just concentrate on having a fully functioning set of glow plugs and correct timing. They are more for cold climates rather than temperate zones I think. (the constant -15/-20 degrees places.)

Oldiebut goodie wrote:In all the 7+ years of owning my van I have never used the cold start lever - the only time I had white smoke at startup was when the final glow plug stopped working. Blue smoke would be oil and nothing to do with the cold start. Quite honestly it most probably isn't worth all the effort putting one in, just concentrate on having a fully functioning set of glow plugs and correct timing. They are more for cold climates rather than temperate zones I think. (the constant -15/-20 degrees places.)

Thats what I have always thought about the cold start. The glow plugs are all less than 12 months old. To be honest I think its a turbo problem but the guy who is looking at it felt that the cold start should be there and working...

We will see ...

I'm the other extreme ..I use the cold start lever every time the engine starts from cold.
You don't really need it in summer, but in winter time it does make a noteable difference.

you can buy it here: http://www.kaefer-co.de/index.php?view= ... ge&id=3762" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

On the pump it is difficult to describe where it actually goes. Looking from behind it's on the left side, down the middle obscured by all sorts of stuff.

On the dash there normally is a square tab in the dash where it fits to ...but you'd have to improvise something

How odd - mine starts on the nose every time - second crank over. (and I use waste vegetable oil as fuel)

Oldiebut goodie wrote:How odd - mine starts on the nose every time - second crank over. (and I use waste vegetable oil as fuel)

Thats why we love these old vans, they all have a mind of thier own!

peasant wrote:I'm the other extreme ..I use the cold start lever every time the engine starts from cold.
You don't really need it in summer, but in winter time it does make a noteable difference.

you can buy it here: http://www.kaefer-co.de/index.php?view= ... ge&id=3762" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

On the pump it is difficult to describe where it actually goes. Looking from behind it's on the left side, down the middle obscured by all sorts of stuff.

On the dash there normally is a square tab in the dash where it fits to ...but you'd have to improvise something

Unless you want to fork out on the extra dash piece that holds the cable/handle http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-T25-TRANSPORTE ... 20ae75c5b7" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers for that link Peasant, another one for me to bookmark ... just in case