Club 80-90 Forums

Good evening

I have a couple of problems with my new 1990 1.6 TD JX and would appreciate any ideas. The engine is strong a goes a lot better than I thought it would.

1. From cold it starts on the button, turn key, glow plugs go on/out, turn key, fires up straight away. The problem is, when its warm I have to pull out the cold start lever and crank it for about 15 seconds to get it going. once its fired up, its fine.

2. Temp gauge was reading low and temp went up when stationary so checked the thermostat and found there wasn't one. Fitted a new one with housing, fresh vw coolant and bled the cooling system, now the temp just goes up and up to the max. I have taken it back out so I can still use it.

Any ideas?

Thanks

In answer to you first question mine is the same i am told that it pump timing needs to be advanced a bit. I have just learned to live with it. Mine has a little yellow plug at the top of the engine bay which is the senser wire for the glow plugs if you disconect this you get glow plugs when the engine is hot and it will start fine.

Thanks for that, had the pump timing checked and it was ok, turns out that the timing belt was a tooth out, new timing belt fitted correctly and now the problem is sorted.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply,

I forgot to add regarding the temperature problem. I have replaced the radiator and water pump to try and rectify the temp but the gauge still goes up to the max, but the engine is not overheating, the gauge is reading wrong. I have also replaced the temp sender.
Any ideas?
Cheers

I think somewhere, the temp sensor line is grounding out if it max's out when the key is turned

It doesn't go straight up when you turn the key it goes up gradually as it warms up. When I was running it without the thermostat the gauge would sit at just below the LED. Pulling my hair out!