TDI cold weather issues

[steve184]

I've been noticing a couple of odd things while the weather has been so cold.

When i start my car in the morning, i preheat it for as long as the light tells me to, and i turn thekey but i kind of starts with a sort of bang - not an explosion bang more like a knock kind of bang - and its just the first start from icy cold. If i immediately stop and start again it starts normally after that and also when warm

Another ting is i can feel a slight notchy feel to the steering when moving slowly, ie, parking, manouevring etc - particularly noticeable when stationary (yes i know you don't really turn the wheel when stationary - but this demonstrates the prob more)

Any of the above familiar to anyone?

cheers

 

[mattandrew]

might be worth a vagcom check, ive checked an ive got a glow plug down on one of the cylinders. bought a full set but hopefully fit them at the weekend

 

[kaz219]

might be worth a vagcom check, ive checked an ive got a glow plug down on one of the cylinders. bought a full set but hopefully fit them at the weekend

Are the glow plugs easy to do?

And how much were they if you dont mind me asking?

Sorry for my dopyness but I;ve got the first diesel in the family!

 

[mattandrew]

Are the glow plugs easy to do?

And how much were they if you dont mind me asking?

Sorry for my dopyness but I;ve got the first diesel in the family!

Cant remember but ill check 2 moz as the bills at work, i bought oem glow plugs as speaking from experience cheaper ones are useless.

Should be easy enough to fit. saying that ive got a box full of bits to fit (air, fuel and air filler service, oils, cambelt and water pump)

 

[kaz219]

Cant remember but ill check 2 moz as the bills at work, i bought oem glow plugs as speaking from experience cheaper ones are useless.

Should be easy enough to fit. saying that ive got a box full of bits to fit (air, fuel and air filler service, oils, cambelt and water pump)

Cheers matey

I was thinking of doing mine as i had everything serviced (cambelt, tensioners, oil, all filters) minus the glow plugs and the brake fluid (which I'll do once my S3 brakes have properly bedded in

 

[steve184]

ahh funnily enough a few months ago i had my glow plug light start flashing on the motorway - i drove on for a while and it stayed flashing - i then stopped off at the services and after restarting the car the light went off - and it hasnt been on again since (apart from when starting as normal)

I told audi about this (as the car was in for somethign anyway) and they checkd it out and just said keep an eye on it - i think they said if it happens again they would fit new glow plugs

Possibly related? So do you suspect one of them isnt pre heating correctly so causing a force start on one of the cylinders causing the extra noise and slightly wobbliness of the engine immediately at start?

Do glow plugs not last too long then? What are their main wear factor? Age, number of uses, colder starts, mileage?