85 Turbo Diesel starting problems

Short description of problem:

It cranks and cranks and cranks, all the while it sounds like it's starting to fire, but never really fires / starts. Sounds like: "Chug, Chug, Chug, Chug, Chug" and so on, at regular intervals.

Leadup (what happened just before):

It was running fine, didn't have to plug it in in the -10C weather. Then we had a cold snap (-35C all of a sudden) and I didn't plug it in that night. The next morning of course it wouldn't start, but I had to get it out of the way. So I let the glow plugs warm up a couple times, and tried to start it - it churned away real slowly, and then began to get slower. I didn't want to kill the battery, so I stopped trying on its own power and tried boosting it (jumper cables to the wife's car which started, but barely). It cranked for a while, then I gave up, pushed it out of the driveway, and took the wife's car.

Now it's back down to -17C, and I just plugged it in for 4 hours (I'm sure it's warm enough, as the glow-plug light was on for only a few seconds), but it just won't start.

Any theories on what may be wrong, or how I can track this down further? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Try throwing a couple of bottles of diesel fuel

antifreeze/conditioner in the tank and let it sit

for awhile. That MAY work. My school bus

started last year one frgid morning and then

kacked a mile down the road. The fuel

coagulates at the filter. Plugged in too.

Don't know about the glow plugs. Same thing

happened to my '97 Jetta in the warm weather.

Hard to start. Cranked and cranked. New plugs

fixed it.


ballantrae bob



That MAY work

i would defenetly try putting new glow plugs in the car. but first i would check the fuse on the fire wall closets to the wiper motor; they sometimes burnout.

Now it is summer does it work?

If your still on this forum, can you tell us what you found? I have an 85 Diesel and had the same experience. My guess is it jumped a tooth on the timing belt but would like to hear what you found.

THanks

~ Phil