I know this is the wrong place but this forum probably has the most visitor and a great knowledge base and he needs an answer fast.

Friend of mine has a 2000 VW TDI with a diesel. Yesterday when he went out to start it it would just crank and crank and crank all the while making the chuchunk chuchunk chuchunk noise and blowing a grayish colored smoke. After it sat a while he tried again and finally it started ran rough for a while then smoothed out. He changes the fuel filters every 10,000 mile so that shouldn't be the problem and it ran just fine the night before.

What gives, the car only has 54,000 miles on it.

Thanks guys and sorry for posting in the wrong

 

It could be bad fuel. With a warm engine, combustion is easier to achieve; with a cold engine - not as easy.

Did he recently fuel up? Did he fuel up someplace other than his usual place? How long has the fuel filter been in place? Maybe its time for a new filter.

 

How cold was it when he tried to start it? Mabye faulty grid heater or glow plugs?

 

He needs to get the codes run at autozone or somewhere that will pull codes, also check the Mas air flow sensor I replaced one on my 2001 and it made a world of difference also look on www.tdi.com

 

Could be the EGR valve is clogged shut with soot/carbon.

Common problem prone area on the early TDI's.

 

Moving to general diesel.

 

Anti-shudder valve might be sticking closed.


http://forums.tdiclub.com/showflat.p...Number=301593&

""Thanks to this forum I've once again diagnosed my own problem with my 1999 TDI New Beetle. Thank you!!
My Beetle now has 70,000 miles on it and the only problems have the relay 109 and the now sticking Anti-shudder valve.

Yesterday when I tried to start my car it would crank freely but just wouldn't turn over. Smoke from the exhaust showed diesel was available. Went back in my office - did a quick search on no-start situations and sure enough - my anti-shudder valve was stuck closed .. no air = no start. I've lubed it manually from the outside but I know a full cleaning of the EGR valve and intake manifold is due soon.""

 

sounds like the glow plugs weren't working to me ............... my mom's car acted the same when the glow plug cct was bad ............. had to change the harness, common plroblem on these cars