2004 jetta/diesel engine/hard start cold

Check for power on the glow plugs. You have two fusible links on the passenger side by the stater relay and a plug going over to the engine. These plugs get intermittent and that can cause your hard starting; the glow plugs themselves maybe burnt off. I've seen this happen with the other Ford diesels in our tow trucks!

Hi Mike:
Glow plugs-on fed truck usually the controller-on cal.equipped truck usually glowplugs themselves.

We are assuming the you have some of this codes:
- P0380 Glow Plug/Heater Circuit A Malfunction
- P0381 Glow Plug/Heater Indicator Circuit Malfunction

I found this after searching this and other diesel sites for about a week glow plugs are covered on factory extended warranty-10 years or 200000 miles call GM @ 1-800-462-8782 have VIN# ready

Models: 2002 - 04 Chevrolet Silverado
2002 - 04 GMC Sierra
Equipped with 6.6L Diesel V8 (RPO LB7 - VIN 1) Engine; and California Emissions (YF5/NE1), or Clean Fuel Emissions (VCL)

Condition: Some customers of 2002 - 04 model year Chevrolet Silverado; and GMC Sierra trucks, equipped with a 6.6L diesel V8 (LB7) engine, and California emissions (YF5/NE1), or Clean Fuel Fleet emissions (VCL), may experience a condition where the engine glow plugs may fail. Failure of the glow plugs on these vehicles will cause illumination of the MIL. Also, depending on the ambient cold start conditions and the number of glow plugs failing open, some customers may also comment about hard starting, misfiring and white smoking after cold start.

Customer Notification: General Motors will notify customers of this special coverage on their vehicles (see copy of typical customer letter included with this bulletin - actual divisional letter may vary slightly).

Ask your local dealer.

Hope this helps; also keep in mind that your feedback is important and I will appreciate your time and consideration if you leave some testimonial comment about this answer.

Thank you for using FixYa, have a nice day.

hi.
it is possible that the battery is at fault

if you have a DIESEL engine, then the fault is far more likely to lie with the engine preheat plugs (glow plugs) these are needed far more in the cold weather to pre heat the cylinder to allow the diesel to ignite. one or more faulty glow plugs will cause starting problems on a diesel engine, especially in cold weather.

Hi.

The glow plugs are plugged into the cylinders. They basically do the same that spark plugs do in gasoline/petrol fueled engines.

It is quite rare that glow plugs heater circuits go bad all at once. Test also the wiring harness.

Here a forum that can help you a lot. Picture below is from the tdiclub.com forum in this link:

pumping the throttle does not help just hold it wide open ,firstly check the preheaters ,and if they all work make another posting and we go from their ,,to check glow plugs remove the cable that connects then alkl together and then test with a cable from the + battery terminal and see if it sparks when you touch each heater plug in turn ,and renew the defective ones or go the whole hog and just change them .

diesel engine have small starter helpers called glow plugs that heat the combustion air so that it can self ignite the diesel fuel
reasons for hard starting are
slow cranking speed---battery not charged enough or not big enough to do the job
injectors squirting and nit atomizing--- take the car to an accredited diesel pump/ injector repair shop for tip replacement and adjustment
the check engine light could be from faulty glow plugs
keep the fuel tank full ,especially in cold climate as there is hot return fuel from the injectors that causes condensation in the tank--water -- and that promotes the growth of a fungus which damages the pump and injectors
use diesel fuel condition on a regular basis to prevent that condition or keep the tank more that 3/4 full to stop condensation occuring

I don't believe any VW sent to the US in the past 15+ years has come with a plug-in heater. The only exception is if the car was from Canada, or if one was installed afterwards.

If the engine turns too slowly to start, try cleaning the terminals of the battery, if still nothing- replace the battery.

If the engine turns over but just won't fire up cycle the glow plugs a few times before trying to start. Turn the key to on, wait for the glow plug light to go out after a few seconds then turn the key off. Repeat 2 or 3 times before you try to start.

Also make sure you use a fuel additive for the cold months. Look for something with anti-gel on the label.

Sounds like not all the glow plugs are working.It should run fairly smooth on a cold start if all of the glow plugs are working..Also you shouldn't drive off on a cold start with a diesel,Its really hard on the motors..At least give them 10 to 15 min on a cold start..The oil in them is a really thick oil and when there drove on a cold start theres no oil lubricating the internal parts and will cause the motor to seize up..You may already no this and dont mean you drive it as soon as you start it i just wanted to let you know..When you get alot of white smoke it could be two things,Theres water in the fuel which will make it not have much power die and smoke..But if it runs fine when its warm theres some bad glow plugs...Hope this helps you and have a great day

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/joe_a3369546f8067589

It sounds more like the glow plugs, the older models had trouble out of the module, but the 6.0 is pretty safe from all those problems. And don't forget to use the correct fuel additive for diesel engines, it helps .

DEPENDING HOW COLD OUT IT IS DIESELS DONT LIKE TO START IN COLD WHEATHER UNLESS THE GLOW PLUGS ARE WARM THIS IS THE REASON FOR PLUGGING DIESELS IN MOST WONT START IF ITS COLD OUT IF ITS NOT THAT COLD OUT IT SHOULD START IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH BATTERY POWER MAYBE THERES NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING UP TO THE THROTTLE BODY HOPE THIS HELPS