Date:         Mon, 7 Nov 2011 09:47:19 -0800
Reply-To:     Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject:      Improving glow plug system for winter cold starts.
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In newer IDI engines VW keeps the glows on for a while after the engine starts at cold temps. This makes it run much smoother/ cleaner (less white smoke, smooth idle). It would be nice to have the same feature in our older Diesels. It would require newer PTC glows (which I assume is what's being sold now - see previous post). And a way to keep the glows on past engine starting:

1. A crude way would be a 2nd 50A relay parallel with the glow plug, and a momentary button at the dash. Hold in button until idle is smooth (10s - 1min or so depending on temp).

2. Much smarter would be if someone knew how to trick the original relay to do this. The signal wiring from the relay goes to the front anyway. Ideally it could be as simple as just putting a momentary switch between two under dash terminals. Does anyone know?

Martin (and '82 Westy 1.9TD "Poppie")