Author Topic: My Jetta hates cold weather... (Read 2682 times)

aquadorhj · « **on:** December 13, 2009, 06:17:49 pm »

and so do I.

in the Oil pan heater thread, I already mentioned how my Jetta sounds like bucket of nails in a blender on cold start. I had read that 1.8Ts and 2.0Ts do do that when cold.. but,
Even with the new oil pan heater, the car has a heck of time starting, and i think my engine's vibrating weirdly when turbo starts spooling.

Once warmed up, it really doesn't sound any different until about 2300 rpm, on a steady throttle, my turbo starts spinning and the engine vibrates quite a bit more than usual.

Not "alarmingly", though, like what you would have if one of the cylinders wasn't firing on 4 cylinder... just more vibration than normal, and lot's of engine noise in the cabin. a LOT more booming noise.

is this normal? i mean, i understand that things tend not to work well in -30 temp, but the honda Fit i have, once warmed, it never really gave me anything to worry about.

Jetta, on the other hand... not having a block heater, the oil pan heater barely able to keep up to the cold, sounding like crap when starting and odd vibration when turbo's spinning....

Somebody please tell me it's normal!!!!

damn, its driving me nuts!!!

maritime_storm · « **Reply #1 on:** December 14, 2009, 07:45:44 am »

Three questions that the answers should answer your own question; 1. What year, engine and how kilometers? 2. Are you using Castrol 5W40 Syntec as required by VW in almost all of their engines? 3. When was the last tune-up on this engine?

overtakeyouintheleftlane · « **Reply #2 on:** December 14, 2009, 08:25:06 am »

You can order a block heater for your Jetta from http://www.frostheater.com/ is it's a TDI.

If you don't want to go this route, you should keep the car in a garage if you have the chance.

Railton · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2009, 08:38:28 am »

A gasoline motor will always start better in frigid cold than a diesel.
Years back on the farm we placed battery chargers on the batteries overnight for the tractors as well as the block heaters.
Get yourself an in-line heater and use it as well as the oil pan heater.
Railton

aquadorhj · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2009, 12:44:34 am »

Quote from: maritime_storm on December 14, 2009, 07:45:44 am

Three questions that the answers should answer your own question; 1. What year, engine and how kilometers? 2. Are you using Castrol 5W40 Syntec as required by VW in almost all of their engines? 3. When was the last tune-up on this engine?

03, 1.8T.., 80 k. km.

mobil1 5W30 full synth(less than 2000 km on new oil)

no idea. did PPI, mechanic said the engine is performing almost as good as new. (respected VW mech in the city)

my new oil pan heater went bad after 4 days of use, had to get new one installed again yesterday.

vdk · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2009, 01:58:03 am »

Quote from: aquadorhj on December 16, 2009, 12:44:34 am

Quote from: maritime_storm on December 14, 2009, 07:45:44 am
Three questions that the answers should answer your own question; 1. What year, engine and how kilometers? 2. Are you using Castrol 5W40 Syntec as required by VW in almost all of their engines? 3. When was the last tune-up on this engine?

03, 1.8T.., 80 k. km.

mobil1 5W30 full synth(less than 2000 km on new oil)

no idea. did PPI, mechanic said the engine is performing almost as good as new. (respected VW mech in the city)

my new oil pan heater went bad after 4 days of use, had to get new one installed again yesterday.

VW turboed engines don't like the cold, the 1.8T doesn't and neither does the new 2.0T.

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2009, 02:35:04 am »

0 weight oil might help, if it meets VW specs. In my experience non 0w synthetic oils get almost as solid at low temperatures as ordinary oils do. That said, as has been pointed out, you need a heater that heats the coolant, and therefore the engine, before it starts up.

tpl · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2009, 05:31:12 am »

Quote from: vdk on December 16, 2009, 01:58:03 am

VW turboed engines don't like the cold, the 1.8T doesn't and neither does the new 2.0T.

My 2.0 was happy enough last winter only difference starting at -15 to -20 was that you could hear the turbo for the first few minutes and the DSG was a bit sluggish to get going.

maritime_storm · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2009, 08:03:18 am »

Bring your car back to your tech, telling what it's doing. Sounds like your due for a tune-up.

vdk · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2009, 12:39:41 pm »

Quote from: tpl on December 16, 2009, 05:31:12 am

Quote from: vdk on December 16, 2009, 01:58:03 am

VW turboed engines don't like the cold, the 1.8T doesn't and neither does the new 2.0T.

My 2.0 was happy enough last winter only difference starting at -15 to -20 was that you could hear the turbo for the first few minutes and the DSG was a bit sluggish to get going.

But he's in Calgary. Brrr.

tpl · « **Reply #10 on:** December 16, 2009, 12:51:37 pm »

Yes. I have no idea what would happen at -30 or lower.

onearmed · « **Reply #11 on:** December 16, 2009, 11:55:00 pm »

My 1.8T when it gets below -10c has a weird noise like rattle on the very first second of start up and then it's gone. It's been there since day one. I don't know how to describe the engine when driving, but it is much stiffer.... almost like its gasping for breath when accelerating. Much rougher than warm weather, after warm up though it's pretty good but not close to the smoothness of > 0c weather.

Mine is a 2003 1.8T and has 153000km. It doesn't warm up for a good while 10 minute on those really cold days. Should change my battery soon, lights seem to be flickering more.

overtakeyouintheleftlane · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2009, 06:34:32 am »

It was -10 overnight. Plugged the car in on a timer. Started it at 5am and there was instant heat. No funny noises from the car and the temperature needle climbed a bit on start up.

I love block heaters.

tpl · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2009, 06:54:31 am »

Quote from: onearmed on December 16, 2009, 11:55:00 pm

My 1.8T when it gets below -10c has a weird noise like rattle on the very first second of start up and then it's gone. It's been there since day one. I don't know how to describe the engine when driving, but it is much stiffer.... almost like its gasping for breath when accelerating. Much rougher than warm weather, after warm up though it's pretty good but not close to the smoothness of > 0c weather.

Mine is a 2003 1.8T and has 153000km. It doesn't warm up for a good while 10 minute on those really cold days. Should change my battery soon, lights seem to be flickering more.

Flickering lights may be more an omen for a bad drive belt or alternator than for a battery.

As for the "gasping for breath" I wonder if that is caused by some emissions device getting a bit old.

onearmed · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2010, 06:17:38 pm »

Quote from: onearmed on December 16, 2009, 11:55:00 pm

Mine is a 2003 1.8T and has 153000km. It doesn't warm up for a good while 10 minute on those really cold days. Should change my battery soon, lights seem to be flickering more.

This made me laugh, guess who's car wouldn't start in the morning. It was one of the colder morning we had (-19 on my iphone). Had to boost start it. Was fine for a couple more days and ended up replacing the battery. No more flickering lights anymore either

Calbrez · « **Reply #15 on:** January 24, 2010, 09:41:27 am »

It's a VW. What do you expect.

maritime_storm · « **Reply #16 on:** January 24, 2010, 01:44:39 pm »

"It's a VW. What do you expect."

Calbrez, you might not of noticed, but almost everyone on this thread is a VW owner. Those could be interpreted as fighting words.

Calbrez · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2010, 07:49:55 pm »

I owned 2 VW - Never again. I should have learned the first time. I can't tell you how many problems I had and how costly they were to fix them... not to mention the worst customer service ever.

Oh well, I suppose they look ok.

aquadorhj · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2010, 11:50:11 pm »

Quote from: tpl on December 16, 2009, 12:51:37 pm

Yes. I have no idea what would happen at -30 or lower.

you might be surprised what kinda sh1t goes wrong in -30 or lower.... seriously.
brand new batteries die, cars die while running, all the suspension joints never cease to creak, washer fluid freeze on contact with windshield, doors and windows refuses to open, etc...

it's fun, to say the least. it's only these extreme cold that makes me hate calgary... i love it otherwise.

a month back, we had -40 days... I didn't want to go to work, because it meant i had to start the car in the morning. it physically pains me to hear it when cold.

it's been pretty good last 3~ weeks.

tpl · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2010, 07:04:07 am »

Quote from: aquadorhj on January 30, 2010, 11:50:11 pm

Quote from: tpl on December 16, 2009, 12:51:37 pm
Yes. I have no idea what would happen at -30 or lower.

you might be surprised what kinda sh1t goes wrong in -30 or lower.... seriously.
brand new batteries die, cars die while running, all the suspension joints never cease to creak, washer fluid freeze on contact with windshield, doors and windows refuses to open, etc...

it's fun, to say the least. it's only these extreme cold that makes me hate calgary... i love it otherwise.

a month back, we had -40 days... I didn't want to go to work, because it meant i had to start the car in the morning. it physically pains me to hear it when cold.

it's been pretty good last 3~ weeks.

I have had to start a car and drive at -30. But a 1975 Pinto in Montreal is hardly indicative of a modern car... fortunately.