s3 diesel wont start

hi guys have just aquired a s3 diesel 2.25 and it has been stood for a few years probably 6-7 have cleaned out old fuel changed filters checked the glow plugs across the battery decent battery fitted all earths checked oil and water changed and checked the fuel gets through to the injectors but she will not start.
i have been told the plugs are wired in paralell using the ballast on the bulk head. when i took out the first glow plug nearest the radiator it has a curly tip all of the others are just a normal straight tip i dont know alot about the old diesel engines but i thought this might have something to do with it not starting
i have read a few other posts about similar problems i just need confirmation about the glow plug being different and if there is anything else i could check to get the old girl started
cheers rob

are you sure its a glowplug problem? take the inlet hose off and give it a squirt of easystart while someone cranks it, if it fires and runs its likely to be the glows, if it fires and stalls its fuel

Maybe you aren't spinning it over fast enough (because it has stood for a while). Try jumping another vehicle/battery onto the one fitted to give it a bit more oomph.

hi thought about the easy start but have been told its not very good for the engine. but i will give it a shot
thought about the battery was told it needs quite a high amp battery so got a 110 amp battery and it turns over really well. we did try jumping it first of all and the battery must not have been man enough as it barelt turned over and clicked alot cheer so far guys
also the engine stop handle next to the steering wheel the cable is very loose and doesnt move anything so i traced the wire and found the arm it moves should that be up or down.

oh yeah make sure the its not in the stop position or it won't start

just checked on mine and it should be DOWN to start it

try warming the air going into the manifold with a blowlamp+the inlet itself ,dont set the landy on fire mind you ,be careful my old series start like this after being stood for 2 years+make sure all the oils ect are topped up also give it a good cranking without tryin to start it to get the oil circulating ect ,she should go ....best of luck ..dave

PS easy start is a killer of old engines(last resort only),dave

rag and petrol works as well

big dave2 said:

PS easy start is a killer of old engines(last resort only),dave

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it is when used to start it every day but it won't hurt it when being used as a diagnostic tool

DUNNO that banging when it fires up cant be doing it any good expecally on an old motor ,dont like it mesel,mind you some of the cranes at work had it fitted from new especially the yank models (kye gas) or sumfink like that,twas strange all the detroit engines had it fitted yet they never needed any help cold starting ??????????dave

its detonation due to ether being so volatile a fewe knocks won't hurt the engine at low revs

Checking the glow plugs by conecting them direct to the battery 12v doesn't help. The ballast resistor drops the voltage to I think 8 or 9 volts so they need to work at that voltage. I've just had the same hassle with my 109. Sticking a new set of glow plugs in has sorted it and they were only a tenner.

where did you get your plugs from and are they all the same as my 1st one is different

disco300tdi said:

where did you get your plugs from and are they all the same as my 1st one is different

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I just looked for the cheapest ones on ebay. They are all the same. My old ones didn't look very old but putting new ones in has solved the problem.

on my old s3 diesel the glow plugs had the curly tip like these

Land Rover 88 90 109 110 2.2 heater Diesel Glow Plugs on eBay (end time 04-Apr-10 20:44:00 BST)

so i presume i should either 1 set or the other not a mix can anyone say which set i should have it is a y reg 2.25 diesel swb

i would get the shrouded glowplug set off

GAM100 Dieselglow heater plugs with wires.(set of 4)

if you don't have one you will also need a ballast resistor

PRC1716 Ballast Resistor - Diesel

thats great i presume the ballast resistor is the coiled wire on the bulkhead would the odd plugs stop it from starting?

the pigtail plugs work on a different voltage to the shrouded plugs (they should have the voltage stamped into the side by the part number)

is the engine cranking over fast enough?

yea it is turning over very well