I recently purchased a 96 TDI passat, with about 90k miles on it. The car runs perfectly when warm. The problems this car has are, the temp gauge does not work. The pre-heater aparently does not work, because I have a real hard time starting it in winter and when it does, I have a lot of white smoke. also, the AC compressor relay does not activate. Is there something on the car that controls all that? of course my Check Engine light is on. Please Help, since no one has been able to.

I recently purchased a 96 TDI passat, with about 90k miles on it. The car runs perfectly when warm. The problems this car has are, the temp gauge does not work. The pre-heater aparently does not work, because I have a real hard time starting it in winter and when it does, I have a lot of white smoke. also, the AC compressor relay does not activate. Is there something on the car that controls all that? of course my Check Engine light is on. Please Help, since no one has been able to.


We had this same problem 2 times. First with about 32000 miles the thing just died. They replaced the ignition switch under warrenty. Second at 130,000 it would not start well. Lots of smoke. Then it would click and not reliably start. Then it would not start at all. I thought it was weak battery or bad starter. Took it into the shop and they diagnosed it as a bad ignition switch. Another switch change out and it is running better than new.

Guys, I'd check your timing if I were you.

My guess is that it is retarded.

Come over on TDIclub.com, you'll get TDI specific help. :smokin:

You may well be right abou the timing, but we had the thing into 2 different shops, both a dealer and an independant shop. Thing got somewhat better but when they replaced the ignition switch it completely solved the problem. I am no mechanic but it is almost like the switch was by passing the glow plugs. It would start but there would be a garage full of smoke. This was especially apparent when we started it in a condominum garage in Vail, Colorado. We could hardly see to get out of the place. Fortunately we were gone when others came down to get their cars. Now that the switch is changed it is just great. So will keep this in mind. Retarded timing, retarded mechanics, or maybe just retarded owners. Thanks for input.

If you go on TDIclub, there's a VAG-COM list.

The VAG-COM is the tool that is used to check the ECU's parameter (the timing also).

If you could get someone to plug it in your car and see what the timing is like, you'd know where you stand.

As long as it's in specs (you see it on a graph, from 25 to 75 is the range, 50 is about in the center. It's better if the timing is advanced.), no mechanic will change it. :disappoin