How Do You Troubleshoot A 1998 VW Jetta 1.9L Diesel?
The 1998 Volkswagen Jetta 1.9L diesel was one of the most reliable vehicles that Volkswagen offered. The diesel engine from Volkswagen does have one flaw, however, and that is one inherent in all diesel engines: cold-weather problems. Cold weather and malfunctioning glow plugs are the cause of most of the VW diesel’s problems. Check for colored smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Blue smoke indicates an internal oil leak caused by oil blowing by the piston rings or a failure of the valve cover gasket. White smoke indicates a head gasket failure and engine coolant burning in the combustion chamber. Both of those can be very serious and need to be fixed by a professional mechanic right away. If the problem is that the engine won’t start in cold weather, then the most likely problem is with the glow plugs. Turn the key to the “II” position to verify that all systems are working normally. Make sure that no service lights stay on. Remove the key from the ignition and open the hood. Disconnect
