mk1 caddy advice please

Hi guys
I have been offered a caddy in exchange for my mk2 as the guy needs a car with more seats
the only thing worrying me is the fact that he said it can be sometimes difficult to start in the mornings and is smoky on start up until it gets warm.
Body wise it is pretty solid but has a bad spray job which doesnt worry me as that can be sorted over time
it is a 1.6 diesel
i was wondering if anyone could advise whether this was worth it and what could be causing the hard to start smokey.engine and also if it may be a complete new engine or if it was possible to put right
hope this makes sense and sorry on the lack of info
Thanks in advance
Pootz

with out seeing/hearing the car it would be hard to say whats up with the engine.
If you go through possible things then see if it improves-glow plugs, starter motor, ignition system etc.

Cheers.
I understand that without seeing it can be difficult but i just wondered if anyone had any ideas as i don't want to be lumbered with a sack of nails
i am unsure whether to avoid it like the plague at the mo and look around for something else or whether people here would think its worth going for

Personally, if I was looking at the caddy then bodywork would be my main worry-as long as it is solid then you can fix/change/modify the engine later!.

Aren't all old deisels smoky on start up, not an issue i would have thought and as mentioned before, it may just need new glow plugs  

Thanks guys.
Have just sent him a message so hopefully he still has it.
Will keep you all updated

hi mate swap him ur mk 2 and i will swap you the caddy for a d reg white gti convertable.
i dont care if it has no engine.
will give you cash on top.

Not too sure on convertibles tbh but my daughter saw yout post lol
could you pm details to me please and links to any pictures
many thanks
pootz

Probably just needs glow plugs as they are quite often ignored and the one behind the diesel pump is a bit of a pig to get to but as for the smoke unless it's excessive I wouldn't worry if one of the plugs isn't working properly it's probably just the diesel burning off on that cylinder mine always makes a little smoke but clears straight away, I think all old diesels are the same! I like to get cars up behind me while i'm chugging along and give them a blip of the throttle .. instant bond smokescreen!  :mrgreen:

pootle said

Not too sure on convertibles tbh but my daughter saw yout post lol
could you pm details to me please and links to any pictures
many thanks
pootz

sure send me your email address.
the car is all white edition,white seats,white roof,all white body,comes with spare black mohair roof.

An indirect injection diesel engine will smoke for the first few minutes of cold running this is normal.Bad to start check the heater plug system first,and if this is faulty after you've been cranking it over for some time to get it to fire up the smoke will be even worse. ( as youve pumped loads of diesel into the bores.)

 Its always good to crank a diesel a couple of turns then give it the heat for a better start up as your heating a bore with some diesel in rather than a dry bore ( Works for me anyhow) :wink:

While its likely to be just a fault with the glowplugs, it might be due to poor compression, which is much more involved to sort out. It always makes sense to be very cautious when you buy a car which have faults, after all if its an obvious issue that is easy to fix, why doesn't the seller fix it to increase the appeal of the vehicle to a wider audience, to get a better price and get his money back for the repair job? Buyers rarely come out best on these kinds of deals.

The guy says he needs a car with more seats - so he's had a new arrival in the family then? Or needs a car with more seats….and a better engine?

he has a new woman with kids lol