Won't start

[ian]

Today it happened again, this is the third time in two years where the car just wont start, Had to crank the Engine for over a minute before there was any sign of it starting and when it did it took a while for all cylinders to fire up , but once started it will start easy all day,
I used the car on Sunday and it was OK , so now 4 days latter it refuses , plenty of fuel , the oil message came up while i was attempting to start mainly because the starter motor was going constantly.

[Transporter]

What car? You need to post some car details, if you want people to respond.

[ian]

What car? You need to post some car details, if you want people to respond.

Sorry Transporter Its a 2008/09 2.00 ltr GT diesel sports with 48,000km on the clock ,it only happens once in a while all other times it starts ok .

[Transporter]

It could be the check valve on in intank fuel pump. You could fit the clear tubing in the fuel line at the fuel filter to check for air in the fuel. Of course it could be many other things as well. How old is the battery? Get the battery tested if in doubts, some places where they're selling the batteries will do it for you for free.

Was the fuel filter replaced yet?

[Umai Naa!!]

Check the battery voltage, and also check the engine speed while cranking.

The injectors will not squirt at anything less than 280rpm.

If the battery is ok, but the cranking speed is less than 280rpm, it may need a starter motor.

As always, have the vehicle diagnosed by your preferred repairer. There's only so much that can be achieved over the internet.

[manol]

Same thing happened to me tonight (08 Passat 2.0TDI 125kw), happened for so long I ended up calling RACV because I thought it needed to be towed, didn't throw any codes.

He just kept hammering the ignition and it eventually started, went for a thrash, filled her up with some fresh fuel and she's running good as new again. ****ed if I know what was wrong....I just hope it doesn't get worse/happen again, driving to Adelaide on Friday and I'd rather not get stuck somewhere along the Western Highway.

[yowie]

Same thing happened to me tonight (08 Passat 2.0TDI 125kw), happened for so long I ended up calling RACV because I thought it needed to be towed, didn't throw any codes.

He just kept hammering the ignition and it eventually started, went for a thrash, filled her up with some fresh fuel and she's running good as new again. ****ed if I know what was wrong....I just hope it doesn't get worse/happen again, driving to Adelaide on Friday and I'd rather not get stuck somewhere along the Western Highway.

So my '95 TDI auto is doing the no-start as well. Owned it three days, all good first day, did 140 kays mostly freeway, slight hesitation once on day two another 30 kays all good lots of stop-start, but morning of day three no-start.

Well, it does start and runs just long enough to get up to 800-900 RPM, then dies.
Wont start at all for a while, but if left it repeats the cycle. Fuel and oil and battery all seem good, recent service.
It does have a turbo timer, but I think I have turned it off.

And, yes, I have left a message with Jimmy, altho at the time it wasn't for this
Any clues welcome.

[Gigitt]

glow plugs? if there is a faulty one it can affect the start - even without throwing a code.
My Mk3 would not start 3 weeks ago for 3 days even in the warming 18deg afternoon unless I kept on the ignition... finally started rough for 20 secs then comes good... lots of smoke on start and sounds like there is air in the fuel line but once it was going it seemed fine.
Took it to the mechanics as the TDI Timing was Too advanced for VCDS TDI TIming Checker... tuns out that the glow plugs died, car started fine after they put in new glow plugs for 3 days at the shop but the timing was still too advanced for their liking... turns out a timing belt pully was wearing its bearing and it threw the timing off by 1/2 a tooth... All sorted now and next to no smoke out the back for my Little Red Sooty.

[gldgti]

that sounds like air in the fuel line.

So my '95 TDI auto is doing the no-start as well. Owned it three days, all good first day, did 140 kays mostly freeway, slight hesitation once on day two another 30 kays all good lots of stop-start, but morning of day three no-start.

Well, it does start and runs just long enough to get up to 800-900 RPM, then dies.
Wont start at all for a while, but if left it repeats the cycle. Fuel and oil and battery all seem good, recent service.
It does have a turbo timer, but I think I have turned it off.

And, yes, I have left a message with Jimmy, altho at the time it wasn't for this
Any clues welcome.

[yowie]

Arrrgh!
Seems its an intermittent, love that word, fault with the after-market turbo timer.
Which will now be removed unless people think they are worth replacing.
The RACQ guy started it first go, which should probably read, it put its best manners in for the mechanic.
I wasn't home, so not sure about details.
But I drove it just now, gamely parked and re-started, and no worries.
Thanks for the considered opinions.

[gldgti]

turbo timer is not really necessary, but it depends a bit on the driver (IMO).

If the driver is likely to drive it reasonably hard and shut it down hot... well maybe its a good idea.

If the driver can be aware that it should be driven gently for 3-5 minutes before shutdown, then its not really useful.

(In my experience (I use EGT gauges on my turbo diesels) if you have been driving it hard, it takes 3-4 minutes of idling for a very hot turbo to cool down to a safe shutdown temp.
If you have been driving sedately, the egt's are OK without any cool down time.)

[yowie]

turbo timer is not really necessary, but it depends a bit on the driver (IMO).

If the driver is likely to drive it reasonably hard and shut it down hot... well maybe its a good idea.

If the driver can be aware that it should be driven gently for 3-5 minutes before shutdown, then its not really useful.

(In my experience (I use EGT gauges on my turbo diesels) if you have been driving it hard, it takes 3-4 minutes of idling for a very hot turbo to cool down to a safe shutdown temp.
If you have been driving sedately, the egt's are OK without any cool down time.)

That makes a lot of sense.
Sounds like we need to replace the temperamental item with an EGT gauge.

No-one is going anywhere in a hurry just yet, not with 70 dollar no-worries tyres, and a gearbox, (serviced not many kays ago by a VW service centre) which reported that in spite of a full service, it remained slack on take up, and slow to change up, especially when cold. Its done 220k.
I am thinking if we are ever going to put a 5 or 6 speed manual box in...