Hot start issues

[moniker]

I have a stock '01 4Motion.
If I shut off the car and park for 10-30 mins on a hot day then come back and try to restart, I often can't get it going - cranks really fast but no go- I'm pretty sure it's flooding - leaky injectors or vapour lock issue?

When it does start (after flooring the pedal) it idles rough for a bit then is okay

Is this a common issue?

Approx 110k on the clock.

Keith

[Jmac]

Depressurise the coolant system and put the cap back on 1st and dont let isaac Newton force out your coolant. Minimal loss then. BYthe way how is your gauge reading during normal driving??? Tell tale is a gauge sitting around 60, temp switches cause unlimited amount trouble.

[popeclement]

I don't believe it is a coolant related issue but rather a quirk of the variable valve timing V6. It has happened on my vehicle three separate times over 6.5 yrs and the coolant sensor etc was checked and found to be fine. I have had my 01 from new and it is stock too.

Can I ask if you have driven the vehicle from cold and then not let the engine warm up completely before shutting off? The cold engine/hot day seems to exacerbate this. If I start the engine I ensure I drive it till it reaches normal operating temp before shutting it down.

Yes keep the accelerator floored and the engine almost spins like there is no compression and then it fires, which suggests something sticking in the valve train doesn't it! Also pays to have the battery in good condition so you don't get caught out.

[moniker]

No, the engine is normally fully up to temp before this issue happens - last time was after 15 mins of freeway driving then shut off for 5 min's then had issue.
Normally my gauge sits pretty much spot on 80.

When the engine does start I get a cloud of smoke and / or a bad egg smell so it does seem to be flooding related IMO - or maybe that's just me flooding it trying to get it going?

Once or twice I have let the enging idle for a minute with the A/C off before shutting off - this seems to help.

Also once it refused to start so I lifted the bonnet for a minute to let the heat out and all was okay.
I know Subaru's had a recall on faulty crank angle sensors (heat soak?) - symptoms sound similar too.

Keith

[popeclement]

I would take it into Osb Pk VW - their service dept is very good - takes about 5 mins to plug in & run the diagnostics.
I have not had heat soak issues even on the hottest Perth days we have had.

Hope you resolve it. John

[balkanac]

hmmm, not sure about Osborne Park VW, they did a service on my car and i asked them to do a wheel alignment coz the car seemed to pull to the right slightly. They called me back and said that my front tires are worn more than the rear ones so i told them to swap them. Apperently they balanced them as well, and the car is now pulling to the left and it shakes around 100km/h. They also told me a story that my car does not idle properly and that this could be solved with cleaning the throttle body and adding the fuel injector cleaner to the fuel. My car has 53000km on the clock. Its not going back there, no way!

[popeclement]

Hmmm- throttle body cleaning should be a regular event whether they or you do it.

I have used them for the best part of the Bora's life 152,000kms and the car has (touch wood) never missed a beat.

Wheels have been rotated and balanced every 15k and again no issues. And I do a fair few country kms - recently Albany return twice in a week.

I have also had a mate have his Subie B4 done there and they were the only ones after attempts over east and in Perth to resolve a hesistation issue.

Also my temp gauge has always sat on 90 (centre) - I am not sure but I think 80 may be low.

Sounds like you need to open the car up on a country run- 53000kms for an '01 is low. I have never been shy to take it to the redline and of course, it has only ever be fed a diet of BP Ultimate.

Best of luck.

[qsilverza]

With regards to warm start. Maybe MAF not controlling the mixture right ? I get the same problem but not as bad. It will start really rough and than be ok. (Also on very hot days. The car runs 10x better in the cold.)

With regards to Blac, Check that one of the rims isn't missing a tyre weight.

[moniker]

yep sorry temp does run dead centre on 90 not 80 - was going by memory.

Had an interesting experience with VW Osb. Pk. but yes they do seem pretty thorough generally.

I usually use Caltex PULP, maybe that's crap?
Bloody BP are always 10-15c more when i'm due to fill up - thieving b**tards..

[popeclement]

use ultimate & have the throttle body cleaned. The engine is rated for 98 not less. ok so it might add up to about $300 pa more but I think its necessary.

[qsilverza]

Hmm I might try cleaning the throttle body on mine. ANd I dont think it comes down to the fuel you use as I use PULP 98 BP all the time.

[popeclement]

I have had the throttle body regularly cleaned to keep fuel residue deposits from building up which will occur with any octane fuel - keeping it regularly serviced, I am sure helps and does it no harm.

[Jmac]

Nothing to do with the valve train. This is temp related so nothing wrong with coolant sender ( if it has been checked) then you may have an overheating ecu power relay. The call made on the MAF is also a consideration. Unmetered air (air leak) can also cause dramas. A dodgy coolant temp sensor even if no fault showing (as it may still be within the parameters so as not to bring a light on , but at the highest point ) will lengthen the injector pulse thus flooding, simple and cheap would be the 1st thing i would try !!

[qsilverza]

I reckon I will give the temp sensor a go !

[D3bb4]

I'm having a similar issue with mine. Stopped at a servo to fill up, jumped back in the car and it wouldn't start. Took a few efforts to finally get it to start, pressing the throttle in also after it wouldn't start 1st go.
Is happening more frequently lately. It also idles high once it does kick over. Gotta be an elec. issue of some sort i'm suspecting.