tried to leave work today and went to start the car and it just turned over and over and over not starting, waited a mo and again just turned over, it start inthe end but made me panic for a mo.

Any ideas people?????

My only thought is it might have been the glow plugs as it was about 3 degrees?????

tried to leave work today and went to start the car and it just turned over and over and over not starting, waited a mo and again just turned over, it start inthe end but made me panic for a mo.

Any ideas people?????

My only thought is it might have been the glow plugs as it was about 3 degrees?????

3 deg is not too low, but yes glow plugs sound suspect to me. At this temperature (actually I think it's 4 deg IIRC) they switch to their "winter" setting of warming for a few seconds as opposed to half of or one second.

When did she last have/has she had them changed?

3 deg is not too low, but yes glow plugs sound suspect to me. At this temperature (actually I think it's 4 deg IIRC) they switch to their "winter" setting of warming for a few seconds as opposed to half of or one second.

When did she last have/has she had them changed?

not sure really not inthe service log as far as i can see, but is due a service in 200 miles???

not sure really not inthe service log as far as i can see, but is due a service in 200 miles???

Might be worth having them changed then, I wouldn't have thought it'd hurt. How many miles has she done?

I must admit, I was thinking about getting mine done either this year or next.

Does anyone know the interval for glow plugs on an AWX? I don't recall it ever coming up on here before...

done 98,000 now

Glowplug replacement is not a routine job - they're like light bulbs, you change them when they fail. VAGCOM will identify a failed glowplug but beware, VAG c0cked up the numbering and reversed the sequence so the failed plug number does not match the cylinder number. Whoever wrote the VAG software knew nothing about engines.

You can easily test the glowplugs in situ with a meter but the crappy harness connectors give as much trouble as the plugs do. Look out for burnt connectors.

Don't take a glowplug out unless you are going to change it - they are extremely fragile. Make sure the end doesn't break off and fall into the cylinder... Use Bosch replacements and handle them extremely carefully.

DI diesels will normally start without glowplugs unless its very cold. White smoke following a rough start is an indication of a failed plug.

rotodiesel.

Did you just get in and turn the key? Or did you wait a couple of seconds having got the ignition on before you turned the key?

Glowplug replacement is not a routine job - they're like light bulbs, you change them when they fail.

I see! Thanks for clearing that up for me Roto.

Jason, Do you want me to bring Vag-Com over with me tomorrow?

Jason, Do you want me to bring Vag-Com over with me tomorrow?

you can do, you'll be too busy for that tho matt

Did you just get in and turn the key? Or did you wait a couple of seconds having got the ignition on before you turned the key?

always wait but it's on and off in flash usally

has started fine every time since, very strange

mine usually takes a few turns to get going when it's really cold outside.

I'll bring vag-com with me.

Well still a mystery, vag com clear (thanks matt) but no more probs since, touch wood

Well still a mystery, vag com clear (thanks matt) but no more probs since, touch wood

Strange indeed. Keep an eye, let us know... but it sounds like you might be ok

(famous last words)

I too am having difficulty starting my Superb , after waiting for the dash glowplug light to go out , turn the key ,and initially it fires , but then dies straight away. If I try to re-start it , nothing happens for 40 or 50 secs , then the cylinders will catch individually , until all 4 are running and I can then let go of the key (phew) .

If after the initial turn,of the key and very brief fire-up, I hold the key in the start pos, it takes about 5 to 10 secs to start and run with the cyls catching one at a time.

If anyone else can shed some light on what is happening I would be greatfull (just had all the glowplugs replaced , btw , and a diagnostic test done ).

Its a AWX engine , btw :confuse:

Has the fuel filter been changed recently and if so, what type/make was fitted? There are some filters around which can admit air and cause poor starting. I think I know which make is responsible...

rotodiesel.

Hmm , thanks Roto , I don't know when the filter was last changed , as I've only had the car for a couple of weeks , and in that time it's failed to start on several occasions . Right, looks like a new (genuine) filter is req, the plastic unit on top of the filter was broken by the lads in the local garage , when they towed it in to try and suss out this issue , and replaced at their cost .

Don't buy an OE filter. German made Mann & Hummel are the best, available from GSF or your local diesel specialist.

The hoses should not be removed from the plastic "T" - just remove the mickey mouse clip. Make sure the blue and black "O" rings are replaced and in the correct order - new ones should be included with the filter. Don't lose the plastic collar fitted above the filter clip. Prime the system before attempting to start the engine.

rotodiesel.

Ha ha , thanks for that roto , seems though I jumped too soon , just bought a filter from jorily , on e-bay , serves me right , for being so impatient .

i had a problem starting my car after i took out the "brain" of the car. Talked to the workshop and they said i might be the start blocker... i dont know if that is the right word. but its the module that disable the motor from starting if the wrong key is inserted..

I only had this once. now it starts fine.

Not sure if it's the same system, but my old 95 petrol Passat developed a starting problem where it would initially fie and then die out very quickly. Eventually it would start and keep running, but then it got so bad I had to get it fixed. It turned out it was the coil that sits close to the ignition switch and "reads" the security code from the chip in the key that was the problem. Apparently early versions of this coil suffered from corrosion at the connector, but later versions had gold plated contacts that fixed the problem. Cost about £70 fitted from a VW specialist and completely cured the problem.

The main dealers reckon that it's made to allow the the engine to briefly fire so that you can tell that that it's not a faulty component elsewhere (coil, injectors etc.). Might be the same?

i had a problem starting my car after i took out the "brain" of the car. Talked to the workshop and they said i might be the start blocker... i dont know if that is the right word. but its the module that disable the motor from starting if the wrong key is inserted..

I only had this once. now it starts fine.

Immobiliser. I was wondering about that earlier actually.

Thanks for that CRC and Bluefox , but I feel that Rotodiesel hit the nail on the head with the comment about fuel starvation . Mainly , I feel that if it was the immobiliser, then the cylinders wouldn't start one at a time , they'd all fire off together , just my feeling about it , thats all.

This does sound like a leak in the fuel line somewhere - diesels almost always leak air into the lines somehow. I'd check if your fuel filter housing is sound as roto suggests.

Do the skodas have non-return valves in their filter housings? Peugeots used to become a nightmare to start after 140k plus because their fuel filter non return valves would pack in.

There is no housing - you replace the filter in its can. There are 3 connections, 2 hoses and a plastic "T" held by a clip. See my notes earlier on fitting.

It seems the bean counters at VAG are sourcing more parts from China. I've seen fuel filters, oil filters, air and pollen filters and (strangely) a fan ballast resistor assembly which used to be made in the UK by CGS - all sourced from China.

It might be inappropriate for me to comment on their quality other than that I would not buy them. Remember that a substandard fuel filter as well as causing problems with starting due to air leaks, could do considerable damage to an expensive fuel system. Why buy an engine with one of the best diesel fuelling systems in the world and fit a poor filter to it? Madness.

rotodiesel.