Anyone else had this problem? I have a VRS diesel which coughs and splutters at startup if it has been sitting still for a while (about a day). Sometimes it coughs and dies, other times you hold the key in the "start" position and it coughs a lot for a few seconds, but starts. The real problem is that it doesn't happen every time and of course once it is started, if you stop it again, it then starts fine.

The garage have been good about it and have had it in 3 times, but no joy yet. I went in again today and was told that they would need to send a report in to Skoda. My worry is that I am going to be told "sorry, don't know what it is, nothing we can do about it". For a 18month old car with 15K on the clock, I am not happy to have a "something is wrong, but not sure what it is" problem.

Anyone got any ideas? The following has been tried:

Thought it was just when it was really cold, but it still happens now the weather has warmed up.

Garage changed a temp sensor - no joy

Garage changed connection to glows + said DPF was clogged (which they sorted) - still no joy.

We thought it was the angle of the drive way, but it does it onthe flat also.

My gut feeling (from days of old) is that it sounds like fuel starvation or air in the lines/fuel draining back when car is sitting still, but I know that engines are far more complex than they were when I used to tinker with an old fiesta about 15 years ago.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Paul

i've had this mate but only when it was really cold , took it to kwick fit for batterey check ,that was fine they advised to warm the coils twice before turning the key fully. mine the same though when its warmed up to .

My PD140 had this problem, you crank the engine over and its as if its run out of fuel for a few seconds then it coughs and splutters into life. I took it to a dealer who updated the engine management software and it appeared to cure it. Unfortunately the problem has crept back

Its worse if the car isn't parked on level ground and a less than 2/3 full tank makes it worse still.

Air leaking into the fuel system still sounds like the most plausible explanation.

It could be an injector letting fuel by when the engine is off which would eliminate any residual pressure in the system needed for a clean start next time.

I also get a puff of smoke when it finally starts, you probably don't get this due to the DPF.

I noticed it began shortly after the fuel filter was changed on mine.

My old 06 PD140 just started doing it when I gave it back due to changing jobs - it had just been serviced which included changing the fuel filter :confused:

I've heard stories of injectors, tandem pumps, lift pumps, and cylinder heads being changed to no avail :thumbdwn:

Its still a mystery to everyone concerned but I am taking back in when the service is due for them to look again. I'll let you know if any progress is made.