I have a 2006 Fabia Vrs, and this morning when i turned the car over it took a little longer to start, had a bit of a poorly cough it still started first time i turned the key like, but i was just wondering is it normal for the car to struggle a bit when the temperature is so low -3c or whether i should be thinking about changing a part? I'm pretty sure this is a silly question and its perfectly normal, just need some confirmation to put my mind at ease thankkksss

Just normal. The battery's weaker, the oil's thicker, the fuel's colder, the list goes on...

I have a 2006 Fabia Vrs, and this morning when i turned the car over it took a little longer to start, had a bit of a poorly cough it still started first time i turned the key like, but i was just wondering is it normal for the car to struggle a bit when the temperature is so low -3c or whether i should be thinking about changing a part? I'm pretty sure this is a silly question and its perfectly normal, just need some confirmation to put my mind at ease thankkksss

I wouldnt be surprised if it struggles its been minus degress allow the glow plug lights to go out before trying to start.

To ease starting:

Glow plugs - allow the coil light to go out, I turn the ignition off and back on allowing the glow plugs to warm up twice before attempting to start

Keep the diesel tank above half - because it turns thicker it reduces the the flow rate so having more diesel means its picking up a little easier

Battery - Keep it charged by doing over a few miles journey rather than short distance, turn music wipers, heaters everything off before trying as they put strain on the battery

Anti-freeze G12 Coolant - Make sure its topped up

Fuel Filter- Depending on when it was last changed are known to get water in this weather either replace it or drain the water out of the filter

Plant your left foot on the clutch before using the starter motor.

Plant your left foot on the clutch before using the starter motor.

?

?

Depressing the clutch pedal reduces the strain on the starter motor.

thanks guys i will takeall that into cosideration

Diesels don't like the cold

Last few really cold starts mine starts but you can hear a few misses with a higher idle speed then settles down and sounds happy again

Kev

Diesels don't like the cold

Last few really cold starts mine starts but you can hear a few misses with a higher idle speed then settles down and sounds happy again

Kev

Mine does that, well it doesn't really miss, but it does have a higher idle speed for a split second in cold weather. She'll chug away all day long through a Siberian winter after that though

My VRS is doing the same, sounds horrible to start with but settles after a few seconds.

The last two morning the Coolant light has also come on, it's up on the high mark, if I turn the car off and start it again it goes away.

Anyone else experienced this? Would it pay to change the coolant?

contacts in the expansion tank....

new tank or clean contacts with a screwdriver etc

I was wondering how mine would be today - not used since Friday - -4degC on the thermometer - but I got in, depressed the clutch (as I always do anyway) then started it after the glowplug light went out (which was pretty quick) - and it started instantly - as it always does...

Edited 29 November, 201015 yr by DRJ

Fitted one of these a few months back

http://www.tayna.co.uk/Type-096-Varta-Silver-Dynamic-Car-Battery-P3197.html

Can't say the cold has made that much of a difference to mine with one of these batteries

on the car. This morning at a displayed -3.5 the glow plug light stayed on maybe 2 seconds

longer than usual and the car fired up quickly after that.

At the weeekend I went out early on Sunday morning in Mrs Grrs SDI and it did struggle a bit.

and ran rough for 30 or so seconds once started.

When I do replace her battery I'll buy another of these without hesitation.