2003 Octavia 1.9TDI cold stating problems

[rallyrobbo38]

Evening All!

Once again winter is upon us and my 2003 1.9TDI estate will not start these cold mornings. Can anyone help?

I have seen other posts on here from other owners with similar problems but no definitive answer. Spring, summer and autumn she starts first turn of the key, but when it gets around -2 or -3, starting in the morning is not possible. I turn the key, usual dash lights come on, nothing from starter. SOMTIMES, if its not too cold, she will start as the key returns to the first position. If its really cold, nothing at all. As the day warms up, sun gets on the car, she'll start. SOMTIMES if I rock the car in gear it will start. This led me to think it was the starter motor, but I had that changed last week, then this morning she was dead again, so probably not the starter. She was in the garage for two nights last week for him to diagnose, but as usual sods law said it was not cold enough and she behaved perfectly. If I park tight up to the house to get some warmth overnight, there is more chance of starting.

Is there a relay in the starting circuit that could be freezing, and if so where is it? Is the solonoid part of the starter and would it have been replaced with the new motor, could it be freezing up?

Any help or thoughts would be very welcome because even though my boss is very good about me being late in the winter, his patience only goes so far!

Cheers

Paul

[calv123]

Hi - I've got the same type and age of Octavia.

I've had it from new and it used to always start quickly first time while it still had the original battery, no matter how cold. Now it takes a little bit of care to start so I wonder if the replacement battery that I got last year isn't as good as the original.....

If it's cold, I now switch the ignition on, but I don't try to immediately start the engne. I then wait a few seconds for the yellow/orange coil symbol light to go out before I try to start the engine. The engine then sometimes starts when the key is fully turned round, but if it doesn't I just repeat and use a little bit of throttle the second time and so far it hasn't taken more than two attempts to start.

Regards,

Calum

[rallyrobbo38]

Thanks for the reply Calum

I always wait for the preheater light to go out but this doesn't help at all in this case. No amount of waitiing or coaxing will start the car.

Same thing again this morning since it's -6 and covered in snow!

Cheers

Paul

[pikpilot]

Evening All!

Once again winter is upon us and my 2003 1.9TDI estate will not start these cold mornings. Can anyone help?

I have seen other posts on here from other owners with similar problems but no definitive answer. Spring, summer and autumn she starts first turn of the key, but when it gets around -2 or -3, starting in the morning is not possible. I turn the key, usual dash lights come on, nothing from starter. SOMTIMES, if its not too cold, she will start as the key returns to the first position. If its really cold, nothing at all. As the day warms up, sun gets on the car, she'll start. SOMTIMES if I rock the car in gear it will start. This led me to think it was the starter motor, but I had that changed last week, then this morning she was dead again, so probably not the starter. She was in the garage for two nights last week for him to diagnose, but as usual sods law said it was not cold enough and she behaved perfectly. If I park tight up to the house to get some warmth overnight, there is more chance of starting.

Is there a relay in the starting circuit that could be freezing, and if so where is it? Is the solonoid part of the starter and would it have been replaced with the new motor, could it be freezing up?

Any help or thoughts would be very welcome because even though my boss is very good about me being late in the winter, his patience only goes so far!

Cheers

Paul

I also have a 2003 1.9TDI estate. I have had starting issues in the past when just above freezing point but that was with the common issue of unburnt fuel (grey smoke) and could be started on the second attempt by recycling the ignition switch to give a longer total glow-plug time.

I think the clue to your problem is the statement " if its not too cold, she will start as the key returns to the first position". This is a common symptom of a poor battery with petrol engines and a good clue with diesels such as ours. Releasing the starter motor reduces the battery current and the voltage rises. If the engine is still turning it may start.

From reading other threads on here I believe that the starter is inhibited if the battery voltage is too low, so giving the signs you sometimes have of the starter not engaging.

On a day when the starter actually works, try starting again with the lights and an interior light on. Will it start? does the interior light brilliance dip significantly?

I am pretty confident that your problem is the battery. Incidently, I am still on the factory fitted battery but one morning soon.............?

Mike

[tomsimmons]

I also have a 2003 1.9TDI estate. I have had starting issues in the past when just above freezing point but that was with the common issue of unburnt fuel (grey smoke) and could be started on the second attempt by recycling the ignition switch to give a longer total glow-plug time.

I think the clue to your problem is the statement " if its not too cold, she will start as the key returns to the first position". This is a common symptom of a poor battery with petrol engines and a good clue with diesels such as ours. Releasing the starter motor reduces the battery current and the voltage rises. If the engine is still turning it may start.

From reading other threads on here I believe that the starter is inhibited if the battery voltage is too low, so giving the signs you sometimes have of the starter not engaging.

On a day when the starter actually works, try starting again with the lights and an interior light on. Will it start? does the interior light brilliance dip significantly?

I am pretty confident that your problem is the battery. Incidently, I am still on the factory fitted battery but one morning soon.............?

Mike

Or try starting it jumped off another car, if it starts even when cold your battery is likely on it's last knockings or not up to the job.

Tom

[mbames]

Or try starting it jumped off another car, if it starts even when cold your battery is likely on it's last knockings or not up to the job.

That would be my initial suggestion too. A battery not performing at its best won't be able to crank the engine over quite fast enough and then it won't start.

fwiw, my battery died a couple of a years ago in a similar way, I now have a new battery (well it has been in the car for 2-3 years), and the old girl burst into life at -7.5 yesterday morning having spent from Thursday evening till Monday morning sitting in the snow.

[trundlenut]

Does it start OK when the engine is warm?

[KenONeill]

Do you have a multimeter? If not, you're going to need one, but I only paid about £14 for a decent enough digital meter.

Check the battery voltage last thing when you park up. It should be about 12v. Male a note of this reading.

Check it again first thing - if it's not the same give or take 1 in the least significant figure (usually means 0.1v on the 0..20v scale I'd expect you to need), then you probably need a new battery. If it's down about 10.5v, you definitely need a new battery; a cell has probably gone.

[rallyrobbo38]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, looks like the concensus is battery trouble. Something I had not thought of TBH, because there are no other symtoms and the interior light does not dim when starting. I have had the car for three years and not changed the battery, and judging by the corrosion around the clamp it's been there a while. No pink drumming bunnies in this one!

Trundlenut, it starts perfect when the engine is warm, first turn every time.

Ken, I will borrow a multimeter from work tomorrow and give it a try. if she won't start in the morning I will try jumping off the wifes car, (with leads I mean not actually climbing up....you know what I meant!).

I'll let you know how she goes on.

Many thanks again

Paul

[PH68]

I have a 2001 TDi.

It sits on the road outside the house all year round.

We live in a rural village, and our cars get a good battering from the elements.

It's only on odd occasions in the last 5 years when I've had to turn the key again and nudge the throttle a bit.

Otherwise it starts first time, even when the temperature has been lower than -15C.

[b1ackb1rd]

I have a dodgy battery, it started first time this morning after I remembered some advice from an Old Sweat at work ... cycle the glow plugs 2 or 3 times before attempting to start the engine and keep your foot on the clutch.

Worked a treat, much easier than yesterday and it was about 10 degrees colder today.