I decided that I better start up my snow covered car for the first time in 10 days today. It turned over slowly but did start and then proceeded to clunk, shudder and sound ready to die for 20 seconds before settling into its usual smooth rhythm. For a split second I expected the engine to shoot out of the exhaust in small pieces!!!

Edited 8 December, 201015 yr by sneeks

Mine sounds a bit rough on start up at the minute, too. Mind you, I don't think I've tried starting a diesel when it's -12 before!

This is the first diesel engine I've ever needed to start when cold, an indicated -8 from the car multidot display. The clunk noise was a bit worrying, sounded like something bashing off of another part but it vanished quickly and everything sounds OK now.

Mine started fine at -15.5 this morning!

I'm wondering if there had been ice build up on any of the moving parts which caused the initial clunk/knock noises. 10 days of sitting there may have allowed ice to develop under the bonnet.

Give the glow plugs a few seconds on ignition position 2 before turning to position 3 when it's really really cold.

Thanks, I'll be sure and do that next time

Give the glow plugs a few seconds on ignition position 2 before turning to position 3 when it's really really cold.

Works wonders

Give the glow plugs a few seconds on ignition position 2 before turning to position 3 when it's really really cold.

Yes, the car will turn on the glow plugs as indicated by the warning light, as soon as that goes out the car should start fine, they should start ok even at the temperatures we have had recently otherwise Skoda have no place selling their cars into Scandinavian markets.

I did allow the glow plug light to go out before turning the key so I think the main issue was the 10 days the car had sat there without being started.

I did allow the glow plug light to go out before turning the key so I think the main issue was the 10 days the car had sat there without being started.

you sure it wasn't a neighbours cat that had climbed in the engine bay to avoid the bad weather?

It turned over slowly but did start and then proceeded to clunk, shudder and sound ready to die for 20 seconds before settling into its usual smooth rhythm.

My 2.0 PD Scout has been sat for four days in temperatures between -10 and -15.

It too sounded rougher than normal upon start up for a few seconds, exactly as you describe.

My 10 year year old diesel Peugeot 306 sounded a whole lot worse, I'm sure it wasn't running on all four cylinders for a few seconds! It did it earlier in the year during the bad weather too. Soon returns to normal when the temperatures rise!

Hi

my 10 cents worth. Have a pd170 and does the same thing. Takes the engine about 10 secs to fire up and then all good. Been back to the dealer and tried loads of things

1 - new battery

2 - dpf regen

3 - clean the valve

4 - did some other bits

have accepted it is now a chararistic of the engine. Got a friend with the seat with the same engine and has the same problem.

Hope that helps

Thanks for all the replies, I'm sure it can't be anything serious as it ran perfectly after 20-30 seconds.

PumpeDuse I would hope I will not find a neighbours cat under the bonnet!

During the cold snap last year someone on here suggested giving it multiple coil cycles before starting up (ie, turning the key to heat the coil. then back to off, then back to heat again etc). I've been doing that and it's been starting fine despite looking like an iceberg from the outside (and on the inside glass too!).

Was -15 here this morning and the first time I tried to start it chugged and didn't start. Another heating cycle and it started fine. As mentioned give it a few cycles of glow plug heating first.

It's not quite that cold down here but mine starts fine always.

Not a vRS, but a 2.0pd. Mine starts with a slight clunk, and generally seems noisier in extreme cold. I'm not worried, I just think diesels operate more efficiently in a higher ambient temperature.

I'll try the repeat glow plug thing though