I bought this low mileage vRS about 3 months ago. It has always been a tad slow to start. Probably not noticeable to most but it was not "on the button" like my MkI. Then the other morning the engine didn't "catch" on the first pull. Second pull and it still didn't catch. Third pull it fired up after turning over 5 or 6 times with my foot to the floor. Once started the engine ran fine without any misfiring, so I put it down to a one off.

So now I am super-sensitive to how the car starts. Next day...OK. Day after... a bit reluctant. Today just a tad reluctant.

Any ideas what this might be? I might be being a bit fussy but I'm used to better.

Mine tends to do the same and requires a slightly longer hold on the key to turnover. Although by the sounds of things not quite as much as yours. Probably worth checking the battery as your first port of call, if it's the original and more than 3 years old it might need replacing. Any garage sound be able to check the output for you at minimal to no cost.

This may or may not be relevant -

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/197957-coil-pack/page__hl__coil+pack

TBH my 07 occasionally doesn't spring to life as fast as I'd expect but it's still on the first turn of the key.

Probably worth checking the battery as your first port of call, if it's the original and more than 3 years old it might need replacing. Any garage sound be able to check the output for you at minimal to no cost.

+1

Especially with all those nice electric toys!!!

Everthought about a long term trickle charger????

I can check the battery and I have a battery conditioner/trickle charger I could use but I wouldn't have expected the battery to not hold its charge after 3 years. The MK1 had done 150,000 mile over 7 years on the original battery and it never missed a beat. I wouldn't have expected coil packs either as if one goes down it would misfire or run on 3 cylinders, wouldn't it?

Anyway, I'll check the battery and see where I go from there. Thanks for your responses.

The Tfsi works off a Hpfp, this works off the camshaft, so by turning it over you are building up pressure in the Hpfp to start it.

If left over night or for a long period the pump pressure will drop as it can't keep that pressure in the fuel lines forever, this is why it's harder to start from cold.

The best thing most have found is to turn on the ignition and wait the dash lights to go out before starting, this will give the Lpfp time to prime and give the engine the best possible chance to start.

The best thing most have found is to turn on the ignition and wait the dash lights to go out before starting, this will give the Lpfp time to prime and give the engine the best possible chance to start.

This is what i do, still sounds a bit iffy starting lol, i also plug it into an Oxford Maximiser to keep the battery topped up.

The Tfsi works off a Hpfp, this works off the camshaft, so by turning it over you are building up pressure in the Hpfp to start it.

If left over night or for a long period the pump pressure will drop as it can't keep that pressure in the fuel lines forever, this is why it's harder to start from cold.

The best thing most have found is to turn on the ignition and wait the dash lights to go out before starting, this will give the Lpfp time to prime and give the engine the best possible chance to start.

When you open the door the pump primes the fuel pressure so by the time you insert the key the pressure should be ok.

Copied from a thread on mk5 golf forum

OK - some plain english - to-the-point advice for engine starts - for ALL engines - hot or cold - petrol or diesel.

Do NOT touch the throttle pedal at all - don't even fart near it - untill the engine has started and running under its own steam (unless the owners manual specifically states otherwise)

when putting in the ignition key, turn it to the "ignition on" position, but do NOT immediately activate the starter motor.  Wait about 5 seconds, until all the usual warning lights have extinguished.  During this phase, the electronic throttle valve self calibrates (and feeds back status info to the ECU).  If you touch the throttle pedal - it just messes this up, and confuses the ECU

Then twist the ignition key - and HOLD it on the starter UNTIL the engine has fired and running under its own steam.  It is perfectly safe to hold the key on the starter for upto 10 continuous seconds.  If it don't start, turn the ignition fully off, turn on, and wait another 10 seconds before engaging the starter and trying again.  Still keep your Doc Martins off the throttle pedal

After you have released the starter motor, try to let the engine idle for at least 30 seconds, and then you can press the loud pedal to your hearts content

Further info for the GTI, and all FSI and direct injection petrol engines:

Because the high pressure fuel system in these engines is only developed from the engine-driven pump - then these engines have to be physically turned by the starter motor, to build up the pressure in the fuel rail.  This means that the GTI (and associated FSI/TSI) engines seem to take slightly longer than normal engines to start.  This is perfectly normal, and is not a problem.  Just make sure you hold the key on the starter for slightly longer than you may be used to, as described in the above bullet points. 

That's interesting. My old diesel habits still work then. I always turned the key then put on my belt to give the glowplugs time to heat. I still do it with the TFSI