vRS hard to start in freezing weather

[Holmesie]

Sorry - just seen the reply. I wouldn't rule it out tbh - although I wouldn't be so sure about the additives having such a pronounced effect so quickly, I wonder whether there's something to do with the Cetane rating and timing if that occurs with diesel cars (think I'm applying petrol theory to diesel - might trip myself up...)

ive wondered similar ....theres a bp garage next to my work and would be dead easy to fill the car up on lunch times etc but after filling bike up there on a couple of occasions ive struggled to get home so i didnt dare risk it ??

did the prob ever get solved ?

[stuart vrs]

fill it up in the morning, fuel is more dense when cold. will get more than when the day warms up.

[Timewarp]

Sorry - just seen the reply. I wouldn't rule it out tbh - although I wouldn't be so sure about the additives having such a pronounced effect so quickly, I wonder whether there's something to do with the Cetane rating and timing if that occurs with diesel cars (think I'm applying petrol theory to diesel - might trip myself up...)

Scrap that theory - I suddenly had starting problems again last Thursday, when it wasn't that cold, and with BP Ultimate in the tank. I've cleaned my K&N air filter over the weekend, but I can't imagine a dirty filter causing problems when starting?

Edited 11 March, 2013 by Timewarp

[travs]

Lol - just when you thought you were getting somewhere...

Can't see the airfilter causing that much trouble especially if you don't then notice a drop in performance, or a squid-ink-like black cloud behind you put your foot down. Can only be one of a few possibilities though. If you're running additives in the fuel lines now, then hopefully that is knocked off. If its turning over quickly, then that's supposedly your battery ok. A lack of codes hints at the plugs being ok electrically but what about whether they soot-up over time? I don't know if that happens and means one or more aren't radiating quite-enough heat for startup? I must admit I really don't know if this happens though tbh.

[Timewarp]

Lol - just when you thought you were getting somewhere...

Can't see the airfilter causing that much trouble especially if you don't then notice a drop in performance, or a squid-ink-like black cloud behind you put your foot down. Can only be one of a few possibilities though. If you're running additives in the fuel lines now, then hopefully that is knocked off. If its turning over quickly, then that's supposedly your battery ok. A lack of codes hints at the plugs being ok electrically but what about whether they soot-up over time? I don't know if that happens and means one or more aren't radiating quite-enough heat for startup? I must admit I really don't know if this happens though tbh.

Yeh, sod's law!

When it was tricky to start it has always been fine once running. Battery still seems OK too.

It does seem more responsive now that the air filter has been cleaned and re-oiled. Yes it could be down to glow plugs. The common factor in all cases is when it hasn't been driven the day before, not sure the affect this would have on glow plugs. Cheers for your reply.

[Holmesie]

Yeh, sod's law!

When it was tricky to start it has always been fine once running. Battery still seems OK too.

It does seem more responsive now that the air filter has been cleaned and re-oiled. Yes it could be down to glow plugs. The common factor in all cases is when it hasn't been driven the day before, not sure the affect this would have on glow plugs. Cheers for your reply.

im sure ive read in many other posts that oil from oiled air filters such as k and n stop the maf functioning correctly ( not sure whether this would cause your probs) also it says your fabia is 160bhp and other members have said again in other posts that the OE filter is good for over 200 bhp .......

may be worth cleaning the maf sensor putting a standard filter in and giving it a try for a few days

[VWD]

Ye olde dodge on OAP glow plugs - try heating them up a few times before starting. ( switch on/off a few times). You could also look for someone nearby with VCDS to do a scan

[Dunkuk]

Hi, just buy a can of easy start. I wouldn't use it long term but you are trading the car in soon anyway.

[@Lee]

Ye olde dodge on OAP glow plugs - try heating them up a few times before starting. ( switch on/off a few times). You could also look for someone nearby with VCDS to do a scan

wouldn't doing that (on n off with the glow plugs) just draw current from the battery that's not being replaced, thus leaving less power in the battery to crank the engine?

[Timewarp]

Thanks for the replies - cleaning and re-oiling the air filter was done after I had the recent problems. I'll have to wait until the next time I leave the car a day to see if this has made any difference.

No plans to trade it in just yet. It runs like a dream once going even though there's 100K on clock and it's coming up to 8 years old.

[Timewarp]

Happened again this morning:

Seems like it's every time it hasn't been driven the day before at the moment. Time to book in the garage methinks!

[Holmesie]

was the car serviced recently fuel filters etc ...

[Timewarp]

was the car serviced recently fuel filters etc ...

Hi, yes it was done at a local garage. Hmm... I wonder now if they did change the fuel filter?

[travs]

Definitely not the battery - mine's not like that, mine turns over sluggish for a second and then fires straight away. Fuel filter would be a good option to try. Do you notice a nice big plume of black smoke out the back when it does fire? If not, that would support a lack of fuel getting into the cylinders. And if its after its sat there without running for some time.

[stuart vrs]

mine struggles if not run for a couple of days, but not as bad as timewarp's and my battery light flickers, then it fires up.

[RAPTURE]

Check you timing, i believe retarded timing makes cold starting harder on this lump.