Morning All

When the car is started from cold, particularly if it's a cold/wet day I've noticed that the car can start with a cloud of pale gray smoke. Sometimes it's not as keen to start as it used to be, and can result in the traction control and ABS lights flashing up.

I've checked for codes, nothing at all.

I've no idea how old the battery is, or when the glows/injectors were last changed if ever - she's got nearly 170k miles on the clock.

I don't know if it's related, but I seem to be slowly losing a little oil, but no signs of it on tge ground - though of course the under tray would probably stop that.

Turbo is fine, engin runs fine, though maybe not as economically as it should be I feel. There's no smoke under hard acceleration, even when cold.

Any ideas?

Tom

Battery

Glow plugs

Coolant Temp Sensor

Timing

109 relay faulty

glow plug relay

What is it like starting when warm?

When was the cambelt last changed?

Does the glow plug light come on normally and stay on when outside its cold?

When it is cold out does double cycling the ignition help with the starting?

Timing belt was done just over a year ago.

Coolant sensor is new, last one went pop and heater light was on for max time.

Heater light is only on for a short while as expected

Warm starting is not something I do very often, maybe once a fortnight, but I'll keep an eye out next time.

Double cycling, to be honest, I tried this a few times and can't decide if it's better. I don't think I've seen the ABS & Traction light when I've double cycled, but can't swear to that.

What does the ABS & Traction light mean when they come on while starting?

Tom

Edited 2 May, 201214 yr by tomsimmons

Not sure on the ABS and ASR lights to be honest. I would imagine error codes are being stored though, so getting the car checked with VCDS would be a good idea.

If the battery is not very good then you can have problems with warm starts because the ecu doesn't start injecting fuel until the stater motor spins the engine at more than 250rpm, so a poor battery will mean slow starter motor and hence hard to start when warm.

Does the battery light come on when you first turn the key and then go off again?

Is this a recent problem or has is been happening since the timing belt was done? If the timing is too retarded it will be a pig to start when cold.

I've checked the car with VCDS Lite, the only code was regarding the radio

I'm not sure when it started to be honest, it was certainly well after the timing belt, so I don't think that is the issue.

The lights all come on and go off correctly during the ignition phase, but when it decides to be lazy on starting the ABS and ASR come on and go off as it starts. The slow starts are only maybe a second or so longer, but they are certainly more smokey than the general starts.

I did accidentally over fill engine oil when I changed it last year, and it was a about 30 miles before I had a chance to check and drain it down a bit. Since then I have had a to put a drop more in twice. It's coming up to a year since the change, so due another in a couple of months.

Tom

Edited 2 May, 201214 yr by tomsimmons

Is it possible to check the timing with VCDS Lite?

Tom

Is it possible to check the timing with VCDS Lite?

Tom

Only if you register your copy.

OK, not making much progress on this.

This only thing I have noticed is that it can be rough after starting, like it's not firing on all cylinders. Could this be a sign of a duff heater?

Be so much easier if there was an error code!

I'm not sure whether to rule out battery either yet. I know it doesn't start injecting until the starter is turning the engine at a specific speed, that would slow the start, but can't see why it would cause a smokey start.

Tom

This weather the glow plugs do nothing. The minimum revs only applies on a warm start not cold.

Timing is still potentially an issue.

There is also a pressure relief valve in the fuel pump which can come apart and cause problems, but I'm not sure whether this includes starting problems.

Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk 2

Mine has done something similar over the last two winters. The grey smoke smells of unburnt diesel fuel. Double dosing on the glow plug light certainly helps as does just waiting for a while after the light goes off before cranking.

On very cold days it seems to start on three cylinders and the fourth joins in after 1 to 2 seconds.The same thing happened when I bought the car 5 years ago and it was fixed by changing a glow plug.

I plan to check the glow plugs individually before the winter arrives again.

I also wondered if the injectors have some wear (80,000 miles)

Ring any bells?

p.s. CTS has been replaced and timing reset by a Skoda garage a year ago.

OK, forgot about this for a while. Changed the oil, did a 400 mile run and the gearbox was playing around, couldn't always slip easily into 3rd/4th/ That was looking at £x hundred for a box, so was beginning to think the end was nigh. However seems the old girl didn't like the idea of being pentioned off and the gearbox is fine again.

So before I look at possible suspension change, seems a bit soft bouncy of late and a coupe of things I want to sort this grey smoke and slow start.

Warm starts are never an issue, quick and smokeless.

No smoke when giving it the beans, even when only just started.

Done 1000+ miles since oil change, no sign of it dropping.

No error codes

Dash lights all behaving as normal

But...

Cold/damp starts slower than should be

Always blows a cloud of pale grey smoke when started

I don't have a battery to swap/test with

I don't know if a heater(s) are on the way out

Or injectors

And I don't have the full blown version of VCDS so can't check the timing.

Anyone any ideas on how I can start diagnosing the problem?

Is there anyone in the Aberdeen area who has a full version of VCDS and would willing to check timing, obviously beer tokens would be on offer.

Tom