Ok my vrs has a really poor cold start, and I'm in the process of elimination of a few things. So my question is should the in tank pump, prime every time I hit the ignition on? As mine does sometimes and not others.

Cheers

Firstly, when was your battery last changed?

I don't hear mine prime every time, but then it depends on how noisy ambient temps are, and I tend to hear it more when it's cold.

I don't hear mine everytime but it should prime everytime it might just be that you don't hear it everytime.

Phil

Cool thanks for the replies. Battery is as good as new and turns the engine over well. I have been listening for the pump/ sort of fuel up the line noise that happens 70% of times I hit the ignition. Have been starting it with the door open every first start of the day. Changed cts, fuel temp sensor, filter and t peice and seals, fuel lines in the engine bay, battery, glow plugs! Oh and check valve on the feed the tandem pump! Getting worse now :(

Have you tried cycling the ignition several times to see if that improves it?

Phil

Yeah I have, no difference. Got a sneaky feeling the lift pump is clogged or on its way out. Might disconnect a fuel line by the filter and prime the system and see how much it pumps/ doesn't pump out.

Any leak at the tandem fuel pump on the end of the engine?

Phil

Nope no leaks anywhere. Also the poor start is worse with nose end higher than the back.

Just an update, left car with my local skoda dealer for a week to find the cause. Almost £200 later and they can't find anything 'wrong' with it. Funnily enough tho, the first start I try is as bad as ever.