I don't know what it is but my car really doesn't like the cold.. I always leave it in the cold mornings to warm up for at least half n hour before I set off on a journey, but in the winter she is very lumpy she starts no problem but when I set off she seems very lumpy and heavy if that makes sense.. never have the problem if the weather is mild or extremely hot. It just seems to be when the weather has been very cold. Once she's warned up fully it's still the same.. anyone shed any light on what the problem may be?...

It warms up much more efficiently just driving right away to get everything working.  As long as vision OK I never leave mine ticking over on the drive.

 

As for your poor running.  It could just be the weather or a bad batch of diesel, but I would get someone to scan with VCDS for peace of mind.

I love how mine sounds like a lumpy tractor when irs really cold . I just let it tick over for a min then set out driving. Take it noce a steady till its warm and then away we go.

One thing ive noticed... I never ever ever need to wait for spark plugs. I just turn and start instantly. Ignoring the glowplig light and always starts on first turn. Never known an enfine like it

Mine starts fine but in the cold she just feels lumpy and heavy.. I never boot it about till she is up to temp. But even then she still feels lumpy..

You leave it for half an hour to warm up before setting off?? waste of time and fuel, just drive it within a minute or 2 of starting the engine

 

The only thing i notice with mine in the winter is the gearbox, it's a bit dodgy for the first mile of driving but it's ok after that

I put it down to my injectors getting tired now and the lovely cold air being denser and giving more power

You leave it for half an hour to warm up before setting off?? waste of time and fuel, just drive it within a minute or 2 of starting the engine

The only thing i notice with mine in the winter is the gearbox, it's a bit dodgy for the first mile of driving but it's ok after that

Yes lol I do but now I won't...

Hopefully. No one knows where your located...

I always leave it in the cold mornings to warm up for at least half n hour before I set off on a journey

 

Bad idea for oh so many reasons!

 

1. Excessive engine wear

2. Actually takes LONGER to warm up/get to operating temperature

3. Waste of fuel (you get 0MPG when your sat with the engine idling)

4. The list could go on...

 

Regarding your cold running lumpiness. If it's only when cold it could be the glow plugs, they don't have to 'fail' to start giving issues. As a first port of call if you suspect an issue would be to try adding some Forte Diesel Treatment and taking the car for an Italian tune up, see if that helps make it a bit smoother but most diesels are rough when cold starting so it may just be the way it is! - I know mine doesn't sound very smooth when starting in sub-zero temps compared to starting in the summer months. 

Bad idea for oh so many reasons!

1. Excessive engine wear

2. Actually takes LONGER to warm up/get to operating temperature

3. Waste of fuel (you get 0MPG when your sat with the engine idling)

4. The list could go on...

Regarding your cold running lumpiness. If it's only when cold it could be the glow plugs, they don't have to 'fail' to start giving issues. As a first port of call if you suspect an issue would be to try adding some Forte Diesel Treatment and taking the car for an Italian tune up, see if that helps make it a bit smoother but most diesels are rough when cold starting so it may just be the way it is! - I know mine doesn't sound very smooth when starting in sub-zero temps compared to starting in the summer months.

Ooh thanks for that I won't in future leave the car to warm up for long.. I'll order some of the forte diesel treatment as well... I will also maybe look into changing glo plugs..

Thanks again

Change your glow plugs.

 

Even though the light on the dash goes off, they continue to stay powered (heated) for a while after starting to improve the ignition of the diesel in the cold cylinder head.

The dash light is just to inform you that they’re up to temp and you can start the engine. Even though PDs start incredibly easily compared to some diesels.

Edited 27 December, 201411 yr by tech838

When i first got my Fabia, i couldn't drive it for a month because i was insured on my other car so it was parked on the drive and this was 2 years ago when we had quite heavy snow.. and i would run the engine for about an hour every day for it to "warm up", until i read on here that it was pretty pointless lol

I'd always wait until the glow plugs cut off because as has been pointed out the alternator takes huge load from the engine until they're up to temp.. so I may wait a couple of minutes maybe sometimes 5 if I have to defog.  It's not that bad sitting around actually.. you can spend more minutes stuck on the M6 at 6:30am in traffic than you can on your driveway! Besides never subscribed to the just start and go policy.. a lot of things aren't up to temp.. there's not just engine oil to think about. 

 

Can anyone confirm the correct part code for Glow Plugs on a 1.9TDi Fabia Mk1 52 reg.. I've come across NGK Y-732J  - are these correct?

 

I need to replace mine they've done over 12 years..

Skoda say in the manual to never start the car from cold and let it idle, they say to drive the car immediately, so surely that's a good enough reason not to do it, let alone the others.

It's a complete waste of time.

the alternator takes huge load from the engine until they're up to temp

 

Even more of a reason to get moving, the alternator will produce power more easily when the revs are higher, reducing the strain on your battery.

My problem sorted it was the dog bone mount that was causing the issue the rubber had perished so replaced it and now the car is silky smooth

Bought with this heater

http://www.calix.se/en/products/search-products-cars?action=prodDBSearch&scrollPos=0&search%5BheaterId%5D=991115959&search%5BkitId%5D=

and there is no need to run a cold car .
Sure, my car also has a 1000w extra
electric heater which was part of the factory equipment.

In addition, I also installed the same type of protection

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/ROOMSTER/Roomster-winter-grille-cover

Although the outdoors would be minus 20 or more frost as a 3-hour heating and the car starts like in the summer and it dosend sound like old tractor....