Ran it for 40 miles, got out , got back in it 5. Mins later and it turned over very very slowly and didnt start, left it for 5 mins then it turned over faster and started. Its been turning slow after a run but leave it to cool and its fine , its getting worse cos today was tbe first time it failed to start after turning slowly. Help please what is the likely cause ?

Battery failing, poor battery connection, starter brushes worn.

These symptoms are usually related to high resistance at the starter end (not the battery end) of the starter circuit, so starter motor terminal connections, brushes,and maybe solonoid in that order seem like the first things to check.

Is the problem that it starts OK when cold but nor when hot? And is it a diesel? If so, have a read of the threads below.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/245336-hard-to-start-the-engine-when-hot-bkd-engine/

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/247329-octavia-diesel-hot-starting-problems-anyone-any-similar-experiences-or-solutions/

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/148227-starting-when-hot/

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/183531-octavia-tdi-hard-to-start-when-hot/

Thanks ppl for your replys, its just done it again right now, seems ok when it cools a little and then it turns over and starts, its just failed to turn over properly turned slowly, left it whilst i posted this then it turned fast and started

My Octavia would struggle to start when cold, as it was completely random I dismissed the battery and feared it was the common starter motor issue that seems to plague some MkII's.

It then started to struggle when the engine was up to temperature too, but again randomly. Some starts were 100% normal, other times I feared it would leave me stranded.

As it was the original battery I decided to replace this first to at least rule it out knowing the starter motor was a bigger and more expensive job.

To my surprise it was night and day. The new Bosch S5 battery has fixed all the starting issues.

It will struggle to start when hot if the starter motor is sluggish (they sometimes require replacing or cleaning) different rules apply for hot or cold starting, when hot the ecu will not inject fuel unless the revs are above a certain amount, doesn't worry if the coolant is cold (i.e. cold engine).

 

That is all from memory and applies to diesels.

That was exactly my thinking, hence why I discounted the battery when I experienced both poor hot and cold starting.

 

Since replacing the battery the car now fires up instantly all of the time.

 

Perhaps the new battery is compensating for a worn starter motor, not sure, but long may it continue! :sun:

Edited 20 January, 201511 yr by silver1011