Hi all, my 2003 L&K with 170,000 on the clock has recently become a pig to start from cold and when it does it doesn't always seem to fire up on all 4 cylinders and it is accompanied by plumes of white ish smoke and the smell of fuel!

I have changed the coolant temp sensor and this made it slightly better..

Any ideas please or should I be looking for a new motor?????

Glow plugs?

I had the same problem. Eventually found it was the timing that was out. Found when the timing belt was next changed and timing set using software (VCDS?)

I agree with Pikpilot. Check the base pump timing with VCDS. Plenty of posters on this forum have it, so there's bound to be someone near you.

+1 for glow plugs   then assuming it's not a PD   check the fuel temp sensor (readout)  it's in the pump  but replaceable

Unless you have had the timing belt done recently I would suspect the glow plugs.

Is it OK when warm?

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Hi with regards to the timing belt, it was replaced at about 150,000  the issue didn't occur until about 160,000+ Given the limited value of the car I need to be slightly ruthless with repair expenditure....... I have had the glow plugs replaced but that was around the 100,000 mark, Once it has started its starts first turn of the key the next time unless it is left for 6+ hours then it starts like a bag of bolts.

Cheers

Steve

Hi with regards to the timing belt, it was replaced at about 150,000 the issue didn't occur until about 160,000+ Given the limited value of the car I need to be slightly ruthless with repair expenditure....... I have had the glow plugs replaced but that was around the 100,000 mark, Once it has started its starts first turn of the key the next time unless it is left for 6+ hours then it starts like a bag of bolts.

Cheers

Steve

Glow plugs should be the problem. I found they started to degrade at about 50k miles in my old car.

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One way to test the glow plugs is to cycle them 2 or 3 times before trying to start the engine, if it starts ok then the plugs are probably bad.

 

i.e. Turn ignition to position 2, let the glow plug light come on and go out.  Then turn ignition off and back to position 2 and repeat.

Open circuit glow plugs usually flag a fault code on VAG engines.

Hi, I have replaced the glow plugs and starting is pretty much the same, seems to start unevenly and lot of smoke, once its started it will start first time with no smoke unless left standing a few hours, also today after a 30 mile drive the display flashed and binged ENGINE WORKSHOP and the bl**dy glow plug light is flashing all the time. ARRRRGHH 

Hi, I have replaced the glow plugs and starting is pretty much the same, seems to start unevenly and lot of smoke, once its started it will start first time with no smoke unless left standing a few hours.

I repeat, this is identical to mine until the timing was checked and adjusted. Find a member with VCDS near you who is willing to help check.

Hmmm I read this with interest. I've just bought a TDi private sale as couple of weeks ago, which is always a risk I know , and so far its been its a great buy. However it does have this exact same problem . On starting it does seem to catch on 2 maybe 3 cyclinders before all 4, producing the cloud of smoke out the back. Then , when its warm its 100% .  ( I now know the previous owner had covered up this issue by getting it warmed up before I viewed. Should of known ) Oh well ...so I follow this thread with interest.

 

I have a set of glow plugs out of my old Mk1 that blew up, and that started perfectly every time. So when I can , I'll get them fitted and report back. Might be a couple of weeks as old car needs to be towed home from garage.

 

Two qeustions , what do you look for on VCDS ? Is it a software fix ?

hmmm doubt glow plugs , fuel feed i would say . once fuel flowing starts no probs , when did you last change filter ?

+1 fuel feed or low battery not making sufficient cranking rpm to enable pump, would still check base pump timing as very simple to eliminate

Well, today I went to check the condition of the glow plugs , but didn't remove them as they look brand new . So checked resistance and found all four to be 1 to 1.2 ohms . The applied voltage is 11.9 V on turning the ignition on and drops to 11.82 on average , before all the ding sounds in the in car  stop when the voltage then goes to zero. .  I took a look at the coolant sensor which seems to be tricky to access to measure the resistance . It could be that coolant sensor telling the ECU the engines already warm ?

 

 I see a new fuel filter has been fitted. Its a PD engine which I believe VCDS does not allow any adjustment or access to any settings relating to the base ( fuel injection ? ) pump. So is that a hard waresetting when the cam belt is replaced ?

Any other thoughts are welcome and applogies for Hijacking this thread to ' goldenbrown' but I hope this info is usful

Well , so far I've not swapped any parts out yet but I have found out that turning ignition on and waiting 5 seconds then ,   off and on again to turn over on the key , And the car fires up 

pretty well as normal . So Glow plugs to be changed first.