Hi I have just bought an Octavia diesel 09. It had a range of 8 mi!es on it on pickup, I filled it and off I went driving 150 miles to visit family. It started beautifully facing uphill or down, in Wales, in heavy frost or not. Then went to the Mid!ands, 6 days later, and left the sat nav plugged in overnight and had trouble starting it due to flat battery. Jump started it in the end. Since then nearly every morning I have problem starting it. It turns over really energetically, and tries to start immediately but won't catch. I then have to keep turning it over until it goes. I now have a jump starter in the car as I normally need it. Once it starts it starts immediately every time that day. I have been in to several garages all with different suggestions. Facing downhill seems to help, but not reliably. Any suggestions?

Change the battery. I had a similar issue before Christmas, changed the battery. Not had a problem since.

"It turns over really energetically but won't catch".

 

This makes me wonder if the issue is actually the battery, or an air leak in the injection system (fuel starvation).

 

Rather than go spending out money on parts or fault chasing, I'd suggest buying a cheap multimeter and checking the battery voltage first thing. You're looking for around 12v engine off. 10 or below and you've definitely got a bad cell so need a new battery. Once the engine is running, check again and you should see about 14.4v idling, presuming you don't have lights, HRW or high fan speed.

If it's passed that lot (takes about as long to type as to do) then it's definitely an air leak.

Disconnect the battery for 5 mins and reconnect. This will reset the ecu. Maybe one of the trim values has got its knickers in a twist.

100% the battery.

 

I had the same issue, it was turning over quite eagerly but struggled to catch.

 

If you've flattened the battery by leaving the sat nav plugged in then it will have likely killed the battery.

OK checked battery and it was 12.04 volts so changed it for another I had that was 12.86 volts, gave it a good 1.5 hour run to check it was well charged and then left it to stand for 2 days. When I came back to it it turned over really energetically but would not catch on fist turn over and started after a good turning over. Approx. 20 secs.

It has been suggested it could be due to a faulty non return valve and that I ought to put a new one in the flow to stop the system draining. When I parked up last night I parked it nose downhill, and it started on first turn over. Any comments.

The only comment I can make is the same as others have made - i.e. change the battery! You have just purchased the car, you most probably don't know the age of the battery, and have already by your own admission flattened the battery. Changing it is probably the easiest and cheapest place to start, Why look for other problems until you've tried this first?

Hi Lombardy, I changed the battery gave the car a 1.5 hour run to make sure of a good charge. I then left the car for 2 days and when I came to start it the same problem.

When I returned home, another 1.5 hour run, parked up nose down and she started beautifully in the morning. The car had over half a tank of fuel when parked on the flat, and a quarter when on the slope. I can't see this is a battery problem

put a "NEW" battery on it, job done, any drop in voltage at all and they are very picky with starting, it may crank over just fine but the voltage drop wont let it fire up.

Hi Lombardy, I changed the battery gave the car a 1.5 hour run to make sure of a good charge. I then left the car for 2 days and when I came to start it the same problem.

When I returned home, another 1.5 hour run, parked up nose down and she started beautifully in the morning. The car had over half a tank of fuel when parked on the flat, and a quarter when on the slope. I can't see this is a battery problem

 

Hi Lombardy, I changed the battery gave the car a 1.5 hour run to make sure of a good charge. I then left the car for 2 days and when I came to start it the same problem.

When I returned home, another 1.5 hour run, parked up nose down and she started beautifully in the morning. The car had over half a tank of fuel when parked on the flat, and a quarter when on the slope. I can't see this is a battery problem

 

 

You said "another battery you had" was it new? my situation was exactly the same, started next morning but any longer than that and it would struggle. 

if it starts fine when jump started its clearly a voltage issue.

 

throw a brand new one on it £69.99 from halfords job done.

It has been suggested it could be due to a faulty non return valve and that I ought to put a new one in the flow to stop the system draining. When I parked up last night I parked it nose downhill, and it started on first turn over. Any comments.

 

This reminds me of the problems with diesel engines in Galaxys/Alhambras. That was due to missing or damaged O ring on the T piece that goes into the fuel filter. Draws air slowly in when stood.Facing down hill reduces the the column height of fuel back to tank and so less or no air drawn in.

 

SO check the fuel filter for missing or badly installed o rings.

OK I have given in and got a new battery. Guess what, when parked on the flat the car will still not start without 20-25 seconds of turning over, although it tries to start on first turn over. If, however, it is parked up nose downhill it starts perfectly. Has anyone any other ideas, and should I abandon the idea of a non return valve?

What engine exactly is it? PD, cr etc.

Does the fuel filter have a drain tap? Check it's not leaking.

Check the state and security of the diesel leak off piping which usually feed back to the filter.

Try a vagcom/vcds scan. Maybe your jump start fried a sensor.

Can you hear the lift pump pressurising when you open the drivers door on that first start?

Edited 5 March, 201511 yr by xman