1.2tsi starting issue

[neil_f]

My wife has a 1.2tsi 2011 model. Ever since we bought it second hand it seems to take an age to start (has done this for two years now!) Starter motor turns over fine so don't think it is a battery issue just it seems to take about twice as long as any other car I've had to actually start. Any ideas? Have heard about possible timing change stretch on these models. There is a rattle for about a second when it has started and then silent there after. Is there a way of checking the chain either via vag com or visually?

[xman]

All known issues.

 

The relutance to start seems to be because the common rail loses pressure (leaking back through the high pressure pump) when stood a while and the mechanically driven high pressure pump which is the thing on the top of the engine with a large hex head, needs a few revs of the engine to reprime the rail before the injectors are allowed to fire.

 

The chain rattle at start is due to the hydraulic chain tensioner releasing when stood plus the oil filter housing has a return to sump oilway that is normally closed by an internal seal on the oil filter. The purpose of this return oilway is to drain the filter when it is removed to stop oil spilling all over the engine block. However unless the filter is tightened **exactly** right, the filter seal either doesnt seal or distorts and leaks, so the filter drainds down slowly when stood. The rattling is during the period to reprime the filter and repressurise the hydraulic tensioner.

 

Or as the skoda tech will tell you, "they all do that". (Its actually because they've overtightened the filter)

 

However, if the chain still rattles at idle, then it is stretched and you need to get it seen to asap before it jumps a cog and trashes the engine.

 

Certain engines built prior to around Jun/Jul 2011 IIRC had faulty/poor chains and Skoda will replace these foc if you really pester them although they will insist on trying to fob you off. There are technical bulletins galore for the skoda techs to read on this subject, they wont let you have a look at these however.

Edited 18 February, 2016 by xman

[neil_f]

Thanks for the reply. Interestingly there is a fault code logged to do with fuel pressure so sounds like that could be the reason. Is there any cure?