My Skoda Octavia 1.9 diesel starts firat time everytime when the engine is cold, even at -10 degrees, but will not start when the engine has been running and is warm. The intermittent problem occurs about every 10-15 days.

 

I have read online that possible causes might be ... the battery ... coolant temperature sensor ... weak starter motor ...cam shaft sensor ... etc.

 

Please let me know what you think as I don't want to go changing everything if it's something simple.

 

Many thanks

when the engine is warm it has to crank at a certain rpm for it to start injecting as opposed to when cold. I had this problem on  MK5 golf and i tried a new battery to no avail and ended up changing the start motor and it solved the problem, weak starters seem to be common on certain models with the 1.9 engine.

 

So I would start with the cheapest and easiest things like the battery and starter connections/earths to make sure the starter isn't being starved of current and go from there. You can also get the timing checked with VCDS to make sure thats not the issue.

 

I think there was a thread a while ago where the map on the car was changed so the diesel didn't have to meet the rpm threshold for diesel injection which could cost you a lot less than a new starter

Edited 15 August, 20169 yr by SuperbTWM

when the engine is warm it has to crank at a certain rpm for it to start injecting as opposed to when cold. I had this problem on  MK5 golf and i tried a new battery to no avail and ended up changing the start motor and it solved the problem, weak starters seem to be common on certain models with the 1.9 engine.

 

So I would start with the cheapest and easiest things like the battery and starter connections/earths to make sure the starter isn't being starved of current and go from there. You can also get the timing checked with VCDS to make sure thats not the issue.

 

I think there was a thread a while ago where the map on the car was changed so the diesel didn't have to meet the rpm threshold for diesel injection which could cost you a lot less than a new starter

 

Thanks for your reply ... Can I ask, what is the map  and how is it changed ?

 

btw ... the car has only 48000 km, all by me.

Edited 15 August, 20169 yr by BucharestRed

Thanks for your reply ... Can I ask, what is the map  and how is it changed ?

 

btw ... the car has only 48000 km, all by me.

You would need to find somebody who knows how to do it and with the right software.

 

As mikeholroyd says, its covering up the underlying problem of a weak starter but if it stops the problem annoying you and the starter still starts the car up fine there is no point wasting money on a new starter while the other one is working. Like Mike, I lived with mine for years until it got to the point where it needed a lot of cranking for it to finally catch but it did have over 120K miles on it when it got to that point.

 

If its not doing it regularly at the moment then I would leave it alone and just use and enjoy the car.

My 1.9 did exactly the same for years before I sold it (and told the new buyer about it). over the course of the years it never got any worse, and it never failed to start, so I didn't investigate it any further and just lived with it..  

 

The map isn't something that can be seen -- it is simply the software in the ECU. To remap the car, the complete ECU software is deleted and replaced by custom software through the diagnostic OBD port. Remapping to get rid of the hot start issue is, to me, pointless, as it doesn't sort out the cause of the issue -- a bit like taking painkillers longterm instead of seeing a doctor to find out what's causing the pain.

 

48k km / 30k miles on a 2008 car -- lovely low mileage! About the same average as my 2012 Octavia with 14k miles 

 

Mike

 

Thanks for the reply Mike ... we hardly ever use the Skoda which is why the "kilometerage" is so low, trips to the countryside in the summer mainly. Anyway we'll probably jusy stick wth the problem and hope it doesn't get any worse.

Mine was exactly the same from around 25k miles (40k km) to when I sold it at just short of 70k miles (115k km), and it never got any worse. Don;t worry about it!

 

40000 km ... that was near enough the same point that our Skoda started to play up ... But I don't think we'll be keeping it for much longer ... probably trade it in on a new one.

 

Nice talking to you Mike, hope the weather is nice where you are.

my 05 4x4 octavia with the 1.9 tdi engine is doing the same thing,starts first turn when cold but is very slow to fire up when warm.

it drives very well apart from this, has anyone any more info on a possible cure. thanks

My Octavia 2 FL (2.0 16V TDI) had a very similar issue when I bought it which turned out to be the cam position sensor. It was replaced under warranty but equally it was nice and simple because it threw a fault up which could be read via VCDS.

thanks for the reply mike, might let my mechanic have a wee look at it he is a vw man but might know about this.

thanks again

I had this problem on a mk 2 fabia 1.9 TDi.

Cold start fine, hot start similar. Warm start a problem, until  it eventually starting dying at idle. Restart possible after a 30 second wait.

 

Decided to change the camshaft sensor, having already changed the temp sensor. (Cheaper option: £6)

 

Its a slightly fiddly job, but good ‘how to’ video on you tube. Be careful not to drop the sensor bolt as you remove it. Stuff a piece of rag into the belt housing. Good tip: use a piece of plastic carrier bag around the bolt as you replace it, to make it a tight fit on the 10mm socket. The sensor is in a recess.

 

Result: starts perfectly every time. Only have to show it the key and it starts!

Cam sensor: £42 from MPD.

Time : about 3/4 hr.