So I had a b5 pd130 passat and it fired up instantly (tbh at 1st I was surprised how easy it was)
But I my mk2 Octavia pd140 seems to need to turn over 2 or 3 times (even after waiting for glow plug light and other lights to go out)
Is this what one to expect or is it a symptom of something?

Camshaft sensor not working or intermittent, the PD engines have a quick start feature and will start in 1/4 turn althogh its actually 1/2 a turn, with only the input from the crankshaft sensor it needs a couple of turns to know which cylinder of a pair (1&4 or 2&3) is at TDC on the firing and not the exhaust stroke.

 

Not that long ago you would be cranking a diesel for several minutes, a neighbour in the 90's had a Passat that would wake me every morning and the knocking after is started was even worse, never in a million years did I think that later on I would be driving diesels that started instantly and were pretty silent although the PD is like a bag of nails compared to the ASV.

Edited 13 February, 20206 yr by J.R.