Hi Guys, I hope everybody is well in these uncertain times.

 

I'm just wondering if anybody knows why my car won't start after it's been sitting for 5 hours or more?

 

I've replaced the glow plugs but it didn't help. The car starts fine after it's been driven in to town to the supermarket and then restarted to go home after shopping just not if it's been sitting for a while.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Many thanks,

Tom Jones

Have you checked the condition of the battery and alternator? Possibly the battery is not holding charge. 

31 minutes ago, jars said:

Have you checked the condition of the battery and alternator? Possibly the battery is not holding charge. 

Hiya, no I haven't checked but the battery is only 1-2 years old. Could it possibly be a dodgy flywheel perhaps?

 

Thanks,

Tom

Why do you think the fly?!

 

I assume you’ve not had the ECU scanned?

 

It’s not unheard of for new parts to be defective. I’ve had a brand new tensioner go on me, a brand new set of tyreS crack within 2k miles, new brake discs warp inside 18 months..... 

1 hour ago, jars said:

Why do you think the fly?!

 

I assume you’ve not had the ECU scanned?

 

It’s not unheard of for new parts to be defective. I’ve had a brand new tensioner go on me, a brand new set of tyreS crack within 2k miles, new brake discs warp inside 18 months..... 

No I've not had the ECU scanned yet. I assumed the flywheel because it's been wearing out slowly bit by bit for a while now, no longer dampening engine vibrations efficiently and I was told that the flywheel can cause difficult starts sometimes.

 

Thanks,

Tom

If it was properly knackered, but I’m guessing you’re not at that point? 
 

Start with the free things like checking the battery and alternator and take it from there. 

1 hour ago, jars said:

If it was properly knackered, but I’m guessing you’re not at that point? 
 

Start with the free things like checking the battery and alternator and take it from there. 

Okay will do, thanks for the help

Right, It's not the battery or the alternator

 

Any other ideas of what it might be?

 

Thanks,

Tom

Coolant temp sensor?

1 hour ago, TMB said:

Coolant temp sensor?

Oh right, wasn't aware that was a possibility. How would I go about checking that please?

 

Thanks,

Tom

Just replacing it is the best idea. They can drift out of spec. Strongly advise only getting a genuine one as cheaper ones can be rubbish.

 

Part number for the sensor for your 2005 BLT Polo is 06A 919 501 A

 

Genuine one here for example.....

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-VW-AUDI-SEAT-SKODA-2-PIN-WATER-COOLANT-TEMPERATURE-SENSOR-06A919501A/192359064591?epid=2288068336&hash=item2cc97e640f:g:hJAAAOSwb3lZ80AD

 

 

Edited 21 July, 20205 yr by TMB

Hi Everybody,

 

I know I'm reviving an old thread here but this issue still hasn't been sorted. All the above suggestions weren't the cause but I was told by a so called VW specialist without them inspecting it that it may be the injector seals, and with an alloy head such as with the BLT engine, they can never be resealed correctly and I should offload the car ASAP.

 

I obviously still have the car and this has been going on for a while now so I wasn't exactly sure they were correct. The reason I ask now is it has recently got worse for starting in the mornings, it will just sit there for at least 60 seconds trying to turn over quite quickly and then after say, 45-50 seconds, it starts to splutter and then eventually start.

 

Does anybody reckon the VW specialist is correct?

 

 

Thanks in advance,

Tom

If the engine runs smoothly once started it's unlikely to be the injectors.

 

Have you tried switching on the ignition until all the dash lights are on, but not as far as turning the engine over.

 

Try doing this 3 or 4 times before actually turning the key as far as the start position.

 

The point of doing this is to run the fuel pump a few times, which will displace any air in the fuel system if that is your problem.

 

Try it & let us know if any improvement.

2 minutes ago, PipH said:

If the engine runs smoothly once started it's unlikely to be the injectors.

 

Have you tried switching on the ignition until all the dash lights are on, but not as far as turning the engine over.

 

Try doing this 3 or 4 times before actually turning the key as far as the start position.

 

The point of doing this is to run the fuel pump a few times, which will displace any air in the fuel system if that is your problem.

 

Try it & let us know if any improvement.

 

Hi thanks for replying. I've tried that trick before and unfortunately it didn't help :(

Nope, PD engines don't suffer injector seal problems because the unit injector is actually bolted to the head casting directly and cannot move once fitted.

The most likely culprit is fuel running back to the filter bowl and air being drawn in somewhere between the injectors, the tandem pump and the filter bowl.

The injectors themselves will be fine and the pump can be rebuilt with new seals pretty easily.

Make sure the filter bowl is airtight, this sometimes happens after a fuel filter change.

2 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

Nope, PD engines don't suffer injector seal problems because the unit injector is actually bolted to the head casting directly and cannot move once fitted.

The most likely culprit is fuel running back to the filter bowl and air being drawn in somewhere between the injectors, the tandem pump and the filter bowl.

The injectors themselves will be fine and the pump can be rebuilt with new seals pretty easily.

Make sure the filter bowl is airtight, this sometimes happens after a fuel filter change.

 

That's great news Sep! I'm glad I didn't get rid now  . Is the filter bowl what the fuel filter sits in? If that's the case, it should be a relatively diy job to make its airtight?

 

Thanks again,

Tom

8 hours ago, Tomjones1995 said:

Is the filter bowl what the fuel filter sits in?

 

Yep.

Okay, so I managed over the weekend to look at the fuel filter and it's the type with the screw cap at the bottom. It's those rubbish plastic types and it seemed loose so I unscrewed it and re-screwed it as tight as it would go and now the car starts great so thank you to everyone for the help with that

 

The problem is now is that the fuel filter is leaking from the bottom and it looks like it's going to need replacing because the bottom won't seal properly.

 

So my question is, can I dispose of the old fuel from the filter in an old screenwash bottle?

17 minutes ago, Tomjones1995 said:

Okay, so I managed over the weekend to look at the fuel filter and it's the type with the screw cap at the bottom. It's those rubbish plastic types and it seemed loose so I unscrewed it and re-screwed it as tight as it would go and now the car starts great so thank you to everyone for the help with that

 

The problem is now is that the fuel filter is leaking from the bottom and it looks like it's going to need replacing because the bottom won't seal properly.

 

So my question is, can I dispose of the old fuel from the filter in an old screenwash bottle?

Also, what do people think of Wix filters? That's all my local parts shop have in stock

 

Thanks,

Tom

Wix filters are fine.

 

41 minutes ago, Tomjones1995 said:

So my question is, can I dispose of the old fuel from the filter in an old screenwash bottle?

 

Who's gonna know?

 

Just now, TMB said:

Wix filters are fine.

 

 

Who's gonna know?

 

The recycling centre, that's who 😂

Just now, Tomjones1995 said:

The recycling centre, that's who 😂

 

8 hours ago, Tomjones1995 said:

Okay, so I managed over the weekend to look at the fuel filter and it's the type with the screw cap at the bottom. It's those rubbish plastic types and it seemed loose so I unscrewed it and re-screwed it as tight as it would go and now the car starts great so thank you to everyone for the help with that

 

The problem is now is that the fuel filter is leaking from the bottom and it looks like it's going to need replacing because the bottom won't seal properly.

 

So my question is, can I dispose of the old fuel from the filter in an old screenwash bottle?

 

Just pour the old fuel back into the tank and get rid of it that way!

On 27/04/2021 at 10:58, Tomjones1995 said:

Also, what do people think of Wix filters? That's all my local parts shop have in stock

 

Thanks,

Tom

 

A filters a filter, who cares who makes it.

 

I'm only snobby about oil and air filters (Mahle), UK fuel is so much cleaner than some of the foreign muck these cars have to run on and It's not even worth changing the fuel filter on a UK petrol car at all.

I'm planning on sorting this myself tomorrow but before I do, I'd just like to know if its absolutely essential to prime the new fuel filter with fresh diesel or could I get away with just turning the ignition on and off to prime it?

 

The reason I ask is my nearest fuel station is 10 miles away and I'm only going to travel if I absolutely have to

 

Thanks again,

Tom