In the last few months my 2018 Superb Estate TDI Auto has occasionally been reluctant to start when facing uphill. Our drive is on about a 15 degree slope. This morning I had to cycle the starter button/ignition 5 times before the starter would turn the engine. Once the engine was turned over it started just fine. When the vehicle is facing downhill the car starts as it should do, on the first press of the starter button. Any ideas as to why this should be happening gratefully received. PS. The car is often left for several days between outings.

It's a safety feature so you don't reverse onto a main road (well it should be 😉)

Sounds like you have air getting into a fuel line, allowing it to drain back to the tank when on an uphill incline

9 minutes ago, Patent said:

Sounds like you have air getting into a fuel line, allowing it to drain back to the tank when on an uphill incline

He says the starter won’t even run. Which is the odd part so it’s an ignition fault rather than an engine fault is what I’m taking away from this?

 

how often are we talking with this fault, daily, weekly etc

I wod be thinking loose connection somewhere and the starter button would be my first port of call.  I know it sounds daft but sometimes just the inclination of it could affect whether a good contact is made within it. 

2 hours ago, ApertureS said:

He says the starter won’t even run. Which is the odd part so it’s an ignition fault rather than an engine fault is what I’m taking away from this?

 

how often are we talking with this fault, daily, weekly etc

I agree, it was very badly written.

 

On 24/09/2022 at 11:31, Mikebo said:

has occasionally been reluctant to start

Should have used "crank"

On 24/09/2022 at 11:31, Mikebo said:

Once the engine was turned over it started just fine.

 

Edited 25 September, 20223 yr by J.R.

Lots of owners have reported problems with the start button, perhaps the facing uphill is a coincidence. DIY fix for the starter button here:

Ignition switch (w/ Kessy) restoration

Worth a try to eliminate this cause perhaps.