I have a MK3 1.9 TDi that has a strange starting issue.

The battery is fully charged. 

Every morning the car fails to start. I get an error/escape/and and tyre pressure warning and the engine doesn't crank. 

After taking the key out and locking and unlocking the car several times it will eventually start and drive fine.

All the error codes disappear.

A mechanic scanned for fault codes and found nothing.

It can take up to ten minutes of locking and unlocking before it starts.

When it does start, I can turn the engine on and off several times with no problem but several hours later, the problem returns.

Very occasionally, it will start first time.

Any ideas?

 

Please double check your spec. As far as I know there's been no 1.9 in a MK3.

 

As for your issues, how old is the battery? Could be low voltage gremlins as they play all sorts of havoc that is really hard to diagnose.

1 hour ago, MarkyG82 said:

Please double check your spec. As far as I know there's been no 1.9 in a MK3.

 

As for your issues, how old is the battery? Could be low voltage gremlins as they play all sorts of havoc that is really hard to diagnose.

It's a 2.0 sorry.

The battery is only 2 years old and has been tested and confirmed to be good. It holds charge and comes up at 80% on the SOC indicator in the car.

Have you tried measuring the battery voltage first thing in the morning before starting the car?

 

I'm wondering if something isn't turning off?

Quote

The battery is only 2 years old and has been tested and confirmed to be good. It holds charge and comes up at 80% on the SOC indicator in the car.

 

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

Have you tried measuring the battery voltage first thing in the morning before starting the car?

 

I'm wondering if something isn't turning off?

 

It's nothing to with the battery. It won't start even with a full charge. 

9 minutes ago, nakamichi1 said:

It's nothing to with the battery. It won't start even with a full charge. 

When was the fully charged battery put back on the car? Several hours before an attempted start, or immediately before?

 

I'm not suggesting battery - I'm suggesting something is staying on when it shouldn't.

3 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

When was the fully charged battery put back on the car? Several hours before an attempted start, or immediately before?

 

I'm not suggesting battery - I'm suggesting something is staying on when it shouldn't.

It's really not the battery. The battery is fully charged and it doesn't start first turn of the key. It doesn't even crank. I get nothing at all.

I have to keep turning the key and eventually it will start.

I suspect an ignition fault but thanks anyway.

6 hours ago, nakamichi1 said:

It's really not the battery. The battery is fully charged and it doesn't start first turn of the key. It doesn't even crank. I get nothing at all.

I have to keep turning the key and eventually it will start.

I suspect an ignition fault but thanks anyway.

It would have been helpful if you had said in the original that it doesn't even crank

 

What error codes disappear?

 

Manual or auto?

9 hours ago, ords said:

It would have been helpful if you had said in the original that it doesn't even crank

12 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

Read my post again.

I clearly stated that it doesn't crank.

 

21 hours ago, ords said:

It would have been helpful if you had said in the original that it doesn't even crank

 

What error codes disappear?

 

Manual or auto?

I clearly said in my first post that it doesn't crank.

16 hours ago, nakamichi1 said:

Read my post again.

I clearly stated that it doesn't crank.

 

I clearly said in my first post that it doesn't crank.

Apologies.

An idea: check the ignition lock? OP didn't specify MY. O3 is made like since 2013, so over 10 years ago. I know from Audi that on older cars, ignition lock base can stick in some way and turning the key won't matter (no crank, no nothing). After rattling it a bit, it will loosen the thickened oil and allow necessary movements inside....  ?