2012 pre-facelift VR6. 84,000 miles.

Just occasionally when pressing and holding the Start button it’ll turn over for about half a second or so, and then stop. The engine doesn’t fire. Then on an immediate retry it starts normally as if nothing happened.

I’d say this happens perhaps once every 10 times I start it. I’m pretty sure it isn’t my finger lifting off the button prematurely.

At the moment I’m not worried. But should I be? Is this an impending failure? There are no fault codes, apart from an intermittent one about evaporative emissions control - incorrect purge flow (P0441 if I remember correctly). Is this relevant?

Does anyone recognise these symptoms and/or know what’s happening?

SWMBOs Fabia is keyless ignition, her start button requires just a press & immediate release of button to start - could it be that holding the button in, rather than releasing immediately is part of your issue?

On mine, a brief press and release of the button simply switches the ignition on.

Once the ignition is on and your foot is on the brake, a brief press of the button will give a brief cough from the starter, but the engine doesn’t start. You have to hold the button until it starts.

Likewise if you’re starting from ignition off, you have to press and hold with your foot on the brake.

This is correct according to the manual, which says you have to press and hold.

Ah, I wonder if the difference might be that SWMBOs Fabia is a manual? I assume your VR6 is DSG?

Edited 23 August, 202523 Aug by Warrior193
typo

Ah yes, it might work differently. Mine is DSG.

I suppose it could be that my button is getting a bit worn or corroded internally, and sometimes loses contact.