Noticed over the last few months my car is having difficulty starting from cold. First experienced it a few months ago when I noticed the engine was idling very low after starting the ignition and when I reversed out of the driveway there was what I can call a "clunking" noise from the engine, sounded like it was coming from low down near the front wheels. This happened a few more times. However in the last week it is happening every morning. Also, when I accelerate, the car behaves like there is "kangaroo juice" in it....sort of a lurching forwards, it feels like the power is dropping. But after maybe 20-30 yards with a bit of welly on the accelerator everything is fine.

It was serviced over 6 months ago and I got the dealer to clean and reoil the K*N filter with the kit I gave him. Maybe too much oil or maybe the filter is just dirty and this is affecting the mass airflow meter ? Could this be it ? Or something more serious ?

thanks

coolant sensor is the first thing to check

mine behaves in a similar way i thought that the clunck is the cold air fan for the engine emissions most people get the surging thing for a few moments first thing in the morning once the cold air fan turns off it s ok

your dealer may have used to much oil on the k and n

your engine should idle fast while the cold fan is running for about 60 seconds

Check coolant temp sensor

In fact no...replace it , they are not that expensive and easy to do.

Get the ARB bushes checked too

Hope that helps

Sarah

Thanks for the info everyone. Much appreciated.

I can live with it until Jan when I am due a service.

Or else I get a new RS

whats the part no for the coolant sensor

Yup coolant sensor followed by the secondary air pump. I had something similar happen a few months back.

Another vote for the coolant sensor, mine acted like this last winter in the mornings but was accompanied by the engine management light coming on. Star Performance confirmed it was this with vagcom, replaced the sensor and everything has been dandy since.

059 919 501A or it could be B?

4 pin green it is.

You can get them from GSF too

Dont forget the seal to go with it too

Sarah

I got mine from a local VW dealer... popped it in - it look only seconds to exchange the unit - more time was spent faffing around trying to get the plug / wiring off!!

Took the car out for a long drive on Sat. and bait around a few country roads. Sunday morning, started perfectly. Same this morning. Probably no point in mentioning it to dealer until I have to get the rear brake pads done in a bout 3k miles, during which time I will get it serviced as I am due new plugs and a brake fluid change.

By the way, is it normal for the rear brake pads to need replacing at around 35k miles ?

Noticed over the last few months my car is having difficulty starting from cold. First experienced it a few months ago when I noticed the engine was idling very low after starting the ignition and when I reversed out of the driveway there was what I can call a "clunking" noise from the engine, sounded like it was coming from low down near the front wheels. This happened a few more times. However in the last week it is happening every morning. Also, when I accelerate, the car behaves like there is "kangaroo juice" in it....sort of a lurching forwards, it feels like the power is dropping. But after maybe 20-30 yards with a bit of welly on the accelerator everything is fine.

It was serviced over 6 months ago and I got the dealer to clean and reoil the K*N filter with the kit I gave him. Maybe too much oil or maybe the filter is just dirty and this is affecting the mass airflow meter ? Could this be it ? Or something more serious ?

thanks

Hi there this is just a thought but maybe it could possibly be your throttle body that is causing this problem . if it only happens from cold thay do tend to suffer with this problem ,there is a modified throttle valve pipe and throttle body .

hope this may have helped