Does anyone else have a cold starting problem with the 2.0 TDi engine where the engine is started and the car moved from cold. I usually move it off of the drive to get access to my garage and switch off. If I try to restart it in say 10 minutes it is difficult to start and splutters and stops a few times and when it eventually starts it comes up to speed slowly. There is also a strong smell of diesel fumes. It also does't seem to have a fast idle from cold and always idles at around 900 RPM hot or cold, is this normal ? I had the 1.9 TDi engine before and didn't have any problems with it at all.

I've not had any problems with mine, although I rarely have cold re-starts. Nearly 21k now, so plenty of time to have found any problems if there were any.

I have found that with my 2.0tdi too, it doesn't want to start after very short cold "moves". After some spluttery cranking it picks up really slowly to idle and then appears to be fine. I've only done 5kmiles and it has happened twice so haven't taken it back to the dealer yet.

I've no idea why this would happen, unless it's an engine temperature sensor issue not giving correct fuelling after the cold start.....

Are any of you pressing on the throttle pedal when starting the engine? Mine coughs and splutters when started while pressing the throttle but when left alone it starts perfectly no matter how cold.

No, I never touch the throttle when starting.

I also never touch the accelerator pedal when starting. I was thinking it might help to open the throttle while stating as I have a strong smell of diesel fumes, indicating a rich mixture.

Does anyone remember what their fast idle speed is from cold. As I mentioned mine starts off at 900 RPM and remains at that when hot. My 1.9 TDi would of been 200 RPM higher to start from cold and run normally at 900 RPM

My MK 1 1.9TDi starts from cold at 900 rpm and when its hot its still 900 rpm.I don,t think they have a fast idle like a petrol but just a richening device?

Diesels don't have a throttle, they just inject more fuel when you hit the "throttle" pedal, so using the throttle to to get more air into the engine is actually making it richer.

My 2.0tdi idles at 900rpm regardless (unless with the aforementioned cold restart problem) problem, though a friend's toymotor idles at about 1300rpm if you put the heater on full from cold, a strategy to reduce the engine warm-up time.