Audi S3 8p (57) Struggling to start on morning

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Wrexad

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I am posting this on behalf of a mate who's not long had his S3. Since having it though it has always struggled to start on a hot or cold morning the car has had a full service new battery (the obvious things) but still the problem is there. I have uploaded this video to show what i mean exactly, he also said if you press the throttle a little when turning the key it doesn't struggle as much.



The car has been scanned and no faults show so has anyone got any suggestions on what this could be?

Thanks for any help!
 
will be keeping eye on this thread as mine does exact same thing
 
Mine used to splutter a little first thing in the morning, its just been in for a major service and had plugs done, seems okay now...
 
Guys I have actually often found this with my own car. Also full serviced and looked after etc. Some mornings it would just start up sweet as a nut, while other mornings it would practically cough itself to start.
 
Hi. I shall also be watching as mine is the same (although mine is an A3 8P). Most mornings it takes extended cranking and sometimes 2 attempts for it to start. I fitted a new battery yesterday only to find it struggled to start again this morning. Hope I get some luck mate!!!
 
Not really had much luck with this, Been told to check fuel pressures ect to get pump isn't dying...
 
Wrexad said:
Not really had much luck with this, Been told to check fuel pressures ect to get pump isn't dying...
Click to expand...
----
I am doing an oil service not this weekend, but the next. Oil (edge 5w 30), oil filter and a new fuel filter (as it appears it has never been replaced before I bought it, now at 84k). They have a pressure regulator built into them so the fuel doesn't flow back to the tank (I believe). Will let you know if any of this helps mate.
Cheers,
Rob.
 
Well got fed up not having VCDS so bought it and ran a 40 mins log. Noticed at idle the car misfire counts go crazy but a misfire you can hardly hear but is there. Cylinder 3 seems to be the problem for my mate, gonna swap the injector with cylinder 4 on Sunday and see if the misfire follows the injector! If so a new set of them it will be.
 
I would have thought more likely to be a plug / coil issue rather than an injector fault.
 
desertstorm said:
I would have thought more likely to be a plug / coil issue rather than an injector fault.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

Misfires are more likely to stem from either plugs or coilpacks than injectors,
 
Trying to cure my idle judder for quite some time now. I also had cold start problems when it turned colder outside. Trying to cure the idle judder, I changed the plugs and coils, but this hasn't cured either problem. Maybe the coil pack loom in my case, I dunno. Full service this weekend, so will see if there is any improvement. Thanks for keeping the thread alive mate!!
 
Mine has juddered on idle since I bought it. I mentioned it to an Audi tech on its first service and he said there's nothing wrong with it. Never had any issues really so I would be surprised if that's linked to the starting issue as mine starts perfectly every time.
 
Staz said:
Mine has juddered on idle since I bought it. I mentioned it to an Audi tech on its first service and he said there's nothing wrong with it. Never had any issues really so I would be surprised if that's linked to the starting issue as mine starts perfectly every time.
Click to expand...
-----
Hi mate, yes, I think the judder is somewhat a common vag topic and I've never seen a cure from anybody on any forum. I am learning to live with it, but it's still annoying as hell. If I can get a nice starting car, then I would be happy. Fresh oil and filter, along with new fuel filter will hopefully help. The latest fuel filter has 6.6 bar as opposed to 6.4 bar on the older one. I'm hoping its a naff filter and that the built in pressure regulator keeps the fuel from leaking back. But I don't know how it really works, lol.
 
Hi,
i know this is not an S3 but my A3 2.0TDI is also struggling to start....

New parts:
4 new glow plugs
Coolant
Throttlebody
Battery
2 temp Sensors
Oil & oil Filter
Bosch S4 battery
Air filter

Should i try fitting a new fuel filter or is this something more serious?
Please watch the video with sound, also take now how much the car shakes when its trying to crank.
Could this be a lazy Starter motor ?? It seems to be getting worse



Any ideas?
 
shadow1993 said:
Hi,
i know this is not an S3 but my A3 2.0TDI is also struggling to start....

New parts:
4 new glow plugs
Coolant
Throttlebody
Battery
2 temp Sensors
Oil & oil Filter
Bosch S4 battery
Air filter

Should i try fitting a new fuel filter or is this something more serious?
Please watch the video with sound, also take now how much the car shakes when its trying to crank.
Could this be a lazy Starter motor ?? It seems to be getting worse



Any ideas?
Click to expand...

---------
I was always under the impression that on diesel vehicles you should wait for the glow plug coil light to turn off before you even attempt to crank the engine over!! When this light goes out, this indicates the the glow plugs are at the right temperature to adequately start your car. Wait for all the lights to go out (apart from a couple) and see how it starts then.
 
Sharkie1976 said:
---------
I was always under the impression that on diesel vehicles you should wait for the glow plug coil light to turn off before you even attempt to crank the engine over!! When this light goes out, this indicates the the glow plugs are at the right temperature to adequately start your car. Wait for all the lights to go out (apart from a couple) and see how it starts then.
Click to expand...

The light did go off before i started the car :)
 
shadow1993 said:
Hi,
i know this is not an S3 but my A3 2.0TDI is also struggling to start....

New parts:
4 new glow plugs
Coolant
Throttlebody
Battery
2 temp Sensors
Oil & oil Filter
Bosch S4 battery
Air filter

Should i try fitting a new fuel filter or is this something more serious?
Please watch the video with sound, also take now how much the car shakes when its trying to crank.
Could this be a lazy Starter motor ?? It seems to be getting worse



Any ideas?
Click to expand...



Does this only do it on cold start? Like in the mornings or after a shift at work?


Mine struggles to start after 8-10 hours and been told by my local Audi guru that he's certain its the injector seals.
Mine has had
New battery
New glow plugs
Fuel filter
Oil and filter
Starter motor
Tandum pump
and it still does.

Once its been fired for a minute if you switch it off and re fire its perfect..
 
Sharkie1976 said:
----
Ah I see, it all happens so quickly that I can't see what lights are on/off. Does it improve if you leave it longer before cranking tho?
Click to expand...
No it doesn't.

but its definately getting worse.. i wasn't getting such a violent shake before.
 
the obese penguin said:
Does this only do it on cold start? Like in the mornings or after a shift at work?


Mine struggles to start after 8-10 hours and been told by my local Audi guru that he's certain its the injector seals.
Mine has had
New battery
New glow plugs
Fuel filter
Oil and filter
Starter motor
Tandum pump
and it still does.

Once its been fired for a minute if you switch it off and re fire its perfect..
Click to expand...

Its also when car is warm, not as bad but still present.

Starts perfect when warm around 10% of the time.

Also No perfmance issues when driving, apart from one time a few months ago when car went into limp mode. no further issues after restarting the car.
 
Should really have started a different thread in the right forum instead of highjacking somebody elses as it's not really related.
If it's been serviced you haven't cleared the service light, thats what the little spanner is. Have you checked the car with VCDS / VAG-COM could be coolant temperature sensor issue .

Karl.
 
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desertstorm said:
Should really have started a different thread in the right forum instead of highjacking somebody elses as it's not really related.
If it's been serviced you haven't cleared the service light, thats what the little spanner is. Have you checked the car with VCDS / VAG-COM could be coolant temperature sensor issue .

Karl.
Click to expand...


Im not Hi-jacking this thread.. Why have 15 different threads about a starting issue?

Also no the car hasnt been officially serviced hence why the spanner is still there.

My coolant temps are fine as both Temp sensors have been changed and temp is now read correctly!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
shadow1993 said:
Im not Hi-jacking this thread.. Why have 15 different threads about a starting issue?

Also no the car hasnt been officially serviced hence why the spanner is still there.

My coolant temps are fine as both Temp sensors have been changed and temp is now read correctly![/QUOTE

Im afraid desertstorm is right !

Yes the post is about starting issues but the technology between the two engines are completely different. It is highly unlikely that the issue for your car will be the same as an S3. Your instance your car has glow plugs the petrol has spark plugs etc....
Click to expand...
 
shadow1993 said:
Hi,
i know this is not an S3 but my A3 2.0TDI is also struggling to start....

New parts:
4 new glow plugs
Coolant
Throttlebody
Battery
2 temp Sensors
Oil & oil Filter
Bosch S4 battery
Air filter

Should i try fitting a new fuel filter or is this something more serious?
Please watch the video with sound, also take now how much the car shakes when its trying to crank.
Could this be a lazy Starter motor ?? It seems to be getting worse

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

could easily be a starter issue ,could also be the cam timing out slightly may need advancing a little . try getting a mate to connect his car to yours with jump leads start his then try to start yours , with more cranking amp and voltage car should start alot faster is starter is lazy as it will give it the extra boost it needs .
 
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desertstorm said:
I would have thought more likely to be a plug / coil issue rather than an injector fault.
Click to expand...

But if the accelerator is pressed while cranking the engine it fires ok... So its fine when the rail pressure is increased but when it drops to idle pressure it plays up.

I will try swap the coil packs around and see if it helps but i have heard many people say it wont fix it. The car also has had new plugs
 
I usually wait till all lights go offthe dadh then start and it starts fine, if you start it as soon as key is in ignition nothing gets a chance to do anything, its like asking a aeroplane to be flyingbefore you get in, give it a chnace to relaise its goig to be started up isntead of rushing the poor thing
 
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Any luck with this mate. Just a note from me, serviced car with new oil and filter, also a new fuel filter. Next day started fine, but after that it is back to the extended cranking
 
I know this doesnt really apply to the S3 but I found out why i had my rough starting issues.
Got it scanned at an VAG specialist and he found that there is a faulty camshaft sensor.. Something that audi diagnostics didnt pick up...
 
Good to know Shadow.! Thanks for the input, I did have the same thoughts about crankshaft sensor. What were ur symptoms exactly? Did it drive fine? How long did you turn the engine over until it fired up? Cheers again!!
 
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Sharkie1976 said:
Good to know Shadow.! Thanks for the input, I did have the same thoughts about crankshaft sensor. What were ur symptoms exactly? Did it drive fine? How long did you turn the engine over until it fired up? Cheers again!!
Click to expand...

Symptoms:
Rough Start, Violent shaking (sometimes)
Electrics going off as all the power was used to start car (clock resetting)

After the car starts it drove fine, no performance issues.
Took around 2 seconds or so to start.. Here is a video of it starting in case it helps:
It did go into limp mode a few months ago.. hasn't happened again..

Also getting my timing belt, water pump pulleys bearings etc changed at the same time as the timing belt has to come off to get to the sensor anyway :) £520 all in.
Here is the diagnostics screen:
 
Thanks your great post mate and the visor . Mine doesn't seem quite the same when starting, yours seems to build up slower. Mine, it turns over fast enough just doesn't quit want to catch quick enough. Once it does after a few seconds, the revs go straight to where they are meant to be.
Appreciate you chipping in with some Adobe any how
 
get it scanned.. will take out a lot of the guess work.. I also changed my diesel filter.. Now consumption has gone up i guess because the filter is less restrictive now? :D
 
shadow1993 said:
get it scanned.. will take out a lot of the guess work.. I also changed my diesel filter.. Now consumption has gone up i guess because the filter is less restrictive now? :D
Click to expand...
--------
Had it scanned last weekend when I did the service. No codes came up at all. I guess it's one of those faults that will only show when it gives up the ghost.
 
Sharkie1976 said:
--------
Had it scanned last weekend when I did the service. No codes came up at all. I guess it's one of those faults that will only show when it gives up the ghost.
Click to expand...

Or audi were useless, as in my case. Their diagnostics didnt pick this up when my vag specialist did.. :/
The problem was there all along...
 
My friend used his new scanner which has vcds built in, so we scanned it and checked out some live data. Maybe we need to dig a bit deeper as we just looked at a few this. It was a snap on scanner that he just upgraded to the latest model. He is going on a course to be able to use it to its full potential. So will get it checked very thoroughly once he knows how everything works. Cheers again.
 
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Bit of a late update ;) But hate forum threads which die out myself tbh!

But the fix for his car was new piston rings.. The bores were glazed the mechanic said hes never seen an S3 engine like that before.

Guess the car had a hard life before my mate bought it.
 
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