Start up judder, help!

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jri91

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Audi a3 2.0 tdi 8p

I have a intermittent issue when starting up my a3 however the car drives fine.

On start up i have a judder and delay before fully starting. This doesnt always happen but sometimes it can be really bad.

Ive also noticed that sometimes the radio doesnt automatically come on and sometimes i get light which shows a fault with automatic lights/rain sensor?

thanks!
 
Any idea how long it has been since the glow plugs have been replaced? Plugs would cause that kind of symptoms after they go bad. Also how old is your battery?
 
Jnsio said:
Any idea how long it has been since the glow plugs have been replaced? Plugs would cause that kind of symptoms after they go bad. Also how old is your battery?
Click to expand...
I done a test on the battery as it has failed to start without a jump start previously but the voltage came back fine. I think it may be the orignal battery?

I may start by getting the glow plugs changed?
 
jri91 said:
I done a test on the battery as it has failed to start without a jump start previously but the voltage came back fine. I think it may be the orignal battery?

I may start by getting the glow plugs changed?
Click to expand...

If it doesn't start sometimes without a jump start then that only points to the battery. If it's the original battery its probably time for a new one.
 
jri91 said:
I done a test on the battery as it has failed to start without a jump start previously but the voltage came back fine. I think it may be the orignal battery?

I may start by getting the glow plugs changed?
Click to expand...

Plugs are a good place to start since they aren't very expensive and easy to replace

If it has the original battery there is a fairly high chance that it will be on its last legs by now too.
It could be the combination of a few bad plugs and a weak battery making the problem worse since you have had to get it jump started. Did you just check the voltage or load test the battery?
Also the odd electrical stuff like radio not automatically turning on and fault flashes could be caused by a weak battery which is why I asked :playful:
 
Had a slimiest issue that took weeks to find, after I replaced the battery, starter, alternator, glow plugs, the end cause was a bad earth point. Not sure how many there is, not loads, I would unbolt them and clean them up, wish I'd knew this before replacing half the car


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the juddering is also on shut down? If yes check engine mounts. However IDK how your battery is still alive o_O
 
Marek196c said:
the juddering is also on shut down? If yes check engine mounts. However IDK how your battery is still alive o_O
Click to expand...

No just on start up, How much should i expect to pay for new glow plugs?
 
Sounds stupid but I noticed mine juddering on start up only when filling up at shell switched to BP problem solved worth a try
 
Shiz94 said:
Sounds stupid but I noticed mine juddering on start up only when filling up at shell switched to BP problem solved worth a try
Click to expand...

Honestly ive noticed its not as bad when using bp, but still occurs, maybe the fuel tank needs a drain
 
jri91 said:
Honestly ive noticed its not as bad when using bp, but still occurs, maybe the fuel tank needs a drain
Click to expand...
Possibly but IMO I would try changing fuel filter if it hasn't been done in awhile see if that helps
 
Sounds like a power issue, what year is the car?
 
battery checked?
Try to put in accessory mode, let glow plugs warm then shut it down, turn key back (off) then turn into accessory mode again wait for glow plug light off, and try to start, see if that help a bit.
 
Marek196c said:
battery checked?
Try to put in accessory mode, let glow plugs warm then shut it down, turn key back (off) then turn into accessory mode again wait for glow plug light off, and try to start, see if that help a bit.
Click to expand...
What is accessory more?
 
when u turning the key u got 3 positions, 1st when you pulling out the key or putting in is OFF mode, then you turning the key by 1 step and got all things on, like radio, dash, climatronic etc... this is 2nd position called accessory/ON mode, then you got 3rd position that triggering starter motor and cranking your engine, (witch will anyway automatically go back by itself to accessory mode).
So accessory mode is 1st turn (and 2nd position) of key.
 
Marek196c said:
when u turning the key u got 3 positions, 1st when you pulling out the key or putting in is OFF mode, then you turning the key by 1 step and got all things on, like radio, dash, climatronic etc... this is 2nd position called accessory/ON mode, then you got 3rd position that triggering starter motor and cranking your engine, (witch will anyway automatically go back by itself to accessory mode).
So accessory mode is 1st turn (and 2nd position) of key.
Click to expand...
Didnt make much difference bud
 
but if it makes check ur glow plugs then, as well alternator worth checking
 
It will be earthing I bet


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Do i replace the earthing cable?
 
Check where your earthing bolts connect to the chassis. Not sure how many there is, google them. mine was in a garage for a week, replacing everything, costing a fortune, in the end they said one of my earth clamps was a terrible connection causing the same symptoms as you


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millsy4002 said:
Check where your earthing bolts connect to the chassis. Not sure how many there is, google them. mine was in a garage for a week, replacing everything, costing a fortune, in the end they said one of my earth clamps was a terrible connection causing the same symptoms as you


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Click to expand...

I had this problem on one of my previous cars and learnt a way of checking it. Ive used this method and dont think this is the issue in my case. Thanks for your help
 
I followed the glow plug steps as above and no luck

 
check timing and injectors for advancing angle (hopefully I said it rightly)
 
So you replaced the glow plugs?
If that didn't help I would get it checked for any fault codes
Could also still be the battery unless you actually stress tested it?
If not it might very well be something to do with fuel injection or timing as stated above.
 
battedry don t seem to be as well earthing because if it was battery it was cranking slooooooowly and took time, instead here seem to be some sort of injection angle problem
 
Sometimes it does take longer then this to fire up and makes a noticable juddering rattle noise and shakes
 
Another video, seems to be getting worse

 
Have you replaced the glow plugs yet?
Mine wasn't the best of starters , even in warm weather, when I was led to believe that the glow plugs didn't really do anything....
I replaced all 4 of them and starting was transformed.
Having read horror stories about the threads snapping on removal I approached the job with a little trepidation but I needn't have worried.
Because the glow plugs are bathed in oil near the camshafts on the PD engines ( under the cam cover of course!) they came undone easily, the only thing I had to buy was a slimline long-reach socket to unscrew the plug ( from memory think it's 7mm?).
I used Beru ones, identical to the Genuine Parts Beru ones that came out which cost around £43.
 
A good and easy way to avoid snapping plugs is getting the engine hot before replacing them. I usually try to drive for 15-25 mins with lower gears and higher rpm before attempting to get them out. After some bad experiences (damn mercedes and their long plugs) I now do this on every car
 
Jnsio said:
A good and easy way to avoid snapping plugs is getting the engine hot before replacing them. I usually try to drive for 15-25 mins with lower gears and higher rpm before attempting to get them out. After some bad experiences (damn mercedes and their long plugs) I now do this on every car
Click to expand...

Good point, I seem to remember that I did this on a hot engine too.
I also recollect that a decent pair of long-nosed pliers came in handy to remove the power supply to the glow plug.
The glow plugs operate at 4.4 volts IIRC which means it doesn't take much voltage drop if they're worn out etc to give bad starting.
 
Any white smoke from exhaust when you start up? Is the car using coolant?

Could be water in cylinders due to the engine being BKD...
 
jri91 said:
Audi a3 2.0 tdi 8p

I have a intermittent issue when starting up my a3 however the car drives fine.

On start up i have a judder and delay before fully starting. This doesnt always happen but sometimes it can be really bad.

Ive also noticed that sometimes the radio doesnt automatically come on and sometimes i get light which shows a fault with automatic lights/rain sensor?

thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi, did you manage to get to the bottom of this issue mate? I have the exact same problem starting the car, but otherwise drives absolutely fine...and it's very intermittent seems worse if the car has been sat for awhile before starting.
 
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To be honest I sold my 8P 2.0 TDI because of the same issue, but mine had puffs of blue smoke 10 sec after starting and weird metallic noises during that period, never got to the bottom of it.
 
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