Thanks and another question - this time on starting

[Mollygoogle]

Thank you to those who read and replied to my two previous threads with regards to problems with my 1.9 130 after head work.

136k miles, just had the head skimmed after the gasket went. Because of issues with lack of power, poor idle, etc after the head work it went back to the garage. The garage got a local VAG specialist involved also to check it over. Issues with timing and vacuum were resolved and the car now runs perfectly with the exception of one minor issue.

The car won't start from cold. This was not a problem before it went in for the head gasket. When first going out to the car in the morning I have to keep revs over 1000 for a few seconds immediately after starting or it tries to cut out. It will then be fine for the rest of the day. The garage identified this before giving me the car back. They ordered new heater plugs but when removing the old ones realised that they weren't that old and when bench tested found them to be fine. They did say that they found a damaged wire that feeds the heater plugs which was replaced but did not fix the issue. They are scratching their heads as they know the car started fine before the work was done and have ruled out the obvious suspects.

The car will start fine if it is left for 8 hours outside work but when left overnight will not start the following morning. I am led to believe that the heater plugs are designed to work under 5 degrees. Both the garage and myself have found the car to behave the same when the temperature is above or below the 5 degrees mark.

Any ideas?

 

[hades-]

i once had a slight air leak in a b7 2.0 tdi
if left for to long it took ages to start but once started it would start stright away all day
till the next morning

 

[BakPak]

Have you tried turning the side lights on before cranking the engine? Mine was very lazy on starting but with lights on flick of the key every time now!

 

[Mollygoogle]

i once had a slight air leak in a b7 2.0 tdi
if left for to long it took ages to start but once started it would start stright away all day
till the next morning

Do you know where the leak was and why it caused poor starting?

 

[Mollygoogle]

Have you tried turning the side lights on before cranking the engine? Mine was very lazy on starting but with lights on flick of the key every time now!

I haven't tried anything yet, I'll give it a go

 

[stu_m]

Have you tried turning the side lights on before cranking the engine? Mine was very lazy on starting but with lights on flick of the key every time now!

I dont think that is the issue

that problem stops it starting momentarily but once it starts it would run spot on and not have to hold the revs up

check fuel lines it could be fuel leaking back? is that car parked on a bit of a hill at home or work?

 

[Ollie-B]

They might not have set the timing correctly (it will probly be right but not perfect) ..... It can be adjusted finely with vagcom using the cam sprocket until the tensioner value is zero. This advances and ******* the timing enough to make a difference to a lumpy start up and smooth one

 

[tbs]

Im with Ollie on this one. It will probably be that much harder to start once you get some severe frosts. I had a 2.5 which had incorrect timing. It ran and started well all day once started but first one of the day was difficult. I bypassed the temp sensor and made a switch to hold the glow plugs on longer and that was the best way to get it going when it was -5. Once retimed it was good for any weather.