Golf doesn't start sometimes

[Preen59]

and I'd figure it's hard to flood a diesel? No plug to get wet....

Yeah well, electronic throttle, everything is computer controlled, so i'd reckon it would be damn near impossible.

If you did "wet" the glow plugs, if they were working properly, when you glow them they should burn the fuel off them anyway.

[neil]

Hey,

A couple of times recently I have attempted to start my 2.0 Golf TDI and it hasn't started immediately.

On one occasion I had left it at the long term car park at Sydney airport for three days while in Melbourne. On returning, I couldn't get it started for about 15 minutes (it took around 7 attempts before it finally started to turn over). In between, the MFD said "STOP!" when I was attempting to start it.

It's definitely not battery related, as everything else functions. I had actually called the callout assistance but the car started before they got there. The technician said they couldn't identify the problem but that it happens from time to time with the diesels?

Anyway, it did it again today. This time I'd used it yesterday, so it definitely wasn't cold. It took around 3-4 times to get it started and when it does first start, it sounds quite rough.

Any ideas? Is this common? Is it something to be concerned about?

It's done 14,000km and just over one year old and recently serviced (February).

Im wondering if its the servicing.
I had mine serviced a few months ago and now if I leave the car more than 3 weeks it will not start first go,
I normally just turn the key without foot on accelerator and it starts first go, now after leaving it sitting
for weeks it can take 3 key turns to start and only after I have placed my foot on the accelerator.
Maybe the fuel filter has not been tightened correctly. I would not have thought placing my foot on accelerator
would do anything maybe just a coincidence and it starts after the fuel is pumped into the filter because of the filter not being tightened.
Have been to lazy to check but will have a look tomorrow although I have had a look for fuel leak and nothing.
So can a fuel filter suck in air when hot and cooling but not leak fuel.

[Preen59]

Im wondering if its the servicing.
I had mine serviced a few months ago and now if I leave the car more than 3 weeks it will not start first go,
I normally just turn the key without foot on accelerator and it starts first go, now after leaving it sitting
for weeks it can take 3 key turns to start and only after I have placed my foot on the accelerator.
Maybe the fuel filter has not been tightened correctly. I would not have thought placing my foot on accelerator
would do anything maybe just a coincidence and it starts after the fuel is pumped into the filter because of the filter not being tightened.
Have been to lazy to check but will have a look tomorrow although I have had a look for fuel leak and nothing.
So can a fuel filter suck in air when hot and cooling but not leak fuel.

Electronic throttle dude, putting your foot down when you start it does nothing.

I can't imagine the fuel filter would be loose or you'd have a serious mess. I can't really see why servicing would upset it when you don't start it for a while either.

[neil]

Electronic throttle dude, putting your foot down when you start it does nothing.

I can't imagine the fuel filter would be loose or you'd have a serious mess. I can't really see why servicing would upset it when you don't start it for a while either.

I thought it was just a coincidence with the throttle.

I never had an issue with starting ,after leaving it sitting for a few weeks until its first service.

[benno]

and I'd figure it's hard to flood a diesel? No plug to get wet....

Not to mention the distinct lack of a carby!

[THR]

On reflection, there is no chance I didn't warm the glow plugs yesterday. I was in the car for amount five minutes with the electronics on before we started (as I was waiting for someone)... so they would have warmed then...

(Unless of course someone tells me this was a bad thing to do.)

[Russ59]

I thought it was just a coincidence with the throttle.

I never had an issue with starting ,after leaving it sitting for a few weeks until its first service.

If you're having trouble starting it since the servicing was done, then I suggest you take it back to the service dept. and tell them the problem. It may or may not be associated with the service, but if it didn't do it before they touched it, then I wouldn't accept that it does now without having it noted

[Russ59]

On reflection, there is no chance I didn't warm the glow plugs yesterday. I was in the car for amount five minutes with the electronics on before we started (as I was waiting for someone)... so they would have warmed then...

(Unless of course someone tells me this was a bad thing to do.)

Not a bad thing to do but probably no better than not letting them glow at all. I'm sure you'll find that most glow plug systems will have a circuit breaker on them to protect the plugs from overheating. Therefore by leaving the ignition on for 5 minutes and then trying to start it, the circuit breaker would have kicked in and cut the power to the plugs, so by the time the 5 minutes you waited before starting have past, the plugs would be cold again and it would be no different to an initial cold start where you didn't give it time to glow. Next time you try to start it from cold, give it around 5 seconds (max) to glow and then hit the starter, if it is still having trouble, I would suggest that there is a problem, and I would take it to the dealer and have it checked.

[neil]

If you're having trouble starting it since the servicing was done, then I suggest you take it back to the service dept. and tell them the problem. It may or may not be associated with the service, but if it didn't do it before they touched it, then I wouldn't accept that it does now without having it noted

I don't have a problem with starting unless its been sitting around for a few weeks, Then it can take a few key turns to start. Before the servicing you could leave it a few weeks and still have instant starting.
I just put it down to possible something they have done or not done ,which when I get time will get them to check.

[jettapilot]

I would blame the dealer (if you bought it new) for not running through the correct operating procedures with you at delivery time

My dealer told me nothing about glow plugs or anything else about driving a diesel. Everything I know I've learnt here. Now I know about glow plugs.

I usually just get it, turn it on, drive away (but not too fast since I learnt here to let it warm up a little)