Golf doesn't start sometimes

[Russ59]

The glow plug light will be around about the centre left on the tacho, but you'll have to be quick to see it, it generally only stays on for a second or two, so if you blink you could you miss it

Try waiting for at least 5 seconds before cranking it over (especially on cold mornings) and hopefully there will be no more issue. I would blame the dealer (if you bought it new) for not running through the correct operating procedures with you at delivery time

[Greg Roles]

Yep, I agree with the people above, glowplugs, back to the dealer to cheack for error codes, a bottle of Fuel doctor or similar to remove any water / algae you may have picked up in a bad batch of diesel, and definately wait for the glow plugs to warm up. Should still start within a few seconds though, as the glowies will heat up rather fast.... and I'd figure it's hard to flood a diesel? No plug to get wet....

[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.

[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]

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.

[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)

[Russ59]

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)

When I took delivery of the GT, the original salesman went to the trouble of going through everything with me including the need to wait a couple of seconds for the glow light to go off before starting. It's nothing like the diesel dinosaurs of years ago, you needed to glow some of these for up to 30 seconds. My brother had an old Landcruiser diesel which actually had a small socket in the dash which after turning the ignition key anticlockwise and holding it for about 20 - 30 seconds would glow bright orange (just like a glowing cigarette lighter), once it was glowing orange you'd crank it over and then wait for the black smoke to clear around you before driving off

[THR]

My dealer didn't mention it at all and again, most of what I've learned is from looking and reading this forum.

(In terms of running in, waiting for engine to warm up, etc.) Just didn't happen to know about the glow plugs.

Anyway, I don't really think it was the issue and it's quite intermittent but if it happens again, I'll get them to check it.

[Russ59]

I would get it checked sooner rather than later mate, because when the cold weather arrives, if the glow plugs are playing up you could find the car won't start at all Just a thought anyway