Starting Problems!!

HI,

MY NAME IS LEE AND I'M IN THE UK. I BOUGHT A YEAR 2000 VW GOLF GTi 1.8 20V TURBO ON TUESDAY.

IT STARTS NO PROBLEM AT ALL IN THE MORNINGS EVEN IN THE COLD AND RAIN AS YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR A 4 YEAR OLD VW!

BUT IF I'VE BEEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS FOR SAY HALF AN HOUR THEN STOP FOR A WHILE (FOR EXAMPLE I GOT HOME FROM WORK HAD MY DINNER THEN WENT BACK OUT AGAIN LAST NIGHT) IT WON'T START.

I'M NO MECHANIC BUT I'VE LIFTED THE BONNET AND TRIED TO START IT - THE ENGINE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND THE STARTER MOTOR IS TRYING HARD BUT IT JUST WON'T TICK OVER. I TRIED ABOUT 5 TIMES THEN LEFT IT FOR AROUND 5 MINS, TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED WITH A BIT OF A SPLUTTER.

THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW AND IS GETTING ON MY NERVES. I SUSPECT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR FLOW OR FUEL PUMP OR AIR/FUEL MIXTURE???

ANY IDEAS????????????

THANKS,

LEE

Have you checked it for codes?

Have you checked it for codes?
Hello boschmann,

I'm not sure what you mean by checking it for codes!!????

Thanks,

Lee

Even if the check engine light (or UK equivalent) isn't on it may have stored a trouble code that might point you in the right direction in the engine computer.

Even if the check engine light (or UK equivalent) isn't on it may have stored a trouble code that might point you in the right direction in the engine computer.

The check engine warning light is not on - but I will take it for a diagnostic check at a garage and hope they can tell me what's wrong.

It's really confusing because it doesn't happen all of the time - sometimes it starts fine.

The last time it took about 20 seconds to get it started with a splutter then it misfired down the road for about 5 minutes the revs kept dropping and the car was almost cutting out - even though I had the accelerator to the floor the revs slowly rised and the car had hardly any power!! Then 2 minutes later it was absolutely fine

I still suspect the fuel and air mixture isn't perfect or there's some kind of blockage in the system.

Thanks for the info,

Lee

There are several typical problems with those engines. Your symptoms sound like it's either a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor or ignition coil problem, both very common. MAF ususally will turn on a light rather quickly, coils may take more time to set codes. I believe there is a recall on your coils, check with VW.

There are several typical problems with those engines. Your symptoms sound like it's either a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor or ignition coil problem, both very common. MAF ususally will turn on a light rather quickly, coils may take more time to set codes. I believe there is a recall on your coils, check with VW.

It just happened again !!!!! It took about 15 seconds to start with a splutter and this time I noticed a strong smell of petrol and there was real black smoke coming out the exhaust for a while. I suspect it's either burning a bit of oil - or there's not enough air in the mixture and it's burning almost pure petrol?????????????

Does keeping the key fully turned trying to start it continuously inject petrol i.e. flood the engine - or can that not happen on modern cars????

Once it's started it seems like there's some kind of blockage in the system as it's spluttering and there's very little power - the revs keep falling and trying to stall - then after a minute or so it seems like the blockage has cleared and it runs fine!!

I'm taking it to the dealer on Friday to get a diagnostic done - I just wanted a few ideas of possible causes incase they try and tell me lies to rip me off with work that doesn't need doing!!!

Keeping the throttle open will flood the engine.

Have you checked the distributor cap? also there might be a blockage in the injectors, which a quick fix os stp will sort out for you. Also check the sparks for wear and tear.

Might be an idea to check the idle valve aswell as if the engine is fine once its warmed up then i could be that.

I have to assume this car is not too different from North American models & is fuel injected & has indvidual coils above each spark plug. The gas pedal position will have little effect on the amount of fuel the injectors are spraying while cranking. If it is flooding it is due to poor or no spark or too much fuel metered for the air volume calculated by the mass air flow sensor (MAF). On NA 2000 models both the MAF and coils are common failures. Both failures will not always immediately set a code and when it does often it is not conclusive. Look for idle adaption, lean or rich, or misfire codes.

Keeping the throttle open will flood the engine.

Have you checked the distributor cap? also there might be a blockage in the injectors, which a quick fix os stp will sort out for you. Also check the sparks for wear and tear.

Might be an idea to check the idle valve aswell as if the engine is fine once its warmed up then i could be that.

Thanks for the info - I suspect a blocked injector. I will check the distributor cap and sparks also.

The engine's fine when its cold - that's what's confusing me! It's only when it's hot and been running for a while - then I stop for a short while and try to start it again when it misbehaves!!!!!!

I have to assume this car is not too different from North American models & is fuel injected & has indvidual coils above each spark plug. The gas pedal position will have little effect on the amount of fuel the injectors are spraying while cranking. If it is flooding it is due to poor or no spark or too much fuel metered for the air volume calculated by the mass air flow sensor (MAF). On NA 2000 models both the MAF and coils are common failures. Both failures will not always immediately set a code and when it does often it is not conclusive. Look for idle adaption, lean or rich, or misfire codes.

It is fuel injected - not sure about the individual coils? It has a large half exposed coil which I would call the alternator - but remember I'm only a novice when it comes to engines but I'm learning every day!

Each spark plug has a small plastic cover and lead running to the ignition lead but I can't see any coils.

What I do know is that it's the same engine used in an Audi. 1.8 turbo 20V

If there is too much fuel in the mixture like you say - will that explain the bellowing black smoke!!??

I think your MAF idea seems most likely - and I think I have sufficient information to hit the diagnostics at the dealer on Friday.

Thanks a lot,

Lee

Hello again - my car's fixed - just thought I'd let you know what happened.

There was no recall on my coilpacks - they were fine on my age of car. I got it diagnosed and the engine coolant sensor was faulty. Apparently when the car was hot after running for a while - the coolant sensor was telling the ECU that it was actually cold - therefore the ECU was altering the mixture to put more fuel in. That was causing the starting problems and slight misfiring!!

I had the sensor replace dand so far it's running perfectly.

Do you know anything about adding a climate control unit in my car?? I know of a unit for sale and I assume that it just fits straight in my dash replacing my fan and heater controls?? Or are there any extra temperature sensors or assosciated equipment????