Notices
 
 

  

User Tag List

Thread: Engine Sluggish at Start Up

Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    yorks england
    Posts
    36
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    3 Post(s)
    Hi

    I hope this is in the right section - apologies if not. I have a 3.0TDI Audi A6 estate late 2005. In general it works wonderfully but I've had a problem with starting it over the last few months. It's very sluggish to start. It turns over a few times and then usually starts, sometimes doesn't. I don't know cars but have done a little research and it seems the battery, fuel pump, spark plugs and starter engine are the main suspects. The problem is it has no other symptoms - no loss of power, no grinding noise on starting, no misfiring etc. I don't think it's the battery as the battery check shows 100% and if anything it starts worse after it's been running. The only insight I can give is, as per a suggestion I read, when it doesn't start, I simply turn it off, turn it to the "on" position without starting it, turn it off, repeat and then do start it and it always works. It's not temperature related and as I said, it's more likely to have trouble starting if I've just run the car rather than from cold.

    Can anyone perhaps point me in the right direction before I head to a garage? I don't have a garage I know/trust and am a little worried they'll just start replacing things one by one until they find the right part.

    Any thoughts/help/ideas much appreciated.

    Thanks
    NB
     
    0 0 0
     

  2. Re: Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Kegums, Latvia
    Posts
    44
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    4 Post(s)
    It's a diesel, it uses glow plugs instead of spark plugs. It doesn't use spark to ignite fuel, only pressure. In warm weather u don't need even glow plugs to start the car, if it gets colder, then u need them. If there's a correlation between ur car not starting and weather, It could mean that some of the glow plugs are bad. Do You wait for the glow plug symbol to go away before starting ur engine? While it's on, it is warming up glow plugs, the colder it is, the longer the warm up. At -15C it could take few seconds (~5). You described that after turning the key on few times it always starts - that suggests that glow plugs needed some warming up - that's normal, but depends on the outside temperature.

    Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk
     
    0 0 0
     

  3. Re: Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    yorks england
    Posts
    36
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    3 Post(s)
    Thanks for this. Unfortunately my problem started at the end of the summer and has continued into winter so isn't affected by weather/hot/cold. But I didn't know about glow plugs or why I have to wait for the light to go out before starting the car - so thanks for that!
     
    0 0 0
     

  4. Re: Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    West Yorkshire
    Posts
    767
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    10 Post(s)
    Vcds will show if glow plugs are out. Also will show state of charge for your battery. If it’s older than 7 years it’s probably no good. Battery in mmi nearly always shows 100% unless it’s totaly goosed.

    Have it scanned, saves a lot of guess work
    NOW GONE 2007 A6 2.7TDi Avant Le Mans Edition (180)

    Mods:- ECU Remap, Rear Air Suspension, Rear Led Lights, Rear View Camera, Rear Privacy Glass, Titanium wheels, Colour Coded Fog Light Surrounds, FBMFSW, AMI, DAB, Chrome S6 pedals, Front Grille De-chrome, window surround de-chrome.
     
    0 0 0
     

  5. Re: Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Shetland & S.Tyneside
    Posts
    1,865
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    2 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    104 Post(s)
    No expert in these engines but I have seen and heard of trouble with injectors and cams, could be something cheap / simple though like glow plugs or temp sender unit. VCDS diagnostic scan would be good first port of call and injector checks in measuring blocks. check cranking speed as well as poor starter motor (or battery) could be failing to crank it above minimum firing speed. (280 rpm rings a rusty bell, could be wrong though !!!)
     
    0 0 0
     

  6. Re: Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    yorks england
    Posts
    36
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    3 Post(s)
    Lukenkari - This is interesting. As I said I know little about cars so didn't know the batteries had such a short life. Mine's over 12 years old so quite probably due a change and being the cause of the problems. I did wonder if the MMI battery health was reliable. I think I'll start here and see how it goes from there. Thanks.

    Rob - thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to start with the battery which is apparently long overdue a change anyway and if that doesn't sort it will try your ideas at the local garage. Thank you.
     
    0 0 0
     

  7. Re: Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    yorks england
    Posts
    36
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    3 Post(s)
    Hi - Just as a follow-up. Went to the local garage who tested the battery and alternator and found no problem. For some reason they couldn't test the glow plugs but suggested I go to the audi garage for that. Guess that's my next stop!
     
    0 0 0
     

  8. Re: Engine Sluggish at Start Up 
    #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    yorks england
    Posts
    36
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quoted
    3 Post(s)
    Hi again - final update in case anyone is interested/has a similar problem. Went to Audi who immediately informed me the battery was nearly dead so needed changing. They did that which partially fixed the problem but after running diagnostics decided the starting motor was on its last legs. So they changed that too. Wasn't cheap (€1300 in total) but car is perfect again now. First thing to go wrong on the car after nearly 13 years so can't complain really. Thanks to everyone though for help and advice.
     
    0 3 0
     

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-04-2016, 12:09 PM
  2. A3 8P 3.2 V6 'sluggish' start - new battery fitted
    By cegeorge in forum Audi A3 - 8P - 2004 - 2012
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 06-02-2014, 10:34 PM
  3. Please Help Passat 2001 2.0se.... sluggish engine cuts out at med/high revs
    By Guytheflyguy in forum Passat - B5 Forum - 1997 -2005
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 16-06-2010, 07:07 AM
  4. Sluggish from Start
    By drdexter1975 in forum Audi A4 - B8 Forum - 2008 - 2015
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-07-2009, 04:47 PM
  5. A4 2.0 TDI Multitronic B7 (08 model)- very sluggish cold hill start
    By sclamb in forum Audi A4 - B7 Forum - 2005 - 2008
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-02-2009, 11:42 PM
Tags for this Thread

View Tag Cloud

Bookmarks
Bookmarks
Posting Permissions
  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


 



  


Disclaimer: VW Audi Forum is an "independant enthusiast website", administered in line with guidelines supplied by VAG in the UK, and is in no way related to any of the Worldwide Volkswagen,Audi,Seat,Skoda,Bentley,Bugatti,Porsche or Lamborghini group of Companies. For official up to date information on any of there vehicles, please visit the official websites. Any comments made throughout this website, are the views of the respective poster, and in no way represent the views of the VW Audi Forum Administration, or the worldwide Volkswagen & Audi Group of companies.


VW Audi Forum do not vet and are not responsible for any information which is posted in this forum. All content is viewed and used by you at your own risk and we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of any of the information.


Copyright: Certain "words", "phrases" and "Images" used on this website by the Administration are "Copyright" of Volkswagen GB, Volkswagen AG (Germany), Audi GB, Audi AG (Germany), Volkswagen Motorsport GB, Volkswagen Motorsport AG (Germany), Audi Motorsport AG (Germany), Volkswagen Racing GB, Bentley, Bugatti, Porsche and Lamborghini. No image can be replicated by anyone WITHOUT the relevant Companies written permission.


All trademarks and copyrights remain property of their respective owners.

No part of the VW Audi Forum website or forum may be reproduced without written permission from the site administration


PLEASE NOTE - PERSONAL ABUSE, ABUSE AGAINST THIS OR ANY OTHER WEBSITE OR ANY COMPANY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. OFFENDERS WILL BE MODERATED OR EVEN BANNED.


This website and forum are best viewed at a minimum resolution of 1024 by 768.



  



- VW AUDI Forum - The #1 Volkswagen (VW) Group Forum - Volkswagen (VW) - Audi - Seat - Skoda - Bentley - Bugatti - Lamborghini - Porsche - Scania - MAN - Ducatti - VW Audi Forum -


- www.vwaudiforum.co.uk - www.vwaudiforum.co.uk -