Golf Mk5 1.9 TDI (BKC Engine) Intermittant Starting

[tdot]

Hello, I am looking for an expert vw mechanic to fix my Mrs' mk5 Golf TDI once and for all.

It has been in and out of a local garage here in Oxfordshire to try and fix an intermittent starting fault.
Every couple of weeks or so (regardless of weather / temperature / humidity / phase of the moon) it takes
about 2 - 3 minutes of cranking to get it started.

Although on the face of it it is intermittent, it never fails to re-start during the day, once it has been running.

The failures (when they do happen) are always in the morning or after car has been left standing for a few days.

It has had fault codes read that indicated a faulty glow plug, all glow plugs were then replaced. The control unit for the glow plugs
was also replaced (the thing that looks like a relay under the fuse box).

It has also had a new battery and two new egr connection pipes over the last year (they had cracked).

Can any of you good people recommend a garage that would be able to sort this?
Cheers. Tom.

[towcestervag]

does the glow plug light come on everytime?
ive had a couple where they dont start because the engine ecu doesnt power up the glowplug relay
i must admit this usually throws up a terminal 15 fault
also had a couple of ignition switches fail
i recommend you get a print out of all the codes in system and post this back on forum as it may have info

[Doctle Odd]

The differences in a Mk5 and Mk4 are mostly cosmetic mate

[tdot]

Thanks, yes the glow plug light comes on momentarily every time, regardless of whether the engine then goes on to start or not. Unfortunately I don't have the facilities to print out the codes - What I am really looking for is a recommendation of someone who can fix it for her
Having said all that, if there is something quick that I can try. I don't mind getting my hands dirty. - Is it likely that it needs a new ignition switch then?

[tygertyger]

Hi, sorry to jump on the back of your thread but our mk5 is doing exactly the same. And we too have changed 4 EGR pipes after they cracked in the last fifteen months.... We have changed glow plugs to no avail (because they showed up on the laptop during one of the EGR pipe changing episodes) but no difference. VW have had it for a few days but nothing showing up on laptop but of course when they have it it starts first time every time...!

They are thinking fuel related but I don't want to change parts for the sake of it. They were thinking out loud about a one-way valve but I don't know if that makes sense? Or should I try a fuel filter at £20 to see if it helps?

Has anyone solved this problem with theirs please?

[tdot]

This fault was eventually traced to a faulty injector. It was getting stuck open or closed. The EGR pipe cracked yet again, but was replaced under warranty a few week later.

[turpal]

This fault was eventually traced to a faulty injector. It was getting stuck open or closed. The EGR pipe cracked yet again, but was replaced under warranty a few week later.

I`ve been servicing BXE and BKC engines to over 200k miles and and only changed 2 egr valves but no pipes.Changing them pipes so often is strange.