T5 intermittent not starting

[mjrT5174]

I am new to the forum.

I have a 2004 VW T5 174. For the last 3 years there has been an intermittent starting problem. Turn on the ignition - no problem, turn key to start absolutely nothing. After 3 attemps and sometimes up to a dozen, it will start. Sometimes it will turnover first time. Can anyone assist?

[TC2]

I was just starting to write an answer and Googled for the diagram. Came up with this, which is as good a description as you can get. Applies to most vehicles.

Read this and you should sort it out.

http://www.type2.com/bartnik/starter.htm

[touche]

maybe the engine management relay? relay 109? under the battery if i remember correctly. it should be the newer grey supposedley better type but for a tenner or whatever its worth a try???

[mjrT5174]

I was just starting to write an answer and Googled for the diagram. Came up with this, which is as good a description as you can get. Applies to most vehicles.

Read this and you should sort it out.

http://www.type2.com/bartnik/starter.htm

maybe the engine management relay? relay 109? under the battery if i remember correctly. it should be the newer grey supposedley better type but for a tenner or whatever its worth a try???

Thank you for your responses - I have been unable to see the starter relay - might it be within the solenoid? The responses have certainly got me looking in the right directiion. I have sanded the battery posts to ensure good contact. I remember that my ford transit would not start after driving even though the headlamps worked - cleaning battery posts cured the problem I think my next move will be to replace the relay and then check voltages along the 'high current route to the starter. Thanks again to you uoth.

[VeeDubT5]

I am new to the forum.

I have a 2004 VW T5 174. For the last 3 years there has been an intermittent starting problem. Turn on the ignition - no problem, turn key to start absolutely nothing. After 3 attemps and sometimes up to a dozen, it will start. Sometimes it will turnover first time. Can anyone assist?

Hi, I'm new here, just joined because your description of your starting problems is exactly the same as mine, same year & engine too.
The most times mine has failed in a row is 4 though, but it seems to be getting more frequent, did you find the problem with yours?

[silv6450]

100% cure for intermittent starting issue on my VW T5 found!

Hi, had been struggling with the same issues with my van for 3 years now.
I changed everything from starter to fuses, switches and relays, everything other than the wiring loom.
Been to various specialist vw garages and no one could solve the issue.

Very recently someone recommended a garage to me with out of this world diagnostic equipment.

I phoned them and they said they’d charge £100 to do a diagnostic and if they couldn’t find what was wrong I wouldn’t have to pay anything.

Booked my van in, turned up, handed van over, half an hour later they came out and said they’d narrowed it down to a part of the wiring loom but did not know specifically which bit but for an extra £200 would find out and fix it to which I obviously said yes.

2 hours later my van is fixed and starts perfectly every time.

The issue found was a corroded wire in the wiring loom above the gearbox.

So if you’re having the intermittent starting issues I had, do yourself a favour and post these guys a visit.

If I’d seen them 3 years ago I’d have saved hundreds and hundreds in parts and labour and tens of hours trying to fix there issue myself too, not to mention all the times I missed appointments etc due to my van not starting.

Oak Tree Garage,
Darlington Road,
Northallerton,
DL6 2PA

01609 779213



Oak Tree Garage - Google Search