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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: maxp on 17 May 2009, 00:47

Title: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: maxp on 17 May 2009, 00:47
Car always starts fine first time whatever the weather at the beginning of a journey.

However as soon as ive been driving for more than 30 mins, its almost impossible to start it again.

For instance today, after i stopped to pick someone up, when trying to restart it 2 minutes later, i ended up giving it three 10 seconds bursts in the ignition and then finally on the fourth try, after about fifteen seconds of starter motor it fired into life.

Concerned if i ever stall it, its not gonna start again.

Seems like i have to wait a good 20 minutes after a drive before it will start first time again.

Anyone have any ideas?
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: danny_p on 17 May 2009, 01:34
if it's j ket the accumaltor is knackerd   it's not holding pressure in the system and allowing vaporlocks to form while the engine isn't running and hot
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: maxp on 17 May 2009, 09:42
Nope it's a digifant/pb
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: sidecarphil on 17 May 2009, 11:51
mine did something like that a few weeks ago

was the ECU connector was full of water and green

stripped it cleaned and all was ok  :wink: :wink:
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: maxp on 17 May 2009, 16:16
Just checked it out, connector seems dry and contacts fine.

Things i am thinking of at the moment:

Also cant tell if its not starting because its flooding the engine or the opposite and no supplying enough fuel.

Any one got any ideas?
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: danny_p on 17 May 2009, 17:30
turning the ignition on/off/on  makes teh ecu prime the pump a few times.   whitch circulates fuel normaly means vaporlock.

the other possoblity is duff temp sensor if it thinks the engine is cold it'll give it loads of fuel when it dosent need it
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: maxp on 17 May 2009, 19:27
Didn't think digifants really suffered from vapor locks as the pump is inside the fuel tank - i.e. the entrire circuit is highly pressured.
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: Conker on 17 May 2009, 21:15
Tired spark plugs ? Aren't they supposed to be worse when hot?

Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: maxp on 17 May 2009, 23:15
Tired spark plugs ? Aren't they supposed to be worse when hot?
They are only about 4k old tops.

Adding faulty lambda to the (growing) list of possible culprits.
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: rubjonny on 18 May 2009, 08:34
no lambda on these, unless yours is special! #1 thing on the list is new blue temp sensor from vag as danny said
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: maxp on 18 May 2009, 13:53
Changed the blue sender about 4-5 months ago for an official vag one.

I remember pulling it off a week or so ago and the engine revs started surging so i think its working.

New ECU Time? Clean out the MAF?
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: rubjonny on 18 May 2009, 14:16
pull vac pipe off the fpr and crank it, heard of these failing internally and spraying fuel out vac connection making mixture too rich!  obv take all precautions when doing this, try it on a cold engine and have a rag round it to soak up any fuel.

next step is to check what is actually happening when the problem occurs. check if you have spark (lay king lead on rocker cover while cranking) then check if you have fuel (whip spark plug out, see if bores smell of fuel)
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: maxp on 19 May 2009, 23:11
For testing the fpr, is the way to do it with the key on 'one click' i.e. electronic system (fuel pump etc) active, vac pump out, then start cranking the engine?
Title: Re: Trouble starting after a longish journey
Post by: rubjonny on 20 May 2009, 09:30
just disconnect it and try to start the car, iirc it will run with the vac line off but not so well?  either way if fuel comes out when running/cranking you know its bust :)