Starting when warm - help !!!!

[richy]

I got me a 1999 mk4 1.8 GTI (non turbo) in December, and it doesn't like starting when the engine is warm.  

It starts beautifully every time from cold even when it's freezing weather, but if I stop the engine for a few minutes (to go and get petrol for example) it has trouble starting again.  Sometimes it will seem to half get going and kind of cough along at about 400 revs, until I put my foot on the gas.  Sometimes it doesn't want to start at-all unless I put my foot on the accelerator.  However, I'll always get it to start eventually.  

Because I have to put my foot on the accelerator to get it to start, some unburnt fuel gets through the exhaust, causing popping noises - I'm a bit worried about this damaging the cat.  

Anyone got any advice/ suggestions.  I'm taking it into a vw garage in a couple of weeks anyway (as the central locking is a bit dodgy and its still under the vw used-car warranty).   Is there anything specific you guys think I should tell them about this starting problem??  I want to sound knowledgable so they don't screw me over!!

[gibby]

I had a similar problem on mine where it would start first time, but if I stopped for petrol and then tried to start it again it wouldnt start, it seemed as though the immobiliser had kicked in. Then if I waited for around five minutes and tried it again it fired up straight away. Mine also died on me a couple of times while driving (not good !).

I don't know if it will be the same on yours as mine is a J reg Rivage cab, but the problem with mine was that the fuel relay switch was overheating and the reason it started after five minutes was because it had cooled down. It cost me ?60 to sort mine out, they charged me ?30 for the switch which I believe is really only a few quid.

Not sure if your problem is the same but it's something else to have checked, hope this helps.

[richy]

In case anyone was wondering (probably not), this problem was solved by replacing the temperature sensor. ?My car didn't realise that the engine was warm, and gave it the same amount of fuel as it would when starting from cold. ?Luckily got this sorted under warranty. ?

[00lewis]

hi there i have been experiencing a similar problem for ages now,

i have also found this feed with a similar problem

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=35650.msg291944#msg291944

I have tried to replace this sensor found slightly to the back of the engine. ( other modles are slightly fifferent location)
I have tried to find the answer to this for ages and the other day found a feed (now lost) that said to check the injectors,??? I'm not sure what injectors, fuel???

i'll continue to have a look for the injectors feed and come back

I have just had a look and found another feed that says to check around the injector seals, there also saying hat they have air bubbles in the clear tube near the fuel filter and that the clips may need replacing, Personaly i thought that it was normal to have a few air bubbles here?

not sure if it is allow ut here is a link to a different forum,

http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadID=10778&tstart=15

regards

oh for now i have unplugged the temp sensor so that the engine thinks its on a cold start, seems to work ok but am now left with no temp gauge in dash, I'm not sure what else this could be doing to the car so you may wish to not do this.....