MkII 8v slow to fire up

[mr_steve_t]

Since the weather got cold been suffering with a slow starting GTi. It turns over fine, but can take a while to actually fire up. The odd part about it is if I turn it over in gear (either 1st or Rev) so it gets a lurch, then turn it over as normal it fires up fine, evern in sub zero. Bit wierd although it seems to work! Cold Start valve? Plugs, leads, rotor arm, dizzy cap all replaced the other year so not thinking at fault, could just be not liking cold weather....

Ideas?

[X4MGS]

Battery on it's way out??

[mr_steve_t]

nope - battery's good. the engine cranks over fine, and it'll fire up after 4 - 5 gos, so not a lack of energy. Just that it seems to take a crank over in gear (handbrake off!) to get it to start up "first" time.

[weazgti]

Replace your starter with a 2.0ltr mk3 one. Get one for bout 20 quid.

[Thom89]

nope - battery's good. the engine cranks over fine, and it'll fire up after 4 - 5 gos, so not a lack of energy. Just that it seems to take a crank over in gear (handbrake off!) to get it to start up "first" time.

Welcome to the forum

Sounds like battery to me as well, how are you so sure its OK?

Thom

[mr_steve_t]

Thanks for the welcome.

Working on the basis that even in cold weather, or after a lot of short stop / start trips there is enough charge in the battery to turn the engine over (so also starter motor not an issue as turning, no?) and keep it turning over till it [eventually] fires up. OK Battery is not spanking new, so will probably replace soon. What's baking my noodle is that start up takes a few turn overs before firing, but if I do the first turn over in gear, it'll then fire up on the next turn over. So, is it battery, or fuel / mixture - what differs before / after a bit of a lurch?

[X4MGS]

Have you tried starting it with the clutch pedal pushed in vs pedal out?


Could it be a flywheel/clutch issue??


But I'm just guessing as I'm not a mechanic but dosent the starter turn the flywheel?

[bodga]

I'm no expert on the 8v but if starting in gear makes a difference, i would be looking at all starter connections, take them all off, clean + grease, and refit, any wire basically that comes from engine bay to engine, check for good connection.

also, will it start any quicker whilst the accelerator pedal is pressed? could be a leaking injector flooding one of the cylinders

[Thom89]

Thanks for the welcome.

Working on the basis that even in cold weather, or after a lot of short stop / start trips there is enough charge in the battery to turn the engine over (so also starter motor not an issue as turning, no?) and keep it turning over till it [eventually] fires up. OK Battery is not spanking new, so will probably replace soon. What's baking my noodle is that start up takes a few turn overs before firing, but if I do the first turn over in gear, it'll then fire up on the next turn over. So, is it battery, or fuel / mixture - what differs before / after a bit of a lurch?

My gut feeling, is that trying to start it in gear, is leaving the pistons in a position, that when you crank again, there is less compression to deal with, hence easier to start... Given that the starter seems to work OK in this scenario, would suggest that its working OK. I still think that your battery has lost its "Kick" and is down on cranking amps, and to me, is the first place to start, have it checked properly, any garage should be able to do this for you, it only takes a few seconds... If it turns out to be the battery, go for a decent brand, Hella, Bosch, Varta etc, but on all accounts, stay well away from the Halfords ones, they're crap!

Thom

[bodga]

I brought a battery for mine last week (Bosch from ECP) and it starts alot better now, but my problems were starting when hot, it would just try and lock up.
The old battery that was fitted to mine was a "065" the new one is an "075" that should be fitted to the 16V. maybe this is your problem.