1995 A4 1.9 Tdi - Starting problem

[Chimple]

Morning!

My A4 has an intermittent starting problem. Very occasionally (has happened maybe 5 times over the past 18 months or so) the engine will turn over but then die instantly. It does start, and will rev up to 2500/3000 rpm if the accelerator is pressed, but will always die.

Sometimes, after approx. 20 attempts it will start, othertimes I have left it. When I've come back to it the next day, it has started the first time.

It is definately not the glow plugs as it did it at lunch time today, and it's definitely not cold.

The only possible commonality we can think of is that it has been left standing without being started (as it is usually started several times a day, every day). Although a couple of times when the I've had the problem, it has only been stood overnight.

Has anybody had any experiences similar to this?

Cheers,
John

[darkyoung1000]

Hmmm..nothing similar, but a possible thought is that you have something that is letting air into the fuel lines on occassions. I have found that when a fuel filter starts to go through perishing o-rings, it can lead to cutting out.
Only a thought though so good luck!

Cheers,
Thomas

[Chimple]

darkyoung1000 said:

Hmmm..nothing similar, but a possible thought is that you have something that is letting air into the fuel lines on occassions. I have found that when a fuel filter starts to go through perishing o-rings, it can lead to cutting out.
Only a thought though so good luck!

Cheers,
Thomas

Cheers for the comment Thomas, I'll bear it in mind!

In this case, it's definately not filter related, as they have just been changed.

Current favourite culprit is the fuel cut off solenoid....twice now when the car has failed to start, the solenoid has been bashed/prodded and the car starts first time afterwards. Just hope its not a fluke!

[darkyoung1000]

Keep a spanner in the boot for hitting it with and the problem's solved . Glad it sounds like being nothing too serious anyway.
Sounds like the Morris where a swift belt with the starting handle can be required to un-stick the fuel pump...
Cheers,
Thomas

[00161wj]

Are you sure its not an immobilzer fault? They will start and then cut out when the immobilezer kicks in. A common fault on these is the wire breaks from the ignition barrel to the immobilzer unit.

[StevenB]

management has a 96 TDI doing the same starts then stall sometimes up to 5 times then works with no problems other days its fine. any idea what colour / marking is on this wire ?

[Chimple]

00161wj said:

Are you sure its not an immobilzer fault? They will start and then cut out when the immobilezer kicks in. A common fault on these is the wire breaks from the ignition barrel to the immobilzer unit.

Cheers, will look into that!

Already had one wire go....if your central locking gets a mind of its own, the wire break may well be under the drivers seat!