MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => How to Guides / Troubleshooting => Topic started by: rich83 on December 11, 2014, 11:40:55 am

Title: Crap first start
Post by: rich83 on December 11, 2014, 11:40:55 am
So.... battery brand new, so its not the battery.

The first start of the day is usually crap.... sounds bad, and seems to only just kick into life....

Once started the car runs fine

Any clues?

Rich
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: Dan_FR on December 11, 2014, 11:45:09 am
Mine will do that if you let go off the starter as soon as the first 'fire'

If you hold the key until its 100% started then it's fine.

My battery is old which won't help, but as long as i hold the starter on until it's 100% started/as soon as it idles nicely - then its fine
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: dansmith180 on December 11, 2014, 11:52:00 am
Apparently its not uncommon for the TFSI's to stumble into life a bit, I read some bits on a TT forum saying their starts were a bit unconvincing sometimes.

If it's a cold morning or the cars been still for a while I sometimes turn on the ignition for 5 seconds (let the pump prime) then turn it off (keep the key in) then turn it back on, wait 5 seconds and start the engine. Or at least just wait 5 seconds after turning the ignition on once and that seems to help.
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: ed30sam123 on December 11, 2014, 01:05:26 pm
Apparently its not uncommon for the TFSI's to stumble into life a bit, I read some bits on a TT forum saying their starts were a bit unconvincing sometimes.

If it's a cold morning or the cars been still for a while I sometimes turn on the ignition for 5 seconds (let the pump prime) then turn it off (keep the key in) then turn it back on, wait 5 seconds and start the engine. Or at least just wait 5 seconds after turning the ignition on once and that seems to help.

Mine will struggle a bit on a cold morning but I don't worry about it, the fuel pump on this engine primes when the drivers door is opened I think.
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: cuprajake on December 11, 2014, 01:07:43 pm
leon does the same too, so I changed battery and coilpacks and plugs,

app its a tfsi thing, even says it in the manual too
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: Hevoshullu on December 11, 2014, 01:37:31 pm
Mine fires up one cylinder at a time as well. It's not a pretty sight but it at least it starts every time and runs smoothly once it's running. I've also heard all the 2.0 TFSI motors of this era start like this when cold.
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: cuprajake on December 11, 2014, 02:33:37 pm
there basically a tractor lol
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: lukemk5gti on December 11, 2014, 02:52:17 pm
My neighbour slags me for having a diesel because of the start up noise on my GTI!
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: weyland on December 11, 2014, 04:42:01 pm
My neighbour slags me for having a diesel because of the start up noise on my GTI!

Glad Im not the only one, when I start up my GTI for the first few seconds it does sound a bit like a diesel  :ashamed:
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on December 11, 2014, 04:57:08 pm
My first start was crap. Used a can of BG44k in the fuel tank and it's been great for 3 months  :happy2:
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: lukemk5gti on December 11, 2014, 06:03:26 pm
My first start was crap. Used a can of BG44k in the fuel tank and it's been great for 3 months  :happy2:

Haven't seen this stuff before... Similar to redex?
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on December 11, 2014, 07:02:35 pm
My first start was crap. Used a can of BG44k in the fuel tank and it's been great for 3 months  :happy2:

Haven't seen this stuff before... Similar to redex?

It's Redex that actually works

It gets great reviews on the internet, I gave it a go before my first & second oil changes and now the car jumps into life from a cold start whereas before it stumbled, missed, and eventually croaked into life.

The cause of the poor starting is a case of the TFSI dirty injector syndrome :sick:
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: Saintsteve on December 11, 2014, 08:01:46 pm
Injectors.Thats your problem.
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: cuprajake on December 11, 2014, 08:05:52 pm
I've run some forte injector cleaner through the tank today, will see if it helps.
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: rich83 on December 11, 2014, 11:27:50 pm
Injectors.Thats your problem.

Wouldn't injector problem lead to general bad running too? Mine runs sweet once it's up and running (touch wood)
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: dansmith180 on December 12, 2014, 02:32:25 pm
I wouldn't be worried mate as mines the same, startup is lumpy and sometimes noisy but once on it never misses a beat, I've done 12,000 miles now and I've pushed the limits a few times  :innocent:
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: Saintsteve on December 13, 2014, 04:46:57 pm
Injectors.Thats your problem.

Wouldn't injector problem lead to general bad running too? Mine runs sweet once it's up and running (touch wood)

No,mine was the same, missfires badly from cold,really uneven for around 5 secs but fine once some temperature got into it and the cold start valve closed , ( where revs should drop from (1100 to 800rpm)
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on December 13, 2014, 09:22:10 pm
Injectors.Thats your problem.

Wouldn't injector problem lead to general bad running too? Mine runs sweet once it's up and running (touch wood)

No,mine was the same, missfires badly from cold,really uneven for around 5 secs but fine once some temperature got into it and the cold start valve closed , ( where revs should drop from (1100 to 800rpm)

I've been worried about my injectors failing after having the same idle "stumbles" as you, but my cold start is really smooth. It's only when the revs drop to 800 (cold or warm) that I get a few gentle "hiccups"

BG44k has clearly improved my cold start  - would recommend everyone with a poor start to give it a go with half a tank of fuel (£15 on eBay http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=371211228710 )
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: Saintsteve on December 13, 2014, 10:22:03 pm
You may have sticking tumble flaps instead of injector issues...coked up being the problem  :happy2: :wink:
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on December 13, 2014, 10:49:55 pm
You may have sticking tumble flaps instead of injector issues...coked up being the problem  :happy2: :wink:

I know they will be filthy. Might get Alex to look at it in January
Title: Re: Crap first start
Post by: rich83 on December 13, 2014, 11:29:38 pm
Yeah... I imagine mine will be coked up too. 83K  :sad1: