Golf GT TDi MK5 not starting

Cazza · 02-12-2010,04:02 PM

Hi all

I have a 2008 Golf GT TDi (two years and two weeks old now) that has starting problems. Within a few weeks of me taking delivery from new it just wouldn't start from cold. The engine just turns over and over until the message Oil Pressure - Engine stop, or just STOP! appears on the info screen.

It has happened 10 times now and has been back to the dealership 7 times. VW technical support have been involved and so far it has had new fuel filter housing, new fuel pump, new slave pump, a relay! and last time all 4 injectors were replaced. There are never any codes stored in it.

The RAC have managed to start it by spraying Easystart into the air intake but I am told that is not good for it.

It is at the garage now, as it wouldn't start on Monday, and as I can understand it VW have no idea what is wrong but they refuse to replace it for me.

The interesting thing is that I can set my watch by it - it happens roughly every 8 weeks. It is nothing to do with the cold weather as it does it in the sun too. Does anyone have any ideas that I can pass onto VW as it is now beyond a joke? I love the car in evry other way but a car that won't start is not fit for purpose in my book.

Thanks in advance

**phil miller** · 02-12-2010,09:04 PM

hi welcome to the site, it sounds a strange problem that it happens every 8 weeks, now please dont let another RAC man spray that **** in your engine again, it is not good for it and an engine can get addicted to it, by the sounds of it vw have tried most things that could be a problem well there is one left but normally when they play up they just dont start altho i have had one that would cutout going round a right hand bend so i think your problem is the ECU is wet inside, a very common problem and one that can be over looked, if it came in to are place after checking the things already checked i would be looking at that is make sure its doing what it should, now before someone says there are no stored codes simple when the ECU is faulty they dont give codes, sometimes they wont even let you in to read codes, hope this is of some help

Cazza · 02-12-2010,10:34 PM

Thanks Phil, if I speak to the garage tomorrow and they havn't got any ideas I might mention it.

**missilemary** · 13-12-2010,05:17 PM

Sounds really familiar to the problems I was having with my MKV. Eventually VW dealership replaced all 4 glow plugs and this seems to have resolved starting issues. Try suggesting this to them, it shouldn't cost much more than £50 ex labour for the job.

Cazza · 13-12-2010,05:58 PM

The latest news from the dealership is that they are currently running pressure test on the fuel system as advised off VW technical, they seem to think fuel starvation and flow back is occurring in the fuel system and may be a slight leak somewhere to cause the pressure loss. They have had it 2 weeks now. There was talk of them replacing it but that seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Thanks, I will suggest it if they get nowhere. I have a crappy Focus from them on hire at the moment.

**phil miller** · 13-12-2010,07:04 PM

Originally Posted by missilemary

Sounds really familiar to the problems I was having with my MKV. Eventually VW dealership replaced all 4 glow plugs and this seems to have resolved starting issues. Try suggesting this to them, it shouldn't cost much more than £50 ex labour for the job.

it will start even if all the heater plugs are down, the heater plugs dont aid starting on the mk5

**golf+5** · 15-12-2010,06:05 PM

I don't agree on previous post. In warm / hot weather yes, but in winter car will struggle to start with 2 or more u/s glow plugs & emit more smoke at start.

Why flatten the battery with extended cranking & increase wear to other parts.

Glow Plug problems will show with VCDS & also give Glow Plug Number.

When looking at engine from front of car Plugs are from Left to Right.

(It is easy to replace plugs with correct tools).

**phil miller** · 15-12-2010,07:11 PM

Originally Posted by golf+5

I don't agree on previous post. In warm / hot weather yes, but in winter car will struggle to start with 2 or more u/s glow plugs & emit more smoke at start.

Why flatten the battery with extended cranking & increase wear to other parts.

Glow Plug problems will show with VCDS & also give Glow Plug Number.

When looking at engine from front of car Plugs are from Left to Right.

(It is easy to replace plugs with correct tools).

ok my golf must be special then cos from mid sept till last friday i had 2 plugs down and when it was minus 10 the other week my golf still started on the button first thing every morning

i still stand by my other post that its a fault in your ecu

**golf+5** · 15-12-2010,07:44 PM

I can only know from my own experience (golf 1.9tdi 2005) There must be more smoke until firing properly.

Cazza · 15-12-2010,09:33 PM

Well I think my Golf must be the most special of all - it is so special the garage still have it and don't want to give it back to me. VW technical support still don't know what is wrong - they are saying it is some sort of fault with the fuel pressure and it must have a leak - I could have told them that nearly 2 years ago and I am just a girl who knows nothing about engines.

Apparentely the relay they changed 9 months ago was something to do with the ECU, would that have solved any problems related to that?

In response to the glow plugs issue - it breaks down at any time of the year, whether it is cold outside or not so I doubt it is that.

Getting really cheesed off with the Focus 1.4 l that I have been given to replace it now!