Duel Mass Flywheel & lumpy start

Hudson

Hudson

Member
Hi All A2 owners,

I brought an A2 primarily for my wife and little son as it a very spacious yet small car, very tardis like. However since it got really cold it has quite rought starting from cold. It has new starter, battery, glowplugs & cambelt hte car has done 120k and runs very smoothly when going and no other problems (other than a prooly installed after market radio that the previous owner decided to put in!).

The garage have checked the timing for me and suspect the DMF to be cuasing the start up timing to be off and this is pronounced when the engine is cold. Has anybody had any experience with this as it's yet another bill!

Cheers

Hu
 
Hi and congrats on the A2 :)

Just checked your profile and it says you have a 2001 TDI 75 - in which case you won't have a a dual mass flywheel. I'm not an expert either but rough starting doesn't sound like a flywheel problem to me, but no doubt our other members will be able to advise you better on that!

Cheers
 
Have you tried reading any faultcodes from the car?
I guess as a quick try you could try some diesel injector cleaning and see if this helps?
My car sounds a little rough for a minute or two when starting in -10c or lower but soon comes back to normal.
What exact kind of roughness are you havng?
Does it sound a little uneven for a little while or what?
Does the engine stabilise quickly if you rev a little?

John
 
Ah thanks, the mechanic I use normally looks after my 206 and is a pug specailist so perhaps that is where the confuision lies. They had the car in to check is was not the timing (the cambelt was changed before i got it and may have not been done right, turns out it's fine). Any ideas what may cause a lumpy start or does the 3 cylinder engine just sound 'different' to a normal 4 when firing up? I would not find it an issue but as it's for my wife and son i need it to be tip top and reliable.
 
Sounds like you are pretty close to Stealth Racing (about 20 minutes due north of Banbury), it would be a good idea to get a second opinion from Vince (particularly since as shreddedmeat says, the garage you are using doesn't even realise that the car does not have a DMF ... assuming it is a 75 of course).


Its normal for it to be a bit shaky when the engine is cold, but it should smooth out pretty quickly once it gets warmer. But I would suggest that getting Vince to take a look is worthwhile anyway, perhaps an injector may be blocked or something (although that would be unusual).
 
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Cranks for a moment then splutters into life with a bit of a shudder, evens out almost immdiatly athen runs sweet as a nut. No fault codes as i had those checked, well one with 'improbably break light' or somethig odd which caused the glow plug light to flash but has not done that after i got the codes checked and reset.
When very cold i have had it run the key and it tries to start for a second then stops even with the key turned in the ignition point, which i thought a little odd!
 
There are two sensors (camshaft & crankcase position sensors) which could do something like that. Not sure if they are relevant to the TDI engine. I forget which one is which, but a fault in one of the two will cause the engine to need a little extra cranking before it starts.
 
My car starts like that and has done for years,3 pots are uneven,I tried changing glowplugs,I've had a new DMF and clutch as its a 90,new belts,water pump etc and still starts as I bought it.
Mind you as you say once its running after a few secs its fine.
 
Mine can be the same on extra cold mornings. Get it to Stealth for a health check but doesn't sound unduly abnormal. And personally i wouldn't offend my a2 by letting a Pug spannerman near it!
 
My car was rather excessively lumpy at start-up a few weeks ago too when it was very cold, but also the battery was definitely on its last legs. New battery helped, as did the increasing temperatures of the last few days. Now it's just "characterful" again, as only a 3-cyl diesel can be.
 
Well my little 'pug' - 206 SW quicksilver (Roxy) - has been stedfast and reliable with my 'spannerman' effortlessly looking after her and diaganosing any issues without fuss, i'll not hear a bad word said about her. Perhaps the A2 does need somebody more familer for anything other than general work though! They do seem be quite unique with nothing in the market that is quite got the same balance of space, quality, efficiency and kerb appeal. More to buy than the A-Class merc's, Mazda 2's and others shooting for the same market but with good reason i think.
 
Hudson said:
Cranks for a moment then splutters into life with a bit of a shudder, evens out almost immdiatly athen runs sweet as a nut. No fault codes as i had those checked, well one with 'improbably break light' or somethig odd which caused the glow plug light to flash but has not done that after i got the codes checked and reset.
When very cold i have had it run the key and it tries to start for a second then stops even with the key turned in the ignition point, which i thought a little odd!
Click to expand...

Ours does this too and I hadnt even noticed it until Vince at Stealth pointed it out. I have a faulty glow plug and the 'stopping for a second' was described by Vince as the car sending the fault to the ECU.

Would second Mike's suggestion that if you are close enough - run it into Stealth for a once over or another VAG specialist if one is recommended closer to you.
 
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