1.4 Tdi Struggling to start..

I would suggest getting the car scanned with VCDS instead of your code reader. It might show up the fault in the form of a code that only VCDS can find.
 
Normally I would also say to use a proper scanner such as VCDS. Unfortunately the A2 diesel reports very little for its fuel supply or injection back to the "computer"

As this is a high mileage car you will have to decide just how much time and money is appropriate and take it from there. I would think the tandem is badly worn now. Yes there are cars out there with twice ( at least ) the mileage but they may well have had far different maintenance carried out on them over the years.

Could be simple or could be Pandora's Box.......
 
audifan said:
Normally I would also say to use a proper scanner such as VCDS. Unfortunately the A2 diesel reports very little for its fuel supply or injection back to the "computer"

As this is a high mileage car you will have to decide just how much time and money is appropriate and take it from there. I would think the tandem is badly worn now. Yes there are cars out there with twice ( at least ) the mileage but they may well have had far different maintenance carried out on them over the years.

Could be simple or could be Pandora's Box.......
Click to expand...
I know what you are saying, fortunately I have time, and I have another A2 on the way, and I enjoy a challenge and getting to know the A2s better.. So I will continue to dabble for a while yet.
 
audifan said:
Have the glow plug system checked for correct operation and the plugs replaced with the correct ones if needed.

Air in a diesel fuel system is very bad. Not only do all pipes have to be in good condition each and every connection has to be tight and with the correct type clamp to ensure the force is distributed correctly. The fuel filter also needs to be air tight with intact OEM or better Paul's bleed screw and the housing not cracked. For earlier ones with the metal canister all connections need to be good and the temperature valve "T" must not leak fuel. The tandem pump must be externally dry with no signs of leaks ( oil or fuel ).

Now with a short length of clear fuel tube fitted between the INLET fuel pipe and tandem INLET port start the engine and observe the fuel in the pipe. If large amounts of bubbles are seen then you have an air leak in the system that needs to be found and sealed. Now stop the engine and observe the clear pipe, if the fuel level can be seen dropping back down the pipe then the tandem needs replacing. This may happen slowly so check back every so often.

Once all diagnostic checks are done it is important the fuel pipes are refitted and sealed. Also if you remove any pipe it is critical that spilt diesel is not allowed to come into contact with any rubber component as it will destroy it very quickly.
Click to expand...
Thanks for all that, I have ordered some clear pipe :)
 
DaveySprocket said:
Yes I did get a new relay fitted!

Thanks for your suggestion, so if I do as you suggest, and have air in the fuel, does that mean an issue with the Tandem pump, or air getting in from somewhere else?

Thanks, Dave
Click to expand...
Could be either. You could then put the clear tube on the feed to the tandem pump as @audifan suggested in post #15 to help find the leak. More importantly if you find air then you can cross off the rest of the suspects. The fuel spigots will fit 8-10mm internal diameter pipe. 10-12mm will be too big unless @CrispyEdd was referring to outer diameter.
 
Apart from ordering clear fuel pipe, I've done nothing to this car, apart from pondering about this issue since last posting two weeks ago.

I was thinking that the fuel sender unit was definitely blocked, and after it was cleaned, the car was definitely starting on the button for a decent while. So is this a new fault or??

Anyway another A2 that I had been waiting on arrived unexpectedly yesterday, so I thought I had better shift the grey one, otherwise the village would be full of my random cars. I was fully expecting it to be a total pain to start, but it started almost immediately, much to my surprise. So I shifted it down to our garden and parked it up. I left of for 15 minutes and tried again, and it started straight up again. Today I went to it, and it started straight up again no problem at all. So now I'm really puzzled, it seems more like an intermittent fault, probably not the Fuel pump?

The new A2 is one that I used to own probably 10 years ago, I sold it to my brother in laws sister, and she has just given up on it and wanted shot, so I bought it back off her for very little. It has quite a few problems, but hopefully nothing too expensive to fix. The tricky one might be the battery draining down flat every night. She had come up with an interesting solution to get around that, see second pic!

IMG_20240122_154051_HDR.jpgIMG_20240122_154010_HDR.jpg

It's a 1.4 tdi sport with AMC engine. One of the random things I liked about it, is it has the manual rotary heater controls, I really don't like the electronic ones at all. Funny thing is I don't remember it being such a pale blue, ones memory is a strange thing.
 
DaveySprocket said:
Apart from ordering clear fuel pipe, I've done nothing to this car, apart from pondering about this issue since last posting two weeks ago.

I was thinking that the fuel sender unit was definitely blocked, and after it was cleaned, the car was definitely starting on the button for a decent while. So is this a new fault or??

Anyway another A2 that I had been waiting on arrived unexpectedly yesterday, so I thought I had better shift the grey one, otherwise the village would be full of my random cars. I was fully expecting it to be a total pain to start, but it started almost immediately, much to my surprise. So I shifted it down to our garden and parked it up. I left of for 15 minutes and tried again, and it started straight up again. Today I went to it, and it started straight up again no problem at all. So now I'm really puzzled, it seems more like an intermittent fault, probably not the Fuel pump?

The new A2 is one that I used to own probably 10 years ago, I sold it to my brother in laws sister, and she has just given up on it and wanted shot, so I bought it back off her for very little. It has quite a few problems, but hopefully nothing too expensive to fix. The tricky one might be the battery draining down flat every night. She had come up with an interesting solution to get around that, see second pic!

View attachment 118097View attachment 118098

It's a 1.4 tdi sport with AMC engine. One of the random things I liked about it, is it has the manual rotary heater controls, I really don't like the electronic ones at all. Funny thing is I don't remember it being such a pale blue, ones memory is a strange thing.
Click to expand...
Looks like a fire waiting start ,
I’d get that removed & the battery clamp fitted correct way around as a priority as only a small surface area in contact presently & I’m sure pop riveting isn’t a correct means of electrical connection in any way.
 
kp 115 said:
Looks like a fire waiting start ,
I’d get that removed & the battery clamp fitted correct way around as a priority as only a small surface area in contact presently & I’m sure pop riveting isn’t a correct means of electrical connection in any way.
Click to expand...
Yes indeed, it's a bit of a shocker, it will be sorted..
 
I've stuck the grey one out of the way down the garden for now.
IMG_20240126_114547_HDR.jpg


It has occurred to me though, the starting problem returned when I had loaned it to some friends for the weekend. I left if on there fairly steep driveway pointing downwards, and it was starting fine, until they had left it on the drive pointing uphill, then it really didn't want to start. I remember when I was researching starting issues before reading about inclines having an impact on starting, so I will have to have a look again and see what the connection is, although this one is in danger of becoming a donor vehicle for the new arrival doh.. I'll start a different thread for that one. :)
 
I'm following this, I to still have problems with my A2 that is well documented on here.
It now will not start at all at the moment.
Changed tandem pump and it was ok for a while, now it will not start at all.
 
johnyfartbox said:
I'm following this, I to still have problems with my A2 that is well documented on here.
It now will not start at all at the moment.
Changed tandem pump and it was ok for a while, now it will not start at all.
Click to expand...
Oh blimey, that's got to be a major bummer.. I'll have a read again about all this stuff tonight..
 
DaveySprocket said:
I've stuck the grey one out of the way down the garden for now.
View attachment 118228

It has occurred to me though, the starting problem returned when I had loaned it to some friends for the weekend. I left if on there fairly steep driveway pointing downwards, and it was starting fine, until they had left it on the drive pointing uphill, then it really didn't want to start. I remember when I was researching starting issues before reading about inclines having an impact on starting, so I will have to have a look again and see what the connection is, although this one is in danger of becoming a donor vehicle for the new arrival doh.. I'll start a different thread for that one. :)
Click to expand...
I've had this issue with mine for quite a while now, seems to go through fazes of struggling to start.. or not, and mine too starts no probs when the nose is pointing downhill. I changed the tandem pump, and all was fine for a couple weeks then the problem returned.. maybe the initial 'tightness' of the new seals overcame the actual issue for a while. I'm just living with it as it always starts.. eventually and I've spent far too much time fiddling with my cars!
 
allypug said:
I've had this issue with mine for quite a while now, seems to go through fazes of struggling to start.. or not, and mine too starts no probs when the nose is pointing downhill. I changed the tandem pump, and all was fine for a couple weeks then the problem returned.. maybe the initial 'tightness' of the new seals overcame the actual issue for a while. I'm just living with it as it always starts.. eventually and I've spent far too much time fiddling with my cars!
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, like mine, the symptoms make it pretty hard to find the problem. One simple solution though, always park it nose down :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top