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cranks but takes ages to fire...


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my car starts first time everytime and never dies once started.

the problem is, it takes ages to fire up! i just sit there like a lemon with it turning over, key jammed to on waiting for it to start.

it turns over quickly (doesn't sound like starter / battery) so i guess it's ignition related, but where to start?

anyone come accross the same problem? any suggestions on what it could be and what i should check out first?

any help is hugely appreciated!

thanks, Kat :)

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Kat, feel like the simple but dangerous?? The first thing you need to do is figure out if its fuel or electrical. Get yourself a can of starting fluid(used on diesels) Take the rubber tube off the throttel body inlet. Prop the throttel open with your thumb and give the intake about a 2-3 second snort.NO MORE THAN THAT!!! Jump in the car and key it up. If it still just cranks over and doesn't start immediatly, look at spark system. If it does cough snort or start even if only for a second or two its fuel related. Low pump pressure, or maybe the filter sock at the pump isn't happy.(got a fuel filter on yours???) The starting fluid check is a little hokey but it will point you in the right direction as where to start looking.....

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Another test you can try is, after you have cranked it over (making sure it doesn't start) take a spark plug out. Firstly it should be wet off the unburnt fuel, if its dry that could indicate a fuel problem. If its wet, dry it off and plug it back into the lead. Rest the plug on something metal to earth it where you can see it and crank the engine over to see if you have a spark at the plug.

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there is 2 relays for the fuel pump,one after run and one for when its started,i bought a new after run and it helped in mine,but in the vr u have too turn the key to the first notch and wait a couple of seconds before you turn it to crank.

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Katie, spare me please for suggesting the hard befor the easy. On the first start of the day, sit in your car and turn the key on but dont crank it. Fuel pump comes on right??? assuming it does, turn it off for 5 seconds, then back on. Do this 4 times, on the 4th try the starter. Did it crank as much to start or did it start any quicker?? I would suggest doing this first!!! That is befor burning the hair off your arm with starting fluid, getting high smelling raw gas, and starting you heart with electric shock!!(all good suggestions though) LUCK!!

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  • 2 weeks later...

ok got the beast on diagnostics today, but the mechanic that did it wiped the codes before i had chance to write them down! doh!

it came up with 3 main faults,

HALL SENSOR ERROR

ENGINE SPEED SENSOR ERROR

LAMBDA CONTROL PROBLEM INTERMITTANT (something exceeded)

he said the hall and engine speed sensors would be to do with the crank and cam sensors, is that right?

and he's told me to get a new lambda sensor, should i?

anyone ever seen these codes before / know where i should start?

thanks, Katie :)

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Katie, On US cars the hall sensor is the cam sensor,(timming chain end of engine, rear) obd1 cars,in the distributor.The engine speed sensor is down by the oil cooler. Lambda is in the exhaust piping(has nothing to do with the car starting, helps control air/fuel mix after warm up)I'd start with cleaning up the hall sensor, if that doesn't cure the hard start, get a new one. Also on some VW if the engine isn't running when they do the vagcom it will set a false engine speed sensor fault. The hall sensor would be my first stop. After you get the starting problem sorted, if your KM per gal is still reasonable you don't have to jump up and spend the 70 on the 02 sensor, however if your fuel economey is in the toilet just do it.....RP

P.S. Hows scratch & dent???

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Have you checked your fuel pressure regulator?

It may be leaking internally, allowing your fuel pressure to drop to zero every time you switch off your engine, the leaking fuel will drain through the small vacuum hose that is connected to the fuel pressure regulator. Pull off the small hose to see if there is any petrol residue in the hose, it should be DRY, if not, then this could be your problem.

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Cheers Kong, will defo check that out tomorrow, sounds possible as you hear the fuel prime before starting but a drop in pressure could be the problem. I've already changed the fpr though and the problem's stayed the same, will check it out just to be sure! 8)

Thanks, Katie :)

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