Raismans

I have 2005 B7 A4 with 2.0 (103kW) TDI with multitr gearbox.

Ever since weather became colder I am having big problems to cold-start my car. I pre-heat glow plugs, the cranking starts, but it feels like the car is out of fuel. After about 6-8 attempts and 1 minute of cranking, it starts to kinda catch up (like an old tractor) and eventualy with the help of gas pedal starts. Cant seem to work out the problem, because if I manage to start my car and run it for any amount of time, next start up will be flawless in the next several hours.

Other things to mention
- Battery has been checked and is good
- Glow plugs were changed 6 months ago
- I use good winter fuel (my other car runs on it)
- Engine oil was changed 6 months ago (Synthetic 5w30)

I can provide a video, if anyone is interested..

uberwgn

Sounds like a glow plug problem. Were cheap glow plugs installed when they were changed? Glow plug relay?

When you say "cold", how cold do you mean?

Raismans

If i remember corectly, the glow plugs were D-power nr52 (not the cheapest ones) If the weather is colder than anything below 0C problem accures. For example, today it was -5C and it happened again.

uberwgn

Was the fuel filter changed recently?

Raismans

That was changed a year ago, but since then I drove only about 5k km

uberwgn

Sometimes there can be a tiny air leak near the fuel filter. It doesn't cause any problems unless the car sits for a period of time. Just trying to come up with simple things.

Do you have access to a scan tool, Raisman?

Raismans

Unfortunately, I dont have a scan tool right now, but I can try to find someone to lend it to me.

But wouldnt this air leak cause problems even in warm weather? Because I dont have any problems starting my car when its something like +3C

uberwgn

Yes, the air leak problem would be irrespective of ambient temp.

See if you can get someone to scan the car for you. That will often provide clues.

Don't crank the car for more than 30 seconds. Let the starter cool down between attempts.

In extreme cold, I would cycle the glow plugs twice on our TDIs before attempting to start.

Raismans

Yes, I am always doing this when its very cold.

Raismans

For the reference, my starting looks something like (but my audi takes even longer time...) Feels like someone swapped my audi with Lada