TDI Long Cranking on Cold Start?
 

Hey guys, just picked up my 2014 TDI. Had it for two days now, I'll post a review and some pics later.

Today, it is cold here, in the teens to twenties. When I went to cold start the car twice, I pushed the start button, the glow plug lit up, turned off, paused and then the engine went to turn over but it cranked for a good 3 seconds or so before it came to life. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this normal?

I'm going to try putting the engine in the on position first for a few seconds and then start it to see if it still does this. This way the glow plugs will be hot and so will the fuel heaters.

I have heard of this happening with some people on the 335d (never happened to me). On cold days, she just lights up the glow plug light for a second or two and then starts right up.

Actually, TDI cold starting time a question of interest for me too.
 

What is a typical time to start on a modern TDI in cold weather from the point you hit the start button to get things going? How long are the glow plugs doing their thing before the engine turns over? Thus at temps like 0-20F or lower, or well under 0C.

For the OP, in early diesel days it was dozens of seconds, so I expect a few seconds here or there is relatively minor. But since I have a place in Tahoe that can easily be at these temps many evenings or early mornings (or even -10 to -15F at times), I'm curious about the actual field experience in Audi's current USA related TDI motor. Too warm here in the coastal SF Bay Area to have anyone around w/ practical experience in serious cold locally.

I am on Long Island (near NYC) and it was in the 20's F today. I had 2 second delay on start after pressing button. Slightly longer than in warmer temps. Fwiw.

20's here in Tulsa and I have a similar experience to Dennis.....and my Q is parked in my garage. I have noticed that it takes some time for the engine temp to get off the cold mark. Heater works well in advance of the needle climb. No worries.

I am located in NW Maine, near the Canadian border. We have had minus 20F temps and has routinely been in the single digits and teens of late; the delay in start with our TDI has been 1-3 seconds (closer to 3 seconds in the sub zero temps).

Are your cars just taking a while to begin cranking because the glow plugs are doing their thing or is the engine cranking for a few seconds before starting up? This only happens on cold starts. I find the engine warms up very quickly.

What should happen, press start button, glow plug illuminates, turns off and then the engine cranks and starts right up. What's happening to me, the glow plugs do their thing for a second or two and then the engine starts to crank and cranks for a few seconds before firing up.

It is normal for the TDI engines from the VW Group.

Glow plugs for the first time to launch 2-3 seconds when you open the driver's door, without contact and starting the engine :eek:

My engine fires almost immediately with no cranking....and I do sit at idle for 30 to 40 seconds before I slip it into reverse and back out of the garage.

To clarify, I press the start button (foot on brake), 2-3 seconds pass, car cranks and starts instantly. There is no prolonged cranking.

Fired mine up at -2 degrees F. Glow plugs took a few seconds (as one would expect/hope) and it fired right up. No lengthy cranking at all.

thanks for your clarification on the duration of the 'cranking'. The delay I experience is from the time to press the start button and when the engine begins cranking and starts. Once the engine cranks, the engine is running. Hope this helps... let us know what you find out about the issue; it could plague us later....

yeah the pause from press to start to crank is normal because that is when the glow plugs do their thing. my issue was just lenghty cranking on a cold start. It has not happened for a while now. I've been turning the ignition on first, then when the glow plug light goes away, i push start and it fires right up. hmmmm. who knows. she doesn't even have 500 miles on her!

Coolie-
Bear in mind that a brand new engine is still literally "stiff". You need to put some break-in mileage on it, to polish in the moving parts, before it really will be starting and running normally.
You might also ask Audi if they filled it with a zero-W motor oil at the factory, or a 10-W that won't start as easily in the winter cold.

I think the issue is glow plug related or fuel heater related. To get around it, What I've been doing it turning the ignition on, waiting for the glow plug light to go off then put my foot on the brake pedal and she starts right up when I press the button. If i skipped the ignition on step, it would say starting engine, pause, glow plug light, then crank for 1-2 seconds and then start up. Once started, no rough idle or anything. I'm hoping it goes away with time. Almost 700 miles on her. It did a long crank even in 40-45 degree weather.

I'll keep you guys posted.

On a side note, i'm really enjoying the TDI.

I have this issue with my A6 TDI. I thought it might be a battery at first, but it is definitely related to cold weather. There is no delay before it begins cranking, but it cranks for a few seconds before it turns over. Runs great after that.

My wife's Q5 TDI sits right next to it in the garage and has never had a issue. Starts right up every time.

The longest mine has delayed after pushing the button is a 3-4 seconds, and that was after it sat outside in -5 for a whole day. Only other thing I notice in really cold weather is the engine seems a little louder, no big deal.

So when mine went in for gel'd fuel i told them about this. They didn't say they changed anything or fixed anything but it hasn't done it since. Right now it starts right up when you push start even in cold weather. No long cranks!!

I just hit the button first wait for light to go off then start the car.

The car is designed to do everything it has to do before starting. Once you push that button, it may take a second or two but will start up right after.