2.0 tdci strange cold start this morning

[michaelburrows]

this car . every day a new question.  obviously minus tempretures last night. got in car at 7 this morning. dipped the clutch in order to start the engine and pressed the start button. ...nothing.   i carried on sitting there foot on clutch wondering what the hell was going on now .then acter about 15 seconds the starter commensed and engine started.  in warmer weather it starts as soon as button is pressed.   is this normal 2013 mk3 2.0 tdci behaviour in cold conditions.

 

 

[erictcleric]

That's normal when starting in very cold weather. Watch the instrument cluster; you'll see the glow plug lights come on, and then when they go out the engine will start.

If it makes you feel better I thought it was a fault with the car when I first experienced it, because I didn't hold the clutch like you did so the car didn't start at all. Even went so far as to get the AA to tow it to the dealer...

[michaelburrows]

oh dear. thank goodness i did something right.  what a strange procedure.  thanks for that. appreciated

[TomsFocus]

It does say about this feature in the manual under 'starting'.  You can either press the button without the clutch to heat the plugs first, or just keep the button held with the clutch in and it'll start as soon as the plug light goes out. 

It's another piece of mapping for emission reduction, although a common rail diesel would start without preheating even in cold temps, it causes far more emissions than just letting the plugs heat for a couple of seconds first.  You'll find most E5 onwards diesels do the same thing.  Even those with a keyed ignition which feels really odd when a physical key appears to not work lol.

[michaelburrows]

thanks for info chaps. another day another question.haha

[madmole]

Dont need to keep the button held either, just press once and keep clutch down. Car will do the rest

[michaelburrows]

yes thankyou. found that out by mistake