golf diesel, wont start unless foot on the throttle?

[ali-d1936]

i realise this isnt diesel ireland but i need help quick and i know there are alot of mechanical minded people on the site compared to others out there.
went looking at a 01 golf gttdi, 115 6speed, last night and it was by far the best iv come accross really tight to drive i actually had it bought but as i sat in to drive to your mans house it to sign the book and that it wouldnt start...

if you turn the key in the ignition it will crank 4 times kind of burp and just stop turning....
he told me i need my foot flat on the throttle for it to start.

so sure enough with my foot down flat it wil fire and start at the second crank.

seems to idle grand ect afterwards but the car was at opperational temp when we got there so i didnt get to see the car cold.

i was put off by this and pulled out as any other one i drove was grand to start and i didnt like the thoughts that there may be something about to go in it. anyone have any ideas... if its nothing major im going back for it as iv looked at 9 cars this week and its the best by a mile bar this issue:)

[mattybyrne2008]

Maybe glow plugs?? If you get chance to see the car cold again make sure the glow light stays on for few seconds and goes off?? If this works just do it 2 or 3 times before starting it each time letting the light go out and see if it starts??

[pepsterx]

Not a hope in hell it's glow plugs, even if all glow plugs are shot should start flawless hot or cold, slightly longer crank time when cold obviously !!! Get someone who knows their stuff to look at it, if it's start fine when cold but not when worm i'd walk ! Could be injectors, is it mapped or any tuning boxes fitted ??

[pepsterx]

I'm just after thinking there, it could be as simple as coolant temp switch, common issue on VAG's and could easily cause this problem ! As i said needs to be looked at, internet could easily point you in the wrong direction !!!!

[ali-d1936]

cheers lads, well i let the heat light go off before i started it each time, . he did say that it started grand when cold but when hot you needed to give it the throttle, i thought he was talking through his arse as any diesel iv started would be harder started cold than warm, iv my head melted looking at google but being honest not alot came up giving them symptoms.
nope not mapped it was a old enough man selling it its totally stock, i dont have anyone who can look at it till tuesday unfortunatly but from talking to any of my mechanic mates over the phone they are stumped by it.

[Tomas_s13]

Dont know much bout vags but when bmw's do that- thats high press diesel pump on its way out! Theyll start cold no bother but when hot itll need full throttle to start other wise will be cranking for ages

[ali-d1936]

suppose thats something to look into, have also herd it could be a temprature sensor failing, it thinks the car is cold insted of warm and the A/F ratio is out.

well is it unusual also that the car only cranks 4 times and stops even tho the key is still turned in the ignition? evey other diesel iv looked at started on the button,

[pepsterx]

It's PD engine so no high pressure pump ! It shouldn't stop cranking as long you have the key twisted !!

[darren C]

Best thing to do is give a vag dealer a ring and ask for a mechanic. Ask him they will give you straight answer

[ali-d1936]

It's PD engine so no high pressure pump ! It shouldn't stop cranking as long you have the key twisted !!

i thought that alright i was thinking that the car seems to start but dosnt just splutters and dies, but it wouldnt cut the starter reguardless if the car started or not so thats a funny one,


Best thing to do is give a vag dealer a ring and ask for a mechanic. Ask him they will give you straight answer

ya i have a few mates who work in garages and they all said the only way to know is through it on the diagnostics. i know for a sure fire answer of whats wrong ill need to do that but a idea of whats wrong first so i can gauge if its worth getting,

[Ronan-doc]

more than likely its the coolant temp sensor! if u plug out the sensor it should fire up strait away if thats the problem

[ali-d1936]

reading up on it apparently if that sender fails there would be no reading on the engine teprature gague. the gague when i seen it the needle was dead on half way on the gague,