Intermittent starting response

[hainesr336]

Hi, I have a 2008 Cali since new with 28k on the clock. I have noticed that when I go to start it sometimes the key turns, all lights come on and go out as normal but when you turn the key nothing happens. This occurs more frequently when warm and it can take 3-4 turns before kicking into life. Other times it starts as normal. Battery seems fine. Can any one help? Ignition switch? Starter motor? Fuse? Something else? Thanks Ross

 

[Freeley]

Almost definitely starter motor. Had mine replaced at 2 years old so was still under warranty luckily. It'll only get worse so worth getting it looked at

 

[Snooper1012]

Had the same problem, took it to my local garage who discovered that the screen wash filler is located right above the battery. So, if you (or in my case) previous owners aren't too careful water runs down and pools on the battery cables causing them to corrode.

He cleaned them up for me and the problem was sorted

 

[robinf]

Hi, I have a 2008 Cali since new with 28k on the clock. I have noticed that when I go to start it sometimes the key turns, all lights come on and go out as normal but when you turn the key nothing happens. This occurs more frequently when warm and it can take 3-4 turns before kicking into life. Other times it starts as normal. Battery seems fine. Can any one help? Ignition switch? Starter motor? Fuse? Something else? Thanks Ross

 

[robinf]

Hello Ross, I have a 2008 model and it's showing exactly the same symptoms as yours. Did you need to get a new starter motor or was it (hopefully?) some cheaper solution? I understand a new starter motor costs about £200, but I heard a whisper that the labour to fit is not insignificant either. Mine's done just 18,000, but that doesn't seem to have much relevance when parts fail out of warranty! Regards, robinf

 

[jeff]

Mine had same starter problem 20,000 miles new starter motor needed think it was about £300.00 including labour.

 

[barry]

Out of the blue the starter motor won't turn the engine: as above, the right lights come on but no life beyond that. 57 plate (2008), 77,000 miles and properly serviced.
AA checked everything (cleaned corroded terminals etc etc) and still nothing so they helped me bump start it and I drove it to the Glasgow Van Centre 5 miles away (they followed just in case).
I parked it at the VWVC, switched it off, tried to start it on the off chance and (embarrassingly) bingo!
I got one of the techies to come and look at it and it wouldn't start at all ...
So ... an intermittent starting response as per the thread heading.

It's due an MOT, 80k (major) service and a manual sliding door problem so I've now abandoned it to their good care. It's a good job my mortgage is long paid off

The Cali's been up in the Black Isle dolphin spotting during the last week (my son, his partner and their two wains). I'm glad it happened when it came back to Glasgow and not up north.

The VWVC gave me lift back home (via Dales Cycles so I could pick up a gear trigger to replace one on my wife's bike that she broke yesterday - so It's been a sort of bad week )

 

[caliblue]

Hi Barry,
We have a 2015 cali with exactly the same intermittent starting problems as you have.
It has been in the garage about 6 months ago and we thought the problem had been solved- a new sensor on the clutch was fitted and a fuse replaced. For a few months everything was OK but now the starting is even
worse. It is booked in again for next week and we would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks

 

[AlanC]

You are aware that the computer will delay the started motor turning the engine until the glow plugs have turned off.

In cold weather this can be up to around 30 secs or so, depending on the outside temp. Usually it is much shorted, but you may be caught out by this.

Alan

 

[caliblue]

Yes, we are aware of this and always wait for the glow plug symbol to turn off.
The VW technician has watched us starting the van and we are doing it correctly.
But thanks for the suggestion.

 

[AlanC]

In that case it has to be a fault. Have they checked the ignition switch yet? That may have a dirty contact.

Alan

 

[caliblue]

Thanks for that, Alan.
Will ask the garage to check this next week.
Brian

 

[AlanC]

Or the solenoid

 

[briwy]

Or a bad earth lead to the engine

 

[T6 CFO]

Or a bad earth lead to the engine

+1 for the loose earth


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[robinf]

Hi Barry, I have a 2008 Cali (but only 20,000 miles) as well, and I contributed to this thread last year. If the (relatively) easy solutions do not work, as suggested by a number of folk above, then a new starter motor may have to be contemplated. It certainly sorted out my intermittent starting problem. The part was a Fohrenbuhl starter motor costing £134 (incl VAT) from my local garage, and they charged one hour's fitting time. The motor turns the engine over a bit quicker than the old one (no harm in that) and I've had no recurrent problems since then (June last year).

 

[caliblue]

Here is an update of our intermittent starting fault- the van has been in the vw garage for a week and been hooked up to the computer on numerous occasions.
The fault was not replicated and the computer could find no fault.
We were advised to hold the key for a few seconds if the engine doesn't fire up immediately so will see how we go with this.

 

[DOUG MILNE]

My 2017 Cali is not starting with key

 

[Loz]

My 2017 Cali is not starting with key

Are your brake lights working?

 

[Flood51]

Amazingly reliable these VW's mine just come back again from SMG, I think they must be four berth so you can sleep a couple of mechanics with you.

 

[Mike Frost]

Hi All,

Same problem with our 2009 T5 SE with 36K on the clock. In addition to the starter motor, and various bad connections mentioned above, I also seem to recall reading that electrical connections under the front swivelling seats can become loose, and unless properly connected, can also cause this problem, owing to the safety cut out issue - am I correct on this? Or should I just grit my teeth and get her towed to the VW centre for a new starter - she's dead on the drive at present, and we can't get the contents of the garage out either as a consequence!

 

[AlanC]

We had a bad connection on the passenger seat. That flagged up an airbag error in the dash but didn’t stop the van from starting.

I suspect your started motor may have seen better days. Try the AA or RAC if you are a member. Both will come out to your home.

Alan

 

[Mike Frost]

Thanks Alan,

I have booked her in to our local garage for a starter motor transplant on Monday, and shall get the AA out first thing; as we need to get her up a slope to get onto the main road, I'll need their help to shift her!

Mike

 

[silv6450]

Hi, I have a 2008 Cali since new with 28k on the clock. I have noticed that when I go to start it sometimes the key turns, all lights come on and go out as normal but when you turn the key nothing happens. This occurs more frequently when warm and it can take 3-4 turns before kicking into life. Other times it starts as normal. Battery seems fine. Can any one help? Ignition switch? Starter motor? Fuse? Something else? Thanks Ross

100% cure for intermittent starting issue on my VW T5 found!

Hi, had been struggling with the same issues with my van for 3 years now.
I changed everything from starter to fuses, switches and relays, everything other than the wiring loom.
Been to various specialist vw garages and no one could solve the issue.

Very recently someone recommended a garage to me with out of this world diagnostic equipment.

I phoned them and they said they’d charge £100 to do a diagnostic and if they couldn’t find what was wrong I wouldn’t have to pay anything.

Booked my van in, turned up, handed van over, half an hour later they came out and said they’d narrowed it down to a part of the wiring loom but did not know specifically which bit but for an extra £200 would find out and fix it to which I obviously said yes.

2 hours later my van is fixed and starts perfectly every time.

The issue found was a corroded wire in the wiring loom above the gearbox.

So if you’re having the intermittent starting issues I had, do yourself a favour and post these guys a visit.

If I’d seen them 3 years ago I’d have saved hundreds and hundreds in parts and labour and tens of hours trying to fix there issue myself too, not to mention all the times I missed appointments etc due to my van not starting.

Oak Tree Garage,
Darlington Road,
Northallerton,
DL6 2PA

01609 779213



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