Hi guys,
We have a 2007 Altea 1.9tdi with BXE engine code. It's on 153k and passed it's MOT on Christmas Eve with no problems on the emissions tests. That was the last time the car was taken out and it has a near full tank of fuel.
This lunch time my wife went to take the car out and it started and immediately cut out. There was a very strong smell too. When trying to start it again (on 2 further occasions) it would crank ok and sounded like it wouldn't quite bite. It would run for a couple of seconds and then die a death. We had the usual flywheel problem around 18 months ago and it sounds very, very similar to when we had that problem. The flywheel and clutch kit were replaced with bits from Dave @ Sere Motors.
The car is serviced every 12 months/10k and last year it had a full service (oil, air, pollen, fuel plus timing belt and water pump - thanks again Dave!). All work is carried out by a very highly regarded ex-VW head technician and they are great.
Last service we were advised that a code had appeared which they cleared, for a fault with glow plug 1. He said it could be either a dodgy plug or loom, but as it was causing no issues to leave it (that was in Feb last year).
So today we have the problem and I am trying to establish what I should do to get the car running again. I have no access to a fault finding machine and basic car knowledge only, although can do oil changes/spark plugs/etc.
So, is there a straight forward way of establishing what could be the problem? I am thinking battery (waiting on my car coming back to try and jump start the Altea), starter motor (I think I read on here a while back that this could be an issue), crank sensor (again, I think I read that here somewhere) or ECU water ingress.
Weather-wise, today is around 8 degrees, whereas the car was fine starting all last week at negative temperatures. This makes me think that it wont be the glow plug(s).
My wife is a student and lives away from Mon-Fri 100 miles away, so I am obviously very keen to make sure that it is not going to give her problems when she leaves again on Monday after her winter break!
Any/all help appreciated.
We have a 2007 Altea 1.9tdi with BXE engine code. It's on 153k and passed it's MOT on Christmas Eve with no problems on the emissions tests. That was the last time the car was taken out and it has a near full tank of fuel.
This lunch time my wife went to take the car out and it started and immediately cut out. There was a very strong smell too. When trying to start it again (on 2 further occasions) it would crank ok and sounded like it wouldn't quite bite. It would run for a couple of seconds and then die a death. We had the usual flywheel problem around 18 months ago and it sounds very, very similar to when we had that problem. The flywheel and clutch kit were replaced with bits from Dave @ Sere Motors.
The car is serviced every 12 months/10k and last year it had a full service (oil, air, pollen, fuel plus timing belt and water pump - thanks again Dave!). All work is carried out by a very highly regarded ex-VW head technician and they are great.
Last service we were advised that a code had appeared which they cleared, for a fault with glow plug 1. He said it could be either a dodgy plug or loom, but as it was causing no issues to leave it (that was in Feb last year).
So today we have the problem and I am trying to establish what I should do to get the car running again. I have no access to a fault finding machine and basic car knowledge only, although can do oil changes/spark plugs/etc.
So, is there a straight forward way of establishing what could be the problem? I am thinking battery (waiting on my car coming back to try and jump start the Altea), starter motor (I think I read on here a while back that this could be an issue), crank sensor (again, I think I read that here somewhere) or ECU water ingress.
Weather-wise, today is around 8 degrees, whereas the car was fine starting all last week at negative temperatures. This makes me think that it wont be the glow plug(s).
My wife is a student and lives away from Mon-Fri 100 miles away, so I am obviously very keen to make sure that it is not going to give her problems when she leaves again on Monday after her winter break!
Any/all help appreciated.
