starting a 1.4 query

[chris285]

i have noticed that my car seems to be taking more and more to get started in terms of length of the key turn, it seems to work fine unless the gauge is showing less than half a tank and then takes that bit more to start

also today i replaced the plugs and started up and it took a lot to get started, until i put my foot on the gas a little when starting and it was then fine

my dad reckons that vw's need gas when starting but i have never had this problem before at all, any idea what this is?

 

[Cupra Kid]

i tend to agree with your dad, my old 1.4 always needed a bit of gas to get it to start first time instantly, only a little mind not flooring it.

My cupra is similar it needs a blip of the throttle to get her running evenly from a very cold start.

 

[chris285]

thanks for the reply just didn't want to worry

never had the problem before from what i remember and seems to have only happened recently when i have less than a 1/4 of a tank of fuel. have never had a problem starting from cold or or different temps etc

 

[Cupra Kid]

it'll just be getting due for a service and a bit of a tweaking. My 1.4 always did it when it was getting due then behaved for about 6k after.

 

[hopkinsgm]

A quick blip while cranking the engine over doesn't hurt - and if it makes the engine catch a bit quicker, then so much the better.

Random aside, but my Alfa can be a bit of a tw@t to get started. It is a rather different beast from a bygone era though, and the problem is mostly down to lack of use and fuel evaporation. You don't 'arf know about it when the engine catches and those DCOE's start doing their thing though!

 

[chris285]

is back to normal when starting now

must have been something do do with the new sparks i put on, has done nearly 70k now so slowly replacing stuff that needs generally changing as i have had the car a year

also gonna replace suspension as well as just seems knackered now as is probably the origional set, i hit some bumps in the road like pot holes and grate covers etc and it feels like i might as well have a piece of steel instead of shocks and springs