Cold start puzzle

[RobTheHood]

I've got a 1.9tdi 03 plate Ibiza that takes an age to start from cold. Routine is -

1. Turn key - engine sounds like it's gonna start then fails within moments
2. Try again with key held for about 5 secs(ish) then oil bulb flashes
3. Still key held (I got brave and carried on!) engine rumbles for 2 secs(ish) then engine starts fine like usual.

If I turn the car off immediately and restart it does so with no probs!

Had car since new and 1 service was late by 3 months 2 years ago. This is the first time its happened so i'm puzzled. Could it be glow plugs? They seem to work normally according to the dash lights.

I can also start the car up normally after 4 hrs from initial start up after that the exact same routine as above is required. Thats what I find strange, its always the same routine - even the timing. Works or not!.

 

[Andrewcupra TDI]

sounds like glo plugs , my uncles pug was similar , but id expect the light to come up as on my leon recently giving an error code

 

[was225]

Hi mate check for air ingress into fuel system, tandem pumps are prone for gaskets failing and letting air into fuel system, causing delay starting when left overnight i hope this helps.

 

[was225]

Sorry forgot to mention it wont be glow plugs as they wont come untill near freezing tempreture due to the injectors fitted on this vehicle they are high pressure so dont rely on preheating do get the engine started.

 

[RobTheHood]

Air ingress through gasketss. hmmm first suggestion of that thru all the trawling I've done. I think I'm gonna use something other than Tesco fuel and a fuel cleaner just to make sure It wasn't a fluke bad batch or something like that. An addiitional thought I have is I've fitted a pipercross air filter 6 mths ago which is a different material, could increased moisture be a factor?

 

[RobTheHood]

Testing starts as of now on the fuel hypothesis. Filled with Shell v-power and added a fuel cleaner costing £15 from halfords, i'll add the make later as i've forgot the brand at the mo'! If that doesn't work a paper filter is going back in to negate that hypothesis as well!

 

[muddyboots]

My guesses would either be:
1) Air getting into fuel system somehow, or
2) Clogged fuel filter - causing poor flow in cold temps. Someone else on here recently had (different) issues when cold that were cured by changing the fuel filter.

 

[RobTheHood]

My car worked normally today, started instantly as usual. I guess the fuel treatment (made by Comma btw) and shell v-power diesel did the trick! I maybe counting my chickens but I hope this is the prob sorted.
Cheers for ur responses guys I'll let you know if this the prob is truly sorted.
Plus my car is running beautifully now with better mpg (based on 75miles so far) so I would say treat ya car now and again to a treat

 

[RobTheHood]

Yep poblem solved I think, now runs better than ever and didn't change fuel filter either (thats just lazy on my part) Dare I say beware of cheap fuel, trust me I'm not going back! yep solved. Maybe it was the fuel cleaner but the response is great now on acceleration. Draw ur own conclusions!!! [EDIT} yep still going strong and I swear the car sounds quieter (maybe thats just Happiness of a nice running car ) if it fails i'll report back, otherwise this is my last post on this.
[EDIT] I know I said I wouldn't post again but to reaffirm the prob has gone, it has!