Seat Ibiza SC 1.4 Starting Issues - Your Help Please

[turnipfarmer]

This morning went out to the car and it just wouldn't start. Eventually got it going but it was struggling to turn over to start.

Now I know its been cold recently but not that cold however it has done this before in different weather conditions, it is quite random.

I don't know a great deal about cars hence just wanted to ask on here if anyone else has suffered the same issue and if and how they fixed it.

The car is an 09 plate and isn't even 3 years old so its still under warranty and nothing was picked up on service last year. The car is the 1.4 version.

Your help and advice guys would be great

 

[DEAN0]

This morning went out to the car and it just wouldn't start. Eventually got it going but it was struggling to turn over to start.

Now I know its been cold recently but not that cold however it has done this before in different weather conditions, it is quite random.

I don't know a great deal about cars hence just wanted to ask on here if anyone else has suffered the same issue and if and how they fixed it.

The car is an 09 plate and isn't even 3 years old so its still under warranty and nothing was picked up on service last year. The car is the 1.4 version.

Your help and advice guys would be great

There can be many things contributing to bad starting.

1. How long was the car standing since it was last used ?
2. Do you do mostly short trips so the battery is not getting fully charged ?

Is the car turning over normally but not starting or is it turning over slowly ?

 

[turnipfarmer]

There can be many things contributing to bad starting.

1. How long was the car standing since it was last used ?
2. Do you do mostly short trips so the battery is not getting fully charged ?

Is the car turning over normally but not starting or is it turning over slowly ?

1. Only sat for one day yesterday as car normally gets used everyday.
2. Do combination of long and short, mainly longish motorway trips.

It sounds like it is turning over fine however it just did'nt want to start. You can hear I believe the starter motor working however it did'nt fire up. w

After a bit of perseverance it did start to 'splutter' and I just put a bit of pressure on excelerator and it started up, however I presume this is'nt normal.

 

[NetworkMan]

If the starter motor was turning the engine over quickly then the battery sounds fine.

If it were my car I'd take a look at the ignition system. On this engine I believe there should be high voltage cables (about 6 mm diameter) running from the transformer/coil pack to each of the spark plugs. Over time these can get dirty, covered with a mixture of oil and dirt and this can cause a problem, especially at the ends near the coil pack and the plugs. If this is the case then wipe it off with a dry cloth, paying particular atention to the ends.

If I'm wrong and there are no high voltage cables then the ignition system is of a different design and please ignore what I just wrote!

 

[gcott]

The wife had a similar problem with her 11 plate 1.4SC in the summer. Happened about 3 times and very randomly. Car was booked into dealer and was a known fault. Can't remember exactly what it was but think it was a crankshaft sensor that was faulty.

 

[turnipfarmer]

Will have a look. Just been hunting around on forum and it does seem there is an known issue with this engine. Something to do with n80 valve or something. Could it be this?

I think it might be worth getting it booked in my local dealer, do you think thru should know of this fault? My local dealer us Letchworth.

 

[gcott]

I'd give them a ring and see what they have to say. Hatfield is the dealer we use, so not too far from you.

 

[turnipfarmer]

I'd give them a ring and see what they have to say. Hatfield is the dealer we use, so not too far from you.

yeah think I will. Have you had good experience from Hatfield?

 

[gcott]

They're a dealer so everyone will have their own experience with them. They are a relatively new dealer and I have not had a problem with the service department, albeit I have only had to deal with them on a few occasions. Service managers name is Mark and he's pretty clued up.

I'm sure the wifes was either a crankshft or camshaft sensor, sorry can't remember exactly which it was.

 

[J400uk]

I had exactly the same problem with mine this morning, was just about to post a thread.

09MY 1.4 SC ('58 reg)

Took a good few attempts to get it going. Particulalry annoyed as I had this looked at when it was under warranty about 6 months ago and it was apparently resolved at the time but has now happened again.

 

[J400uk]

I'd give them a ring and see what they have to say. Hatfield is the dealer we use, so not too far from you.

I took mine there the first time it haopened last year and they told me there was nothing wrong with it. I then took it to C0upers nearby who replaced the N80 valve

 

[turnipfarmer]

I took mine there the first time it haopened last year and they told me there was nothing wrong with it. I then took it to C0upers nearby who replaced the N80 valve

Cool, thanks. Where abouts is *******?

 

[J400uk]

Cool, thanks. Where abouts is *******?

St Albans, about 10mins from M25 J21A

 

[char_baby]

Mine didn't start one morning a while ago, had to call RAC as it wouldn't do anything but wheez.

Turned out low fuel flooded the engine apparently. Hasn't done it since mind.

 

[J400uk]

^^Low fuel flooded the engine? Do you mean this could be as a result of running on empty? I had mine do 440 miles on the last tank, no bars left on the MFD when I got to the petrol station. Hope that hasn't damaged it :/

 

[turnipfarmer]

Got it booked in at dealer to get it looked at, the chap on the phone thinks he knows what it is.

Something to do with the battery being drained when car sat idle and also software upgrade too.

 

[char_baby]

^^Low fuel flooded the engine? Do you mean this could be as a result of running on empty? I had mine do 440 miles on the last tank, no bars left on the MFD when I got to the petrol station. Hope that hasn't damaged it :/

It wasn't running on empty in the slightest, had 30 miles left to go!

Had it on the last bar, 15 miles before hand and it started fine. RAC guy just said that was the reason and because i'm parked on a slight slope the petrol would have been at the back of the tank

Yet it didn't do it when i've it lower. The engine is fine.

 

[AndyT_UK]

Unfortunately, I experienced this problem this morning with my 1.4 sc too. I have never had any probs whatsoever with the car and its has always started after being left for even a couple of weeks on occasion without moving, but this morning it turned over for some time but would not start. Got there in the end after some difficulty, but not happy given car was only bought new in Jan last year. Ironically, although my car can sometimes be left for some time without moving, two days ago I drove from Twickenham to East Yorks and it got a really good motorway run, so why now of all times? Still under warrenty, so I guess I need it looked at? Hope it starts Ok for the run back to London tomorrow....

 

[nightflight]

Odd, my 1.6tdi hasn't started today either, got SEAT Assist out on the way, sod it, paid for it so they can come and make it start.
It had a 100+mile drive yesterday so battery and everything is fine. Was cold overnight but it wouldn't start at midday, and it was fine yesterday and every cold morning over the past 3 years.
Typically it came out of warranty a week ago!

 

[AndyT_UK]

Hi mate, I agree that's odd. As you say, it was indeed cold overnight and possibly the first freezing night my car had experienced for a while but, it very cold at times last year and it always started - even after being left for a while.
In respect of earlier comments, I am a bit anal about not driving anywhere close to empty and so I know that is not a factor in my problems.