Starting problems unless using easy start spray

bondbill2k2

Active Member
Aug 21, 2013
66
0
Wolverhampton
Well I've had my Leon FR TDI for a whole 24 hours and already ran into problems, decided to go for a drive in my new car and put fuel in after about 10 miles of driving.

After refuelling I try to start the car and just get it turning over and after a few seconds attempting to fire, it even almost sounds like the engine starts then cuts out, best of all I have no warning lights for clues. A call to the AA and near 2 hour wait I eventually get a mechanic who does call out stuff for the AA spray some easy start into the air intake while I turn it over, sure enough it worked :happy:

The guy gave me some odd story about interference from near by signals and pilons with the immobiliser which I wasn't buying but either way it was working. 10 miles later I stop at a pub then before getting out decide to dance with the devil and attempt to stop then start the engine again, what a surprise I had the same issue as earlier turning over sounding like it wants to fire but not quiet enough. Thankfully a garage forecourt was next to the pub and they had this easy-start in stock, a can later and a couple of attempts spraying into the intake while turning over it starts and I decide it's best to head home before anything else goes wrong :cry: this didn't work straight away either the engine would start and if the revs dropped after it would cut out, keeping the revs high for about 5 seconds worked and it ran fine after that now limp mode no warnings :blink:

Course now I'm home I still have this starting problem, I'm going to pop into Seat tomorrow see what they say and hopefully its an easy none dealer required fix but its a s**t start to what otherwise would of been a great first experience of Seat's

Any ideas what it could be guys?
Much appreciated
 
May 31, 2011
746
1
Essex
i had trouble starting my leon when i got it if i had left it for ages (over night) then got worse and every start i had to give it some throttle for it to be able to start.

spoke to dave at SERE and he said common issue is the coolant temperature sensor so £25 later new sensor in and starts perfect now not a single issue.
 

bondbill2k2

Active Member
Aug 21, 2013
66
0
Wolverhampton
May 31, 2011
746
1
Essex
That link won't load for me on my phone asks me to enter car details

But if it is the coolant temp sensor then that's what I changes short sensor gold end with d shape plug on the end, really easy to change undo coolant cap then just pull the retaining clip off pull sensor out shove finger or thumb in hole as will chuck coolant out change over o rings and the push new sensor in

Sensor for me on my petrol tfsi is on right if engine down the side of the block need to remove air box engine cover to get to it, that's if in same place on your car
 

bondbill2k2

Active Member
Aug 21, 2013
66
0
Wolverhampton
Belt needs removing to swap the sensor and for some reason despite having 87k and a full Seat history every 10k without fail the car hasn't had a cambelt change which I believe is due 75-80k?

Best thing would be new cambelt waterpump and sensor I think, found a local garage who will do it for £300 all parts and labor, looking £500 at Seat!
 
May 31, 2011
746
1
Essex
My Leon only had cambelt done at 84k and always had seat service every year since New and would have thought would have been done walker but I don't mind as I didn't pay for it previous owner did month before I bought the car lol
 

mickey1

Guest
Had the starting problems on mine and it was the cam sensor.
Had the cam belt & water pump changed, but it was suggested to me to have the crankshaft sensor changed as well as this can go faulty when changing the cam sensor.
Crankshaft sensor a pig to change though on the 170bhp dpf engine, oil cooler & pipework has to come off (extra 2 hours ish). £560 at a local garage.
 

dw911

Active Member
Mar 30, 2013
1,036
7
Did you buy it from a dealer? If so get them to fix it
I had a one car with same symptoms and as someone else mentioned a new temp sensor fix it

On a worse note & hopefully this is not the case with yours, But I had another car that had the same symptoms as yours and despite having lots of time and money thrown at it,the fault got better but would still happen on occasions, in the end the dealer gave up and bought the car back
 

mickey1

Guest
I did buy it from a dealer but that was a year and a half ago.
The garage ran diagnostics on it and it came up with 2 codes for the cam sensor.
Since having it done the problem has gone away :)