rolandking

For the first time EVER I had trouble starting my TT (2001 225HP) today. It's cold up here in the NE but the car is garaged and that never fell below freezing.

I got in, cranked, and the engine turned over but didn't start. Kept cranking for 5-6 seconds. Then did it again, and again, and again. Probably on about the 10th time it finally started.

Didn't notice anything else odd, after warming up and driving to the shops, normal start, and the gas station, normal start again.

Checked under the hood when I got home, nothing unusual, no nasty smells.

Anywhere to start debugging this one?

christopherjs

Cars are hard to start in the cold, but shouldn't be like what you described. My car sits in the driveway (by that I'm saying it's in the cold all the time) and I've never had problems like that starting it, but every TT is different... I don't have too many miles yet... luck of the draw... etc...

If you put the key to "on" first the fuel pump will pressurize the line, then when you crank there'll be a better chance of enough fuel being available.

rolandking

Once again took me 5 or 6 attempts to start it today. I chose not to take it into the city in case I don't get home again.

I noticed that the exhaust fumes smell rather acidic, just a faint acric smell to them.

I also noticed that the car was rough idling last week.

Any chance one of the many sensors has gone sick and it's not giving me rich enough start mixture and not controlling the idle properly?