Car related question

[Cykik]

My car's recently developed  an issue that I'm having a problem solving.
The car is a Mk6 VW Golf 1.6 diesel.
1st start of the day it will either fire up straightaway or fire up & run very rough, rpm dial bouncing from 800 to 1400 rpm then die. When it does this it'll take 3 or 4 attempts to start & be fine for rest of the day.
The car has 126k mls, 10yrs old & regularly serviced.
I put diesel cleaner through every other month
& do about 3k mls a month.
The issue is apparent regardless of season or temperature, wet or dry & is very random
Ideas??!!

[KiwiCol]

sounds like one for @grog

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Have your battery and alternator checked, sounds like a failing battery or faulty regulator on the alternator that's potentially causing inconsistent injector operation.  Get a code reader on it and check the DTC's.

You can also do a hard reset by disconnecting the battery terminals from the battery and holding +VE and -VE leads together (away from the battery) for about 30sec, this discharges the capacitors etc in the ECU and resets it.

Also check your intake for any leaks or cracks, false air will confuse the map (manifold air pressure) and maf (mass air flow) sensors.

Don't know if these are turbo diesels, I assume so, so also check the air intake and exhaust connections to the turbo for leaks or damaged gaskets.

Just my thoughts... hope this helps

[Hooli]

Check your fuel lines, that sounds like classic air in fuel symptoms. Once it sucks the air through it runs fine till next time.

[Cykik]

Thanks for replies, forgot to mention, no fault codes from ecu.

[grog]

Sounds like air in system, where its coming from the hard part. Crook injectors can leak compression back overnight.

[grog]

I mean compression can leak into fuel.

[Cykik]

Thanks for tips, let you if/when I get it sorted.

[grog]

Remembered today, when its playing up, give idle control motor a couple of taps with hammer. If it comes good, you know what you need.

[Cykik]

Update. Fault traced to Egr valve. Cost of valve & labour prohibitive. Valve now blanked off, seems to be ok for now.

[KiwiCol]

That's interesting, blanking off the EGR.  Might look into that for the missus Demio, it's such an arse to get at.

[DP1400]

Consider your next MOT before blanking off your EGR valve, as by doing so, it will increase your emissions considerably. Always worthwhile stripping it out and trying to soak/clean it before writing it off.

[Cykik]

The car'll be gone b4 next mot.

[Big Phil]

So my question is: Do you tell the next owner what you have done to the EGR valve???🤔🤔🤔

Personally I wouldn't sell it privately unless they were made aware. However, I would happily trade it in with a dealer and say nothing. Not sure what that says about my moral compass🙄

[DP1400]

Phil,

It `says` that you don`t want anyone `sending the boys round` for a `chat`..... !