Engine feels like it's flooded when starting?

mistercrabb · 19 Feb 2013 at 19:47

Hi,
Wondered if anyone had any theories on this before I take it to a garage.
I have a 2004 Seat Ibiza 1.4L and it doesn't like starting up when it's cold.
Turning the key will make the engine turn over normally, but it won't catch unless I press the accelerator pedal halfway down as well, which results in lots of revs and then it will work perfectly for the rest of the day.
I've had the engine thermostat replaced recently, but it didn't make any difference. Which is annoying because it's definitely temperature related - it doesn't happen in summer.

Any ideas? Either way am I doing harm by revving it in the mornings to make the engine catch?

MatteH Oxford · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:13

Petrol or diesel?

How many miles has it done, what's its service history like & whne were the plugs/air filter last changed? Does it turn over reasonably quickly?

Eliot · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:23

battery could be on its last legs :/

Lopéz · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:25

Eliot said:
battery could be on its last legs :/

What makes you say that?

Brookert · 19 Feb 2013 at 21:30

Coolant sensor maybe. They tend to give these sorts of problems on vag cars.

miniyazz · 19 Feb 2013 at 22:00

Brookert said:
Coolant sensor maybe. They tend to give these sorts of problems on vag cars.

What actually goes wrong with the coolant sensor, out of interest? What would make it start when you turn the key but then stall almost immediately unless you give it a short go on the loud pedal?

Thinking along those lines - I would suspect a sticky throttle valve thingy that sticks shut, starving the engine of air until you force it open by giving it some beans, but I'm probably talking out of my bum

Eliot · 19 Feb 2013 at 22:36

Lopéz said:
What makes you say that?

After the winter sometimes the cells seem to get damsged and the alternator only really seems to get it up to a certain level.
Happened to mine after those -degrees c days and i ended up binning it as it just wouldnt charge properly, It would always have just enough to start but would struggle. Thats possibly not very common though butbi thought it could be worth thinking about
its odd as when it was happening it was like the engine had been flooded but it would always catch

Orford · 19 Feb 2013 at 22:41

Eliot said:
After the winter sometimes the cells seem to get damsged and the alternator only really seems to get it up to a certain level.
Happened to mine after those -degrees c days and i ended up binning it as it just wouldnt charge properly, It would always have just enough to start but would struggle. Thats possibly not very common though butbi thought it could be worth thinking about
its odd as when it was happening it was like the engine had been flooded but it would always catch

Specific mavity, Google it. Why Batterys lose power when cold.

miniyazz · 19 Feb 2013 at 22:47

Eliot said:
After the winter sometimes the cells seem to get damsged and the alternator only really seems to get it up to a certain level.
Happened to mine after those -degrees c days and i ended up binning it as it just wouldnt charge properly, It would always have just enough to start but would struggle. Thats possibly not very common though butbi thought it could be worth thinking about
its odd as when it was happening it was like the engine had been flooded but it would always catch

But it's not struggling to start it. It's starting it and then it's dying unless accelerator pedal is pressed.

Brookert · 19 Feb 2013 at 22:55

miniyazz said:
What actually goes wrong with the coolant sensor, out of interest? What would make it start when you turn the key but then stall almost immediately unless you give it a short go on the loud pedal?

Thinking along those lines - I would suspect a sticky throttle valve thingy that sticks shut, starving the engine of air until you force it open by giving it some beans, but I'm probably talking out of my bum

Well if the sensor is reporting the incorrect coolant temp, the ecu will send out commands based on incorrect information.

Try the simple stuff first, clean out your throttle body and idle air control valve if you have one.