Ref my car, it’s a Golf 2.0 GT TDI (140) on a 2004 plate – it’s a mk5 version.

The problem, it starts absolutely fine cold, first time. When the engines warm, it doesn’t start very easily, in fact it turns over for a few seconds before it eventually starts, almost like it’s stalled or the batteries flat.

There’s various views and opinions surrounding this, which are available on the internet. A number of views on the internet point to glow plugs as a possibility. My garage chap, ran diagnostics on the car and it returned a fault with ‘Glow Plugs’. Although they’re not 100% certain, it’s looking possible that the glow plugs are what’s causing the starting problem.

Also, I’ve been told that when replacing glow plugs they can snap and if this happens then I’ve a bigger problem to replace them, engine out. Normally and in most cases the glow plugs come out easily without snapping and are replaced. However, this is still causing me concern, especially considering it’s not necessarily going to fix the problem.

Another garage who are mapping specialists have suggested a PD 'hot start' Map, which will apparently solve the problem, this garage (the mapping specialist) has said that he's repaired this problem on multiple occasions and it will work. I'm worried because I've been told mapping can just add to problems.

So over to you lot - talk to me, help me!!?? Look forward to hearing from you and thanks in advance for your time.

Edited by RueyBristolVW on 23/08/2013 at 14:52