View Full Version : Slow startup when cold - potential issue?
fearLesss
12-08-2016, 05:54 PM
Hi all,
Newbie here, bought my S4 just over a week ago and I'm loving it, I've come from a string of Hondas with nowhere near as much power as this has, completely different beast.
On to my (potential) issue, when I start the car when it's cold it takes a bit longer to start, but it feels like it's taking too long if you know what I mean.
If anyone can help put my mind at rest that would be great, the car had full dealer service history and it appears to have been very looked after, it's a 2010 B8 S4 with 82,000 miles on the clock.
Here's a video of it to explain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kopDEajl-TU
Thanks for all your help in advance :)
LYKUNO
12-08-2016, 07:16 PM
It could be that your battery is original. Any receipts or records indicating the battery has been changed? I just changed the battery in my 2011 (build date Oct 2010) a few weeks ago. It was still working but with winter approaching, I didn't want to chance a battery failure that could occur anytime, given the age of the battery. The new battery does seem to crank the engine over faster than the old one did. Let us know what you find. Hmmm, now that I just watched your video, it doesn't seem appreciably longer than normal to start. Others can chime in with their comments though.
Voodoo08
12-08-2016, 07:52 PM
thats about how long mine takes on startup. 2012
any unusual smells after the long crank?
protogeoff
12-08-2016, 08:35 PM
Just bought a 2012 and was wondering the same thing about mine. Longer than any car I've had before by a little bit. Just enough to make you wonder.
Sent from my SM-G928W8 using Audizine mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)
Pyromatic177
12-08-2016, 08:36 PM
That's way longer than it takes my 13'
Could be the battery as mentioned
xpoweruk
12-08-2016, 11:15 PM
Mines just started doing that.Only since the weather got cooler though
B8Addict
12-09-2016, 12:02 AM
Mine does that occasionally if the car hasn't been started in quite some time and the weather is cold. Doesn't really seem like a big deal though. To each their own I guess.
fearLesss
12-09-2016, 02:49 AM
any unusual smells after the long crank?
Nope, once it starts it's perfect, not lumpy at all.
I'm glad that most people have experienced this or it's common place because it's obviously a first thing I've noticed after I bought the car and I just wanted to put my mind at rest.
I couldn't find any history of the battery being replaced so I'm going down to my local centre for them to test it for me.
fearLesss
12-09-2016, 04:17 AM
Just got back from the battery test place, they said my battery is good, the alternator is giving it juice but there could possibly be a drain on the system.
When he tested the battery with the engine off it was 12.5V and when it's on it goes up to 14.5v depending on revs.
Even though it had 12.5v I'm fairly sure that wouldn't cause the issue here.
Spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter were changed on the last service 400 miles ago, so I'm going to hazard a guess at a fuel pump or something like that?
TexasDfwS4
12-09-2016, 05:27 AM
I hope your not putting your foot on the gas while your starting the car? I noticed that your RPM is under 1000 and it should be over 1000 until it settles, about 30 seconds.
risc427
12-09-2016, 05:43 AM
I experience the same issue in my '11 when using both the key and the push button start. Replaced battery and plugs last weekend, same issue. It seems to get slightly worse as the temps have dropped around here. Handful of other things it could be though.
eurotic
12-09-2016, 06:24 AM
Depending on temperature my 2012 can take longer than what the video shows. The car doesn't seem to have a hard time cranking and maybe it would start faster with a fresh batter with lots of CCA but I think it is a non-issue.
fearLesss
12-09-2016, 06:52 AM
I hope your not putting your foot on the gas while your starting the car? I noticed that your RPM is under 1000 and it should be over 1000 until it settles, about 30 seconds.
If you look at the temp the car wasn't completely cold but it had been long enough to get my point across, which is why the revs droppped almost instantly
MrFunk
12-09-2016, 07:28 AM
This is normal if the car is cold. But given your temp gauge showing some heat this seems longer than normal. However it's not excessively long - I probably would not worry about it to be honest.
I'd check the battery first.
Here are instructions on enabling the battery meter - http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/323414-Battery-Meter-and-Lap-Timer-Oil-Temp
jsh139
12-09-2016, 07:41 AM
Hard to hear when the engine turns over in that first startup. But, that does seem a little longer than usual. Do you notice if it starts quicker if you get in, turn the car on (but don't start), wait a few seconds, and then try and start? Wondering if it's a fuel pump thing.
fearLesss
12-09-2016, 08:31 AM
Hard to hear when the engine turns over in that first startup. But, that does seem a little longer than usual. Do you notice if it starts quicker if you get in, turn the car on (but don't start), wait a few seconds, and then try and start? Wondering if it's a fuel pump thing.
I've already tried sitting there with the ignition on for a few seconds but it also does the same thing.
Had the battery tested and it's come back perfect.
Mines a bit slow, but not that slow. Was told it's normal.
SwankP3RF3ct10n
12-09-2016, 09:33 AM
Just got back from the battery test place, they said my battery is good, the alternator is giving it juice but there could possibly be a drain on the system.
When he tested the battery with the engine off it was 12.5V and when it's on it goes up to 14.5v depending on revs.
Even though it had 12.5v I'm fairly sure that wouldn't cause the issue here.
Spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter were changed on the last service 400 miles ago, so I'm going to hazard a guess at a fuel pump or something like that?
Fuel filter is not something that gets changed on this version of the A4/S4 platform since it's not inline anymore and it's in the tank and part of the pump assembly. Are you sure it was changed? Regardless, with 80k on the engine, I would wager to say that between some carbon buildup, it being cold and a few other things, it's expected to take a bit longer like that. Starting some engines when it's really cold out will have a longer crank. Also, don't know what spark plugs they put in, but if they were Bosch, those have always kinda behaved similarly in all vehicles I've ever had. That's why I always use NGK ones... they just give me a different feel out of the engine than the subdued feel I get with Bosch Platinums. I can't explain it, but it's a feel thing. Startups, acceleration, throttle response, all feel much more raw and aggressive with the NGKs.
With all that said however, clearly your problem here is the radio station. Your car hates it and thus, it doesn't want to start. [:p][;)]
If I were you, I'd think about a carbon cleaning to get things back up to par on the car.
doughboy17
12-09-2016, 10:24 AM
Fuel filter is not something that gets changed on this version of the A4/S4 platform since it's not inline anymore and it's in the tank and part of the pump assembly. Are you sure it was changed? Regardless, with 80k on the engine, I would wager to say that between some carbon buildup, it being cold and a few other things, it's expected to take a bit longer like that. Starting some engines when it's really cold out will have a longer crank. Also, don't know what spark plugs they put in, but if they were Bosch, those have always kinda behaved similarly in all vehicles I've ever had. That's why I always use NGK ones... they just give me a different feel out of the engine than the subdued feel I get with Bosch Platinums. I can't explain it, but it's a feel thing. Startups, acceleration, throttle response, all feel much more raw and aggressive with the NGKs.
With all that said however, clearly your problem here is the radio station. Your car hates it and thus, it doesn't want to start. [:p][;)]
If I were you, I'd think about a carbon cleaning to get things back up to par on the car.
Ditto. Honestly, I noticed the same thing on my A4 around 77K miles, troubleshot everything, decided it was the fuel filter and replaced it. It wasn't the fuel filter. but I have not had additional problems with cranking. It does not seem that long of a crank to me.
BTW, I suspect it has to do with carbon buildup. Remember, like the Audi Service Tech told me when I bought my car, "Drive it like you robbed a bank at least every week or two."
SwankP3RF3ct10n
12-09-2016, 11:10 AM
Ditto. Honestly, I noticed the same thing on my A4 around 77K miles, troubleshot everything, decided it was the fuel filter and replaced it. It wasn't the fuel filter. but I have not had additional problems with cranking. It does not seem that long of a crank to me.
BTW, I suspect it has to do with carbon buildup. Remember, like the Audi Service Tech told me when I bought my car, "Drive it like you robbed a bank at least every week or two."
A couple of cans of GDI IVD a couple hundred miles apart worked well enough for me to smooth the idle down rock solid and also help with startup issues I remember seeing similar to the OP. I don't know how well that stuff works in terms of exactly how clean it gets everything after a ton of miles of buildup, but based on another thread where the product was tested against others, it does a much better job than anything else out there that people have tried to use before. So, if you don't feel like taking your supercharger off to do a proper cleaning with walnut blasting, this is the next best thing. As a matter of fact, I'm going to run another can through mine today or this weekend for good measure since I just changed the oil in it and plan on doing that every oil change now.
fearLesss
12-09-2016, 11:37 AM
A couple of cans of GDI IVD a couple hundred miles apart worked well enough for me to smooth the idle down rock solid and also help with startup issues I remember seeing similar to the OP. I don't know how well that stuff works in terms of exactly how clean it gets everything after a ton of miles of buildup, but based on another thread where the product was tested against others, it does a much better job than anything else out there that people have tried to use before. So, if you don't feel like taking your supercharger off to do a proper cleaning with walnut blasting, this is the next best thing. As a matter of fact, I'm going to run another can through mine today or this weekend for good measure since I just changed the oil in it and plan on doing that every oil change now.
I'm in the UK and there's a service called Terraclean so I might give them a ring and have that done, pretty much the same thing right?