volkswagon van starting problem

paddedjohn

Hi folks, ive got a 2.5 vw ld van with 220,000 miles on the clock, it starts 1st time in the morning and runs good. My problem is that after a 15/20 mile run i stop the engine but it wont start again unless i use jump leads or roll down a hill, now i know it sounds like battery or alternator but if i leave it for a few hours without jumping it then it starts straight away. Any ideas???

marlot

How quickly does the engine turn over when its not starting?

If its a bit slow it could be a bad connection which is worse when everything is warm - maybe the earth to the engine.

Hammyman

If its turning over fine it could be the engine stop solenoid thats sticking, could be an air leak in the fuel line...

johnnyroper

paddedjohn wrote: »

Hi folks, ive got a 2.5 vw ld van with 220,000 miles on the clock, it starts 1st time in the morning and runs good. My problem is that after a 15/20 mile run i stop the engine but it wont start again unless i use jump leads or roll down a hill, now i know it sounds like battery or alternator but if i leave it for a few hours without jumping it then it starts straight away. Any ideas???

reading between the lines here as your post does not mention all details.

am i right in assuming when trying to start up again the engine does not even turn over?
from the way you describe it will go with a jump or rolling down hill i would say you have a problem with either the starter motor or a poor/dirty connection on battery or starter.

for the very reason it goes when jumping or rolling down hill that rules out fuel pumps etc

paddedjohn

when i try to restart it trys to turn over very slowly, connect the jump leads and it fires into life. what i cant understand is if i just leave it and dont try jumping it then after a few hours it seems to be ok

paddedjohn

marlot wrote: »

How quickly does the engine turn over when its not starting?

If its a bit slow it could be a bad connection which is worse when everything is warm - maybe the earth to the engine.

checked all the connections and all seem fine

johnnyroper

paddedjohn wrote: »

when i try to restart it trys to turn over very slowly, connect the jump leads and it fires into life. what i cant understand is if i just leave it and dont try jumping it then after a few hours it seems to be ok

a connection with high ohms will get worse with heat,firstly i would remove battery connections clean and refit.if that still does not work then the battery is probably at fault.