Delayed Start

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
Put the key in the ignition, turn it to start, wait 3 seconds while holding it there, and it starts, no problems, every time. Signs of a failing ignition switch?


I read a bunch of the older ignition switch issues and this one seemed a little different. I do understand my options now though if it is the switch.
 

Errant

Well-known member
Oct 1, 2004
767
20
Southern California
I had the exact same issue, for about a year. I got used to turning the key to On before putting on my seatbelt and getting situated (so that the delay didn't irritate me). Just noticed the last time I fired it up, that the problem has magically disappeared.

I'm no help, at all, but at least you know it's not the end of the world ;)
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
Yes, I can crank and hold it or 3 seconds or leave it in position 2 for 3 seconds and then crank, either option it starts right away.



Annoying but I have bigger issues to work on right now. If it does not start then that is number 1.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Sounds like a ground wire issue. Esp. if it magic is involved. I know a few guys who have run a seprate gound wire from the ecu box to the chassis (a good ground) and most, if not all issues, have magically disappeared. It couldn't hurt.
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
Sounds like a ground wire issue. Esp. if it magic is involved. I know a few guys who have run a separate ground wire from the ecu box to the chassis (a good ground) and most, if not all issues, have magically disappeared. It couldn't hurt.
Might be worth it for a test
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
I've definitely run into this before but I can't remember what causes it. Maybe Stew knows.

It's a security software issue. You need to run a procedure called F-out. Some guys just call it fout. Back in the day we had a disc we had to run it with. It might fix it for a while if you do a hard reset. That's disconnecting both battery cables and touching them together. That drains all the capacitors so all systems totally go off.

Is this a D1 or D2?
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
The F out did not fix it. Turns out this is related to another long term issue, the primary gauges stop working.
So this is back and a hard fault now. When I do not have the gauges, the car takes 3 or 4 seconds to start after turning the key. If I have the gauges working, it starts right away.

The symptoms used to be that I would put my foot on the brake and shift into reverse and many time the gauges would pop back to life, so I thought it was related to those circuits. I was never able to find it. I have tried most of the connectors and grounds I can find with no luck. Mostly just grabbing wires etc. Not with a meter and tester yet. Might have to spend a fair amount of time with the wiring diagram too.
 

pdxrovermech

Well-known member
Jul 3, 2009
1,807
57
Portland, OR
Old thread, but I've had the delayed start for about 10 years. I always thought it had something to do with my wiring when i converted to a 300tdi. Like maybe the relay wasnt getting its ground signal until the glow plugs timed out. Its always worked, so I've never bothered to track it down.
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
Ding Ding Ding, F14 for the win! Not the fuse but the holder. This gets weird. I checked the fuse, continuity intact as usual. I pulled the fuse and noticed something sticking out of the holder. Someone had cut a tiny piece of aluminum from a Pepsi can and stuck it in the fuse holder to make a tighter fit for the blade. I pulled that out and stuck the fuse back in. The fuse was loose in the holder. I turned the car on and as I pushed down on the fuse, the gauges came back to life, as I pushed up, they all shut off. Same issue with the delayed start. Probably been there since I bought this in 98ish.

I have no idea how to fix it yet, have it temporarily expanded to press down on the fuse. I'll have to look more closely at the fuse block to see what I can do. Thanks Chris, thanks everyone! What a crazy deal...
 
Last edited:

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,486
375
I am having this same issue with my recently acquired 96 D1. I purchased it, started and drove it maybe 10 times before I had to put it in storage. When I purchased it, there were no fobs included. So, while it was in storage I purchased some used fobs and sent the 10AS out to be programmed to the fobs. Fast forward 3 months and I have the D1 out of storage. I installed the 10AS. It took 4 or 5 tries but the fobs worked and now work on the first push every time. However, every start has that 3 second delay. It was not there previously. I will check the issues noted here and see if any of these take care of it. As it wasn’t there before the 10AS / Fob programming, I am leaning toward it being the security software issue.
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
Try the F out and see what happens. Didn't for me but I had other problems. Mine was probably related to the MFU, on the same fuse circuit that was causing my issues.
 
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