Doesn't happen all the time but once in while I'll have problems starting the car. Majority when I have starting problems, it usually struggles at first before coming on slowly. Only rarely would I have to step on the pedal for it to come on and I would notice smoke coming out of the back. After that though, the car drives normal.

I do have a CEL on which I got checked awhile back pointing to the coolant temp sensor. I got the part and everything before and had tried replacing it but I couldnt get the new one in there. following the instructions with placing the o-ring in first and pushing the new sensor through but i couldnt get the sensor in there through the o-ring. so i just gave up and put the old back in. its probably been like a month or so. the CEL would go away for awhile and would come back, etc .. i know i need to get it replaced soon though.

Would it be the coolant sensor thats causing the startup problem?

2000 2.8QTip / 60k miles

Thanks.

 

depends on the fault code you got?? and yes it could effect the starting

 

Did you take the old O ring out of the flange when removing your old ects?? They get stuck in there pretty good. I almost forgot to remove mine cuz it didnt get pulled out with my old ects. Are you sure you got the correct ects?? green top? If you had those problems and had a ects fault code its probably the ects.

 

i dont remember the exact fault code but the guy who vag-com the CEL when it first came on, it shows the coolant temp sensor as being faulty. that was like a month or so ago though.

also, i did get the green top one. and when i took the old one out .. i couldnt find or feel any o-ring in there. it seems like it got dried up or something? you're suppose to put the new o-ring in first and then the temp sensor through it right? should the temp sensor go through the o-ring easily? with the 2.8, its hard to get my hands in there and i dont even have big hands. it was a hassle so i been lazy to try it again lol

 

ya the o ring is deffinately stuck in there. keep trying.

 

sucksss .. replacing it itself isnt hard, just the location of it makes it tough to get to. i might give it a try this weekend. thanks