I sometimes get this.
I find if I leave the fob in the ignition a few seconds longer (not just long enough for the glowplug light to go out) and then try it, it's sometimes fine.
Obviously this could be purely circumstantial.
My guess is the fuel rail doesn't get up to pressure as fast as the glow plugs get up to temp.

It could also be a failing MAF sensor (mines is on its way out).

 

My guess is the fuel rail doesn't get up to pressure as fast as the glow plugs get up to temp.

That's what my thoughts would be

Not sure how you'd check it via diagnostics though, if that's what you mean.

 

I'll try this, thanks. The MAF sensor, is that the air flow sensor by the air filter?

How much for a MAF sensor?

 

Re the MAF yes, (Mass Air Flow Sensor).
For the 2.4 it's still an Alfa only part so we're talking the wrong side of £200 I think
I'm hoping mine will last till a pattern version appears.

 

Would cleaning it help do you think?

I may try this if it's an easy and worthwhile job, but I'm not paying £200 for a new sensor unless I can get an ebay bargain...

Having said that I was thinking it could be something far more serious and expensive....

 

Tried leaving the key in a while longer before starting about an hour ago....and it worked. Will keep trying but for the time being if this works then so be it, a cheaper option!

 

I had a look into this last night on a certain fault finding DVD I have, and it mentioed a lack of diesel pressure for this, and that it can be checked via diagnostics. What's your thoughts on this?

 

I'll have another look tonight and repost later, I can't remember the exact wording!

 

I've just found this.....what do you think?

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-946-spider/139988-159-2-4-cold-starting.html

 

I think you might have different symptoms to me.
Does your car still rock/misfire for 20-30 secs? Mine doesn't do that, it's more of a "hunting" in the revs for about 2-3 secs.
Again it doesn't do it if I leave the fob in the dash for a few seconds longer after the glow plugs have warmed up, which I think points to the fuel pressure.

Also I disagree about the PAS fluid viscosity being able to cause this, there's no way the PAS pump could cause that much load unless it was seized.

If yours does it for longer than a couple of seconds, I'd be looking at glow plugs, injectors, maybe MAF

 

No way! Got a Brera 2.4 a few days back and have immediately noticed rough lumpy running after starting from cold so came on here looking for advice and found this straight away!

For me, it's like a 'surging' rather than a misfire on one cylinder. Lasts for ~5secs on mine if I don't blip the throttle.

Speaking as an automotive integration/design engineer with a fair amount of diesel experience, without getting the diagnostic tools out, I'd make a punt that it's a control stability issue exacerbated by normal life-time wear of one or more of the fuel system components/sensors. Root-cause then being poor calibration/tuning on Alfa's part (should have just paid Bosch to do it when developing the engine!)

Or I could be completely wrong and it could be leaking cylinder head gasket; but then you'd see white smoke.

Anyone got any feedback from an Alfa dealer/specialist on how to rectify this? Two days in and it's pissed me off several times already. Why did I get another Alfa again? Heart over head I guess.

 

Get a Alfa dealer to check it out


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I also think its a fueling issue but am not an engineer so a complete guess. I look forward to seeing if anyone has a definitive answer!

 

Not sure but could it be the fuel filter?

 

Right, had a chat today and was told this is likely to be solved with a dealer software update. Next time I get the serviced (will be a while yet) I'll get this done unless the car breaks in the mean time....

 

Has anyone received any actual dealer / workshop feedback as to what this may be?

Mine is also blighted by the same affliction...

 

I have, as I used the Palmers info service detailed elsewhere on these forums.

They have basically said that it could be that the car needs a software update, or it could be that it needs new glow plugs or injectors.

If I get the car servcied at AR next year (my local does a 3 + years old car on an offer now and again for £150) I'll get them to update the software, if not then I'll replace the glow plugs as these aren't expensive, but would rather not change the injectors, as I believe these will cost a lot...?????

 

I think this might be of interest:

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa...om/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-946-spider/250056-159-2-4-jtd-starting-problem.html

I hope the injectors are too expensive....!

 

OK to resurrent an oldish thread.....

I contacted a dealer (thank you Palmers) and they suggested looking at the fuel I'm using. now I've always been a little cynical when it comes to paying for "better" fuel, but as they replied to me I had just happened to fill up somewhere different to usual.

I usually use ASDA where I work to fill up, and since doing this the car has got worse and worse. For various reasons I used Sainsburys just before Xmas, and since then the car has been back to how it was. Once the fuel had chance to work through the system, the car started much easier and ran much better, much smoother at idle etc. I also have since tried some REDEX diesel fuel injector cleaner. Used the car today for the first time for 5 days, and started on the button, no lumpy starting.

So it seems that the issue can be almost resolved by using a diffeent (or better) fuel.

I'd be interested in hearing others experiences and/or views on this. The car was struggling to start, and at times I needed 2 attempts to get it going, now it consistently starts first time. Lets hope I haven't jinxed it by saying that!

 

I don´t really think that is a fuel problem. The diesel cars are mae to work with diesel fuel, and Alfa doesn´t specify that you have to use a special fuel to get your car works well. Imagine how this will be: you buy an expensive car and you have to put expensive fuel? No. This doesn´t work like this. I have friends with Audi 3.0 diesel engines and friends with BMW 3.0 engines and all of then are using normal diesel. Why the Alfa users have to use a special one? I think they have failed with the 159 and that´s it.

 

I have to agree with you in principle, but since not using ASDA fuel the car has run fine. May be a coincidence I don't know.

 

On my previous car (SAAB) I noticed a big difference in performance between supermarket diesel and BP/Mobil/Texaco etc diesel. Consequently, I stopped using the supermarket stuff. I have never had supermarket diesel in the Brera.