maximiliantiger49
Seat Tarraco Diesel Rough Cold Starts and Fuel Consumption
Summary of the thread
A 2023 Seat Tarraco diesel is experiencing rough cold starts and increased fuel consumption. The error memory scan revealed an issue with the PTC heater. A faulty PTC heater can cause these problems as it assists with engine warm-up, especially in cold weather. Repairing the heater resolved the issues, leading to smoother operation and normal fuel consumption.
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4 comment(s)
maximiliantiger49 (community.author)
Yes, the engine light did come on. I scanned it and it showed an error related to the auxiliary heater. Could that really cause the poor running and increased fuel consumption though? I thought it was just for temperature control inside the car.
patrickfox76
Yes, the PTC heater being faulty can definitely cause those symptoms. It's part of the HVAC system, but on a diesel, it often assists with engine warm-up, especially in colder weather. If it’s not working properly, the engine struggles to reach operating temperature quickly, hence the poor running and increased fuel consumption. The electrical fault will trigger the error code. I'd suggest getting the heater repair done by a workshop. That should solve your problems.
maximiliantiger49 (community.author)
The workshop confirmed it was the PTC heater. 350€ later, and the Tarraco is running smoothly again. Thanks for your help and confirming my suspicions, I really appreciate it.
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SEAT
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TARRACO
patrickfox76
That sounds very familiar. I had similar issues with my old BMW 3 series diesel. Cold starts were rough, and the fuel consumption definitely went up. Has the engine management light come on at all? If so, have you read the error codes?