Its happened twice now, its not even that cold and the car takes about 5-10 seconds to 'fire up'. Is this a general 'feature' or is there something wrong with mine? When it starts it sounds like its under protest as well. Maybe I'm used to the sound of smoother engines, this car sounds like a bag of spanners when its cold!!

 

Its happened twice now, its not even that cold and the car takes about 5-10 seconds to 'fire up'. Is this a general 'feature' or is there something wrong with mine? When it starts it sounds like its under protest as well. Maybe I'm used to the sound of smoother engines, this car sounds like a bag of spanners when its cold!!

 

It shouldn't sound like a bag of spaners should be more if a nice rumble sound if it takes long to finally turn over it could be your battery on its way out...

 

Try turning the ignition on.. but not starting it for 10seconds or so and then start it..

As mine does similar after an uprate fuel pressure regulator..
but let the pump prime the fuel lines and it starts first time.

JGM

 

My guess is that the oil is too thick for the cold weather we're having, so it takes a bit to pressurise the oil system. Either that, or the oil's getting low. This would explain the clattering - assuming it's tappet noise. (It's difficult to know without hearing it)

The standard oil pressure warning lamp is useless - it should be considered as a "my-engine-is-probably-already-dead" warning lamp.

Also cold weather related - your battery could be getting past it - from past experience (a winter push starting my old Pug 309!) batteries die in the winter.

When was the last time the fuel filter was changed? (Random thought...)