FWIW, in case you thought this couldn't happen even in Texas, think again.
2010 JSW w/13,200 on the clock...
Last week, we "enjoyed" record cold and snow/ice here in DFW, started getting cold Monday night with freezing rain. Started fine at 18 and 20 Tues and Wed morning. I normally leave the car out in the driveway, but because Thursday was supposed to be in the single digits, I decided to put my car in the garage. Thursday morning, in a 40 degree garage, I started the car. It cranked and started normally but only ran for roughly 2 second, then just shut off. I tried cranking again, but only got a half-turn on the starter before it acted like a dead battery. I tried one more time, but no crank. I then put the battery charger on the battery then went in to call the dealer to make sure they had a new battery. Scheduled the appointment for later in the morning and I then went out again to give it a start...again, half a turn on the crank then nothing. Waited another hour or so (called VW Roadside in the meantime, expecting it wouldn't start). Finally after about 3 hours and 5-6 attempts, it started, but seemed to be running on 3 cylinders for about 15-20 seconds...then it smoothed out. I let it warm up for 15 or so minutes to make sure it wasn't going to die then drove it to the dealer. They ran it in to the shop and did a check of the battery and charging system...all checked OK, no codes and he said here you go. I wasn't happy at all with that...after all, it started just fine in the teens but wouldn't in the 40's??? He said that he'd keep it overnight and start it in the morning when it was supposed to be 12 degrees. Guess what? It started right up and they called to say come get it!
After I dropped the car off Thursday morning, I spent 10 minutes researching this and found this thread. I called the service adviser and told him what I had just learned and perhaps the tech could check the IC hose as described here...they didn't so I guess I will.
A little more background...the Tues and Wed driving were full-on "pansy-style" with barely any throttle usage because of the sheer ice on the roads, so this might help explain the extreme amount of moisture (still to be confirmed) that accumulated, froze then subsequently thawed Wed night in the garage.
For those debating what to call this, I'm throwing in with the crowd that calls it hyrdo-locking... the starter could not overcome the moisture in the charge air and would not turn the motor. This was not fuel starvation/frozen fuel line, etc. (I've driven diesels for 30 years first half of that in Montana).
Since last week, I've run at 70mph for a few highway trips into Ft. Worth (yes, the ice finally melted), totally about 150 miles since the no-start last week and haven't had even a hiccup.
I'll try to post my results once I pop the hose off the IC.
Marc