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Help Needed: Fabia Mk1 reluctant to start


Gdog

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Hello,

 

I have a 54 plate MK1 Fabia, 1.2 Petrol HTP.

 

For some time now, about once every 4 times I go to start it, it has been reluctant to start.  The starter motor works fine, I can here it when I turn the key and the car tries to start, but it just won't fire up.  I then have to go through the process of releasing the ignition, putting my foot flat on the accelerator and then turning the ignition again.  I usually have to repeat this for a few minutes before she eventually fires up.

 

I recently used some redex fuel injection cleaner additive, and I thought the problem had improved, however now it seems to have come back with a vengeance as the problem now seems to occur once every two times I try to start it (this is before finishing the course of the fuel cleaner).  I have also noticed on occasions (after a 25 mile journey down the motorway), that when stopped at traffic lights and idling the revs will drop briefly then recover.  Don't think this is an issue particularly though.

 

My friend plug it into the VAGcom system for me, and there were no fault codes (none that related to this issue anyway - just one for internal heating / a/c).  The car is also really low mileage for its age, having covered 9k miles until last year, now on 22k.  It has been serviced every year regardless of mileage.  Not sure if this is relevant, but guess all info could help diagnose?

 

If anyone has any suggestions of what may be causing this issue they would be gratefully received.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

G

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Well that is interesting, I am buying a car exactly the same as that but just slightly newer (06 plate). The car I am buying is in a right state and keeps going into limping mode. When going along the road the car suddenly starts to reduce in power and there is no power on the throttle. Also when idling the revs go down exactly as you have said. I am collecting my car on Saturday (Hopefully) and it's my first car. Also the garage has said that's it's the Oil Breather hose and they are going to replace it for me.

 

My guess, Is it the fuel injector for your car? Doesn't sound like it's getting any fuel to power the engine.

 

However I could be talking trash, So there my advice :notme:  :|  :dull:  :D

 

Kangaroo

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I have a really similar problem with my 1.4l 16v!! I know I need to replace te lambda sensor, as it comes up as a fault on the diagnosis. So I was going to start there.

Also I noticed that when then car won't start the temp gauge is normally on cold, even after a log drive! So I'm gonna replace the thermostat as well once my pay allows it!

Sorry it's not an answer! But your not alone!! Seems to run great once she's started, and just a bit embarrassing infront of my mates . . . .

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Thanks both.

 

New development in this, still not found out the issue, but in addition I now have a warning light displayed on the dash.  It is the little engine symbol, which in the handbook is apparently the "Control system for exhaust gasses".  I am not sure if these are linked, again any advice welcome?

 

Hopefully I can plug her in to my friend's diagnostic kit over the weekend.

 

Cheers

 

G

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The light showing the engine symbol on your dash means that it has recorded a code in VAG COM. If you take it to your friend with VAG COM he will be able to scan it to give you the code. That should help with the diagnosis.

 

I'm not great at what it could be. Sometimes a fouled up throttle body could be the cause. VAG COM should help though.

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Gdog, I answered the question in the Fab 2 forum:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/316446-12-htp-70-occasional-starting-problem/

Also, a lambda sensor fault may not mean the sensor is knackered just that it is sending a bad voltage due to poor combustion.

I'd have a go at some cleaning first, MAP sensor (left hand end of the manifold, 2 torx screws, squirt with electrical cleaner until clean and leave to dry) and fuel system using a PEA cleaner ( Archoil 6400, ~£20 from Amazon, 1 bottle to a tank - don't use at the lower dilution)

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I wouldn't bother with redex, it is cheap but I haven't ever found any noticeable benefit from it. I have looked up its safety data sheet and it is essentially just heavier petroleum fractions (they have to declare composition on this form by law in case of emergency). 

Archoil contains polyetheramines that are reckoned to be the latest and most effective engine/fuel system cleaning agents, and I have observed some improvement after using it. The only downside is the cost.

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Got mine VAG com'ed, came back as EGR fault and lambda fault . . . So got save up the pennies for those two. cleaned the EGR out and it's helped starting slightly, but gotta put new ones on as I guess it's the mechanism. Hopefully I will have a reliable skoda soon!

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You say after a drive the temp gauge hasn't moved I'd be checking coolant temp sensor. Plug in diagnostic and watch the coolant temp from cold until it's warm see if there is any drop outs. That could cause your difficulties to start. This also doesn't always show up on a scan either

How's fuel consumption?

Edited by ste372
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I have the exact same era of car, engine and the exact same fault. Difficult to start, stopping and restarting the car works most times. Occasionally used to dip the revs/stall at lights, sometimes goes into limp mode and the exhaust management light comes on. Temp and all other gauges are fine but the problem seems to surface after a long drive when I stop for 10-15 min and try to get going again.

It threw errors for camshaft position sensor (implausible signal) which was replaced, timing chain was replaced few thousand miles ago and it has been fully serviced. Currently with the mechanic as the faults remain after changing the sensor but no resolution yet. Was getting around 46-50 mpg before the car went into limp mode and dropped to 40 after. Cam shaft position sensor was less than a week old.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/352946-odd-starting-problems-and-oil-burn/

Did you get yours sorted?

Edited by Tehtog
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  • 3 months later...

Hi Tehtog,

I haven't yet fixed the issue no. I did replace the camshaft position sensor and the symptoms changed. As the symptoms were easier to live with I have done just that up until now. However, it has recently started going into "limp mode" when I drive it, being unwilling to accelerate at times. Like you turning off and on corrects this, but it can happen 3 times in 10 miles which isn't ideal.

Did you ever managed to get yours sorted? Any ideas you have would help, in the mean time I'll start doing the stuff that fat bloke suggested above.

Cheers,

Gdog

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  • 1 month later...

Hi all,

I know how frustrating it is to leave a loose thread so...

The problem in my car was a loose connection on coil 3. It's a poor quality non OEM coil and the socket for connector isn't a good fit.

My advice to anyone with similar symptoms is to check these, dead easy fix. I bought a cable from the internet and downloaded the shareware vagcom software from Ross tech website. This really helped to narrow down the issue and allowed me to clear fault codes.

Laters

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