Hi because my car keeps failing to start when hot i think its time i take it to the skoda garage in cambridge, just a quick question linking my fabia up to the diagnostic test - will anything show up as a problem because no lights are on the dash board basically will it pick up the problem as it might not be electrical fault..

Thanks

C

A diagnostic check will reveal whether any fault codes have been logged. I have sent you a PM.

I doubt whether it will pick up the cause, what it will do is pick up any old codes, which may not be relevant.

We had a 16V in a while back with the problem that you describe. A fault code read did not reveal anything, so we could have said to the customer:

'no faults found, that'll be £40 and the problem will still be there'

What we did do was to log the readings from the temperature sensor, from cold to fully warmed up, which immediately confirmed this as the cause. One reading would be at 40 and the next at 11 another at 45 and another at 20. As far as the computer was concerned the temperature readings were within the parameters of the sensor - so no fault, common sense dictates that as the engine warms up the temperature should increase on every reading, not see saw up and down. One replacement sensor later and the starting problem was resolved.

You could spend £40 plus on a diagnostic plug in at the dealer, or you could gamble on £30 for a replacement temperature sensor.