Hi,

My firend called me tonight to ask if I could look at her 2001 Octavia 1.6SR Auto, she had used it twice today and the third time she went to use it it was dead as a dodo. I Had a quick look, the key turns and there is a noticeable click and the light on the selector fascia changes to green when you put your foot on the brake (so suspect the brake interlock is not the problem) but does not even attempt to turn over.

It was a bit dark to look too much tonight, but I stuck a set of jump cable on and that made (as expected) no difference.

I was just wondering if there was any known issues with this car and where I should start with it. My thoughts were :

1. Make sure the fuse/relay for the start solenoid is OK.

2. Make sure it is not siezed. I've checked the oil and the level is OK.

then I'm stumped!!

Any ideas welcome.

Thanks

Barry

Has the immobilizer been triggered somehow? Have seen that before but not in a Skoda.

Jon

Thanks Jon, never thought of the immobilser.

Is there any way to tell whether it's the immobilser?

I am not exactly sure to be honest, I saw it happen in a Rover, and you could hear that when the key was turned a little click of a relay, and thats all there was. Absolutely nothing else, the fact that the car never even tried to turn over was so much like the Rover, its certainly worth checking out.

Could be a number of things, maybe your friend has a spare key they could try, might be the transponder in the key gone belly up.

Jon

I'll give that a try first thing tomorrow. Cheers once again and I'll let you know the verdict.

Barry

Good Luck

sticky starter motor ?? maybe try putting it in reverse push back and forward and then try....

The brake interlock stops the gear selector moving unless the foot brake is applied. There should be a starter inhibitor switch which prevents the starter working in positions other than P or N. You could try moving the selector lever through all the positions a few times in case the inhibitor switch is a little sticky.

That was my first thought too, was that the issue was most likely to be the starter inhibitor switch. As Fordfan says, but also try starting it in both P and N, with your foot on and off the brake, and with the handbrake on and off (so that's 8 combinations to try).

Thanks for all the replies. I traced it down to the starter motor. New one fitted and she's on her way again.

Barry