Hi guys, im posting on behalf of my granfather who is having some issues with his 1.4 16v 2000 W Fabia Comfort.

It started late december, after a short period away, 7 days or so the car wouldnt start, granted it was cold during the period, but it was in a garage. He called the local garage down who charged him a fortune to come down with a spare battery and just jump his. It started and was left to idle (garage advice) for about 45mins. Not what I would have done but anyway.

It was fine the next day, but the same thing happened a week later, so i came over, pushed it out the garage, jumped it, and took it for a 20mile or so run, giving it a bit of a trashing. It was then put back in the garage and left on a trickle charger over night. It works fine for a couple of weeks, then it happens again. I was at uni so couldnt come over and he calls the garage down again, who done the same thing, jumped it with a spare!! Measured the volatge across the alternator and said it was fine.

He doesnt use it often, maybe 3 times a week. It had a 200 mile run when I had to use it when going to look at a car for myself, and it failed to start 3 days after that.

To be on the safe side i bought a mobile jump starter, as my mother (with a Fabia was having starting issues) which has come in extremely handy as my grandads car keeps failing to start. Now, ive been doing some reading on here and as with all cars theres about 100 possible solutions to a single problem, so, where would you suggest I start. Im doing mechanical engineering at uni so dont mind getting my hands dirty.

Really want to fix this for him.

Thanks.

Edited 3 March, 200917 yr by Gorz

is there anything left on in the car draining the battery?

No, ive checked all obvious sources that may be drawing current from the battery. The common one is ussualy the boot light, which likes to stay on if the boot isnt 101% flush :P

i should also mention that the battery is 2 years old.

i know this might sound odd but does your grandad reverse into his driveway??

No, its always driven head on into the garage and reversed out. It wouldnt be a wise choice for him to reverse it in, its a rather tight fit, and his eyesight isnt the best. Ha.

i was just thinking that if he leaves it in reverse gear the reversing lights stay on even with the ignition turned off

Yeah, i see, the obvious solution would be to replace the battery, but from reading the threads on here, it seems there is a host of things that could be checked first, like battery fuses and alternator bushes and alsorts, plus I dont know my way round VAG engines so would need to be walked through the checking of these.

ok, a bit more detail would be handy, when you try to start does it turn over but not fire, does it not turn over but you can hear the starter motor click, or is there nothing at all??

is it an auto by chance?

Its a full manual, . Im pretty sure it turns over, progressively getting slower until nothing i.e. the starter motor is drawing current from the battery. Just went out there to check, but unfortunately it started without any problems. Slight irony there.

Any suggestions folks?

From reading another members post, it sounds like it may be the ignition switch.

How do you go about changing this?

First, check the charging. Get a cheap multimeter- about a fiver from maplin. Connect it accross the battery on a DC voltage range (often 20v), note the reading. If below about 12.5, battery is discharged.

Start the engine. Voltage should not drop too low when cranking, then should rise to 14ish. Turn on the headlamps, it shouldn't drop too much.

I'd agree; check that the alternator's charging, and that the battery is holding charge ( If it's original it's 9 years old isn't it?)

No the battery was replaced about 24-30 Months ago, thats why its confusing. Plus the fact thats it garaged all the time, so its not exposed to extremely cold weather.

I'll get a cheap multimeter and take it from there.

Still alternator checks, and if it's a bad battery, it could be about dead after 2.5 years.

Ok, ive tested with a Multimeter across the +/- terminals on the battery.

12.44V when not running. 12.23 When not running with lights on.

14.3V when running 14.09V when running with lights on.

To add, the car wouldnt start this morning and had to be jumped. It was driven about 8 miles to the shops where it was parked for 2 hours. On return it failed to start again, having to be jumped. I took these readings about 15mins after the return journey from the shop.

HELP!!

That sounds broadly ok.

Check the battery terminals are clean and tight (take them off and degrease and clean to bright metal!), and consider getting the battery load tested.

Maybe even try this:

Turn on the ignition and headlights. Place the meter on a volt range, one terminal on the battery post, one on the terminal that clamps to it.

It should read practically zero.

I would go for a duff battery, especially if it's been left standing at any point. A good battery should be 12.6v at least, anything less than 12.5v after charging (and standing) indicates a duff un. Age is not necessarily an indicator that the battery is good, unfortunately. If you change it, either keep 12v on the car via the lighter socket, (be careful with the pos battery cable), or you will have to re initialise throttle body and egr valve with VAG COM.

I would go for a duff battery, especially if it's been left standing at any point. A good battery should be 12.6v at least, anything less than 12.5v after charging (and standing) indicates a duff un. Age is not necessarily an indicator that the battery is good, unfortunately. If you change it, either keep 12v on the car via the lighter socket, (be careful with the pos battery cable), or you will have to re initialise throttle body and egr valve with VAG COM.

How do you meen keep the 12v on the car? have the lighter pressed down while changing the battery?

Im pretty mechanical and have no problem with gettin my hands stuck in with that kinda stuff, but ive never changed a battery. Looks pretty simple, but, do you just use a metal spanner on the bolts? Might sound basic, but i thought that would have caused the shortest circuit to be across you?

Also, what would you suggest to be a good battery to get?

I mean keep a 12v supply to the car, I use a spare battery with a lighter plug on, but I guess you could use your power pack connected in somewhere. It saves a lot of hassle resetting everything. But remember that the positive lead will have 12v on it even when removed from the battery. Ordinary metal spanners are good (are there any other sort?), disconnect earth lead first, and reconnect it last. There is a clamp in the centre bottom front of the battery that needs to be removed before the battery is free. If you're keeping the car get a good battery from a reputable supplier, should be around £50.

EuroCarParts do a Bosch for £44inc VAT, so i'll just give that a bash.

The jump starter kit has got a lighter socket connecter, so just pop that in when changing the battery.

In the event that that procedure doesnt work, what would have to be done with this VAGCOM set up?

The throttle body has to be adapted, otherwise it's a pig to control at low revs, do a search in the VAG COM section. I'm pretty sure the egr has to be adapted too, or you will have the engine management light on. I think it might go out after a number of engine starts, but not sure. Also radio code, clock, one touch windows. It's easier if you can keep the 12v alive.

Cheers.

Dont get me started on EGR problems either ha.

Will post tommorow with how i get on

The throttle body has to be adapted, otherwise it's a pig to control at low revs, do a search in the VAG COM section. I'm pretty sure the egr has to be adapted too, or you will have the engine management light on. I think it might go out after a number of engine starts, but not sure. Also radio code, clock, one touch windows. It's easier if you can keep the 12v alive.

On our Lupo i got away with only the windows and the throttle body.

Thanks for the support guys

Replaced the battery, using a Draper memory keeper from Halfrauds while doing so.

Working fine now

Ive got another problem with my mums fabia, but I'll post that another day when ive got some time to explain it!!

Thanks again.