I have a 2001 fabia which recently is really hard to start from cold. Glow plugs were replaced but no difference. Replaced fuel temp sensor and glow plug relay, still no difference. Seems theres no power getting to the glow plugs when a volt meter used? disconnected the coolant temp sensor, light stays on longer but still no power to glow plugs and difficult to start. Any suggestions welcome!!

Have you checked the fuse?

Or the relay?

Yep, checked the fuse and changed the glow plug relay............

What's the ambient temperature where you are Donna? ISTR that these engines don't energise the glow plugs above 5C.

And that also suggests you might want to check the outside temperature sensor if it's below that.

Hi, am in Norfolk, not sure what the temp was at 7.30 this morning. Never heard of an outside temp sensor!! Where would we locate that? Its all too complicated but we begrudge £60 plus an hour to put it in a garage. Weve already spent £130 on 2 diagnostic tests as well as buying several new parts..... getting a bit desperate now!!!

have just read that maybe relay 109 may be at fault??

Edited 12 March, 200917 yr by Donna.C

Not knowing what spec your car is doesn't help me any. If it's got a trip computer, one of the modes on that is "outside temperature". If it's got climate control, that will show you an ambient temperature reading, but it comes off a different sensor. That's just by the by though.

If the Furbie is the same as the Octy, the outside temp sensor you want will live in the left-hand front corner, near the air intake and the horn.

Its a fabia 1.9tdi elegance. it has air conditioning but not climate control. ive read that theres a sensor 109 which might be causing the cold start problem, i guess its a process of elimination again after that. there are so many possible causes that we will start at the cheap end and work our way up!! bloody cars!!

Check the temperature on the trip computer (cycle mode using the rocker switch on the wiper stalk) then. You should get a believable temperature value in the digital clock display.

The point about a car with full climate control was that the ambiant temp on the Climatronic display doesn't come from the sensor that the trip computer and engine ECU use, but from a separate one that only the Climatronic uses.

okey doke, thanks for that. I will pass the info on to my mechanic (husband!!) and see what happens next. Think hes gonna look at relay 109 as that seems to be a cause of bad starting (fuel pump relay i believe?)

cheers!!!

Right, have checked the ambient temp and it is correct,,its the same as our octavia reading so dont think its the outside temp relay?

Just checked the relay 109 and thats silver so should be an ok one.

Also put some forte diesel treatment in it 2 days ago and it started a bit better this morn (friday) Maybe dirty injectors??

Mmmm...didnt start too well this morning (sunday)

Bit better today (monday)..

Edited 16 March, 200917 yr by Donna.C
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