Hubby's 1.4 16v Comfort (51 plate) has decided to test our patience by not starting this last week. Or rather, it will start one in every 6/7 attempts! At first we thought immobiliser, but the immobiliser dash light isn't flashing and the car doesn't even turn over (I understand it would turn over but just not start if it was immobiliser related?). Have ruled out the key by using both - same issue happens. Also, weirdly, once the ignition is off & the key removed, sometimes the stereo comes back on of its own accord. We first thought this was a stereo problem, but now with the car not starting we're wondering if it's a dodgy connection on the ignition barrel...? Wondered if anyone could shed any light on whether that is likely, or what else it could be?

Incidentally, I did borrow an OBDII lead from a friend ("Elm327"), but we can't seem to get that to "talk to" the car (tried 3 lots of software including VCDS-Lite and get variations on an "interface not found/not responding" error, but I know this same interface worked on my friend's car only last week, so not sure where we're going wrong there either).

Any suggestions gratefully received, as I think our neighbours are sick of the car being stranded on the road

Standard headunit? If not try unplugging then using vagcom

Matt

Bad earth, poor connection to the starter motor, starter motor packed up. Can you hear the relay switching when you turn the Key?

Do you have breakdown cover?

Are you using the OBDII cable on the same laptop? Drivers need to be installed. Also the ignition needs to be on (lights on dash).

Bad earth, poor connection to the starter motor, starter motor packed up. Can you hear the relay switching when you turn the Key?

Do you have breakdown cover?

Yes, but it doesn't cover the car from home.

There is a sound when the key is turned (sounds like something switching maybe), but the engine doesn't crank at all.

Are you using the OBDII cable on the same laptop? Drivers need to be installed. Also the ignition needs to be on (lights on dash).

No, it's on a different laptop (two, in fact), but we've installed the drivers from the installation disk on both. And yes, the ignition is on "Easy OBDII" software says it is able to "go online" with the car, but when it gets to the stage of checking for engine management light status/fault codes it says they're not available. Does the same on my (non-faulty) Fabia (same model, year etc.).

Edited 24 August, 201015 yr by Leah

Yes, but it doesn't cover the car from home.

There is a sound when the key is turned (sounds like something switching maybe), but the engine doesn't crank at all.

I had something similar with my Fabia vRS and it was a dodgy earth wire to the starter motor. I know a couple of other people who have had the same.