Hi all,

New to Briskoda, great site. Have been driving skodas for last decade. Currently have a 2005 diesel Octavia. A bit sluggish starting recently. Garage diagnosed 2 faulty glow plugs and a temp sensor. All replaced. However I am now also told the starter motor is slow to start and may give up in a matter of months. Doesn't sound particularly bad, only a bit sluggish when starting warm, which I'm told is common. Wondering whether this is normal, and would I get any indication when starter is about to give up the ghost. Also, how long is the lifespan for a starter motor in the Octavia.? Approx 88,000 km/55000Miles on clock. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi all,

New to Briskoda, great site. Have been driving skodas for last decade. Currently have a 2005 diesel Octavia. A bit sluggish starting recently. Garage diagnosed 2 faulty glow plugs and a temp sensor. All replaced. However I am now also told the starter motor is slow to start and may give up in a matter of months. Doesn't sound particularly bad, only a bit sluggish when starting warm, which I'm told is common. Wondering whether this is normal, and would I get any indication when starter is about to give up the ghost. Also, how long is the lifespan for a starter motor in the Octavia.? Approx 88,000 km/55000Miles on clock. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If it's still on its original battery then that may be getting tired now and need replacing. My 2.0 Tdi started getting sluggish on start-up last winter so I decided to fit a new battery and found the original one was the wrong size (lower capacity than it should have been - 61 ah instead of 70 ah). Fitted a new battery with the highest ah and cca value I could find and the starter really kicks-ass now!!

If it's still on its original battery then that may be getting tired now and need replacing. My 2.0 Tdi started getting sluggish on start-up last winter so I decided to fit a new battery and found the original one was the wrong size (lower capacity than it should have been - 61 ah instead of 70 ah). Fitted a new battery with the highest ah and cca value I could find and the starter really kicks-ass now!!

thanks Mark, will try and check out battery levels. appreciate the help

My Octavia is 11 years old 102,000 miles and the original starter is still fine. I am on my second battery though which may suggest a solution for you.