Hi

New to forum

Having an annoying problem with my 2002 Fabia Estate Auto 1.4 16v

Starts with no problem 9 times out of 10, then decides it aint gonna!!!

Engine turns but wont fire, then it will start with very low revs and wont increase

with accelerater until it decides it wants to!!

when it does this it drives perfectly every time.

No other problems and when started it will drive fore-ever

HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!

How old is the battery???? if over 6years replace it....thats the first place to look.....what fuel do you use??.......when was the fuel filter last replaced???..

How old is the battery???? if over 6years replace it....thats the first place to look.....what fuel do you use??.......when was the fuel filter last replaced???..

Hi

Thanks for reply

Battery is as old as car!!, but it always turns engine over until it starts, never sounding flat.

Fuel is the nearest petrol station before i run out!! excuse my ignorance but is there a favored fuel

Will change fuel filter this weekend,

Cheers

Sounds like it could be the coolant sensor. It's a 1.4 16v, isn't it?..

My last fabia had similar, wouldn't go.. and when it finally does it's REALLY slow, lumpy and unresponsive, but then gradually builds up to something normal?

On mine it was the above sensor... It thinks it's much hotter or colder than it really is, and as a result gets the air - fuel mixture all wrong.

If it is the above I'd be careful in an Auto because as mine got worse it started going the other way and mixing the air - fuel in such a way that idle was over revved, lifting tick over to 2,000rpm.. which, on an auto could mean a lurch forwards if you put it into drive but haven't noticed?

Another thing on my 1.4 16v that caused poor starting was a faulty fuel pump relay, but this doesn't cause the revs.. it just fires or it won't. Doesn't sound like you have that problem.

Hi

Thanks for reply

Battery is as old as car!!, but it always turns engine over until it starts, never sounding flat.

Fuel is the nearest petrol station before i run out!! excuse my ignorance but is there a favored fuel

Will change fuel filter this weekend,

Cheers

That means it's 9years old bin the battery..get a Bosch "silver" one...and yes there is a prefered fuel for the 1.4 16v 100bhp petrol....Shell Vpower...these things were made to run properly on 98ron!!! Wouldn't bother changing fuel filter until you've run tank empty then filled with Vpower (do this twice)...then change filter as the cleaning additives clean the crap out of the fuel tank into the filter!

My old golf tdi used to start then wouldnt rev past idle on cold mornings for about 30 seconds

Needless to say i sold it lol

Any light on? Could be the MAP sensor.

Any light on? Could be the MAP sensor.

Hi

No lights on, and quess what, since I posted this thread it hasn`t happened but I know it`s waiting!!!!!

Hi

No lights on, and quess what, since I posted this thread it hasn`t happened but I know it`s waiting!!!!!

Hi Ruby,

Having similar problem with a newly acquired 1.4 16v. Died in traffic on way home, cranks but no start. Checked plugs, no spark. Changed crank sensor then had spark on only #2 & #3. Had d ECM remaped or something. it actaully started but wouldn't idle. Cleaned throttle body, still no start. Tried scanning repeatedly but having comunication problems. Still suspect its the throtte body(map sensor et al) but not spending a dime till i get a Vag Scan. Such a cute car!!!

I cured the same problem on mine by changing the plugs, leads, coilpack and EGR valve.

If you have the pencil packs then I would say that one or more of them has almost certainly failed.

An NGK Plug set was £14

Lead set was £40

Coilpack was £40

EGR valve was £60

I also replaced the coolant temperature sensor for £15 which improved economy and throttle response.

These problems would only happen once the engine was hot and the car would not restart until it had cooled down for an hour or two.

Thanks Sep, have very good spark on all 4 coils. Had a friend do the throttle body adaptation and no change. Tried other throtle bodies and nothing. The former owner says he had problems starting cold sometimes. Said it'd start but wont rev then he'd try moving, switch off, unplug battery and replug and it'll rev-up on its own gradually. Sounds odd to me, tried it though and ... thats right nothing.