Octavia 1.9tdi year 2000. Today started first time from cold, drove 50 miles parked for an hour. The engine turned over fired for a second and died. It did this several times then fired and ran. Drove 50 miles home and stopped the engine. Tried to start and had the same symptoms. Runs for a second and stops each time. Is it a fuel shut off valve failing or something worse. Plenty of diesel as tank is half full and goes like a train when it is running.

It could be that Relay 109 needs replacing - although symptoms of that include the engine cutting for no apparent reason whilst driving, and then restarting OK.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=15510

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3522