Hello all, I too am having the following problem with my year 2000 fabia diesel SDI. The symptoms are:

I start the car cold and kicks in straight away.

After running a few km or lots of km. I stop for 3 to 5 min.

Sometimes it refuses to start. That is the starter motor turns over quickly but the car doesn't start, splutter or anything.

Even after trying several times it won't start.

I leave it alone for 5 minutes and try again & it starts straight away.

Other times it starts OK even when hot.

Lately each time I stop, I try to start again a few minutes later. It only gives me trouble about once in 10 times.

My wife has also had the car conk out going around a roundabout twice in the last month. The first time she turned the key and it started again without too much trouble. The second time she had the same symptoms as above.

Anyone got any ideas?

it might be the coolant temperature sensor failing.. the ecu uses it for assessing the need to use the glow plugs on startup

does the temp guage read normally? it is possible for the guage to read correctly and the ecu to be not seeing the right temp because the sensor has 2 totally independent circuits inside

Thanks Teflon Tom for your quick reply. The temperature gauge reads normally. I would be surprised if this was the problem as I would expect the car to at least cough and splutter a bit, but this is a case of it works or it doesn't work, nothing in between. I wondered if it wasn't some kind of fuel valve not opening when I turn the key on?

There is a fuel cut off solenoid valve which closes when the ignition is switched off and cuts off the fuel to the fuel injection pump to stop the engine. If this is playing up you would get the symptoms described possibly. The valve is linked to the anti theft immobiliser so it may be possible that if there is an intermittent immobiliser fault it could cut the fuel off and, given that the car has cut out whilst running, it sounds possible.

I AM NOT AN EXPERT but the above appears plausible-perhaps an informed adult will know better.

Thanks freedom, I'm wondering if it isn't worth checking out the solenoid. Sounds like a need to buy the workshop manual unless someone can tell me exactly where it is. I will check out Teflon Toms advice as well, it would appear it has solved similar problems for example http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/167843-fabia-wont-start-when-engine-warm/ I see that another guy had to change his ECU http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/225550-hot-start-problem/page__p__2652058__hl__hot%20starting%20problems__fromsearch__1#entry2652058.

Well folks , the culprit has finally been found. It turned out to be the management relay for the deisel motor. (I hope this makes sense as it is my translation of a French manual) The relay is labelled 109 part number 257906381A and is found on my left hand drive model, behind the fuses up under the dashboard under the steering wheel. When I walked into the Seat agent to buy the part the guy behind the counter immediately asked me if I was having trouble starting from time to time. When I said yes he said that it was the first thing to change and if it wasn't that to check out the diesel cut off valve. So sounds like it may be a common problem with Volkswagen group diesel motors. Anyway since changing it all is well.

Edited 30 July, 201213 yr by iandev31

Many thanks for a full update. Glad all is now OK