Hello I am in desperate need of help!! Basically for the past week I have not been able to start my 03 fabia vrs there's no glow plug light and no whoosh noise as the fuel is pressurised, I have changed the glow plugs changed the battery still no start. Today I had mobile mechanic out to have a look and he could not connect his laptop to the car as it wouldn't find anything, he also tried his handheld diagnostic machine with no luck!!! He did as many checks as possible sitting in my drive and only conclusion he could come to was ecu was knackered! Had a quick ring around and I'm looking at least around £1500 with labour!! Couple of questions can I use a second hand ecu and how what needs to be done?? Or anyone had similar problem which wasn't the ecu?? as £1500 is out my price range and would have to consider selling my vrs :'( and I really don't want to!! Please any help would be appreciated

might sound daft but have you checked all the fuses?

Checked fuses, mobile mechanic double checked and did everything he could think off

highly unlikely the ECU is borked IMO.

......and breathe.

was it ok one day and non-start the next day?

does anything light up on the dash when the key is turned?

what about the battery in the key fob? Has that ever been changed? If not it's pushing 10yrs old for an '03 car and as IIRC this powers houses the immobiliser transponder thingy (technical eh?) <<<< apparently this is ballocks

I note you're location is Hampshire. If it were me i'd be calling up JKM for some advice and or getting the car to them to have a look at.

It's been a bit temperamental before with cold starts then start of the week it's a non starter tried bump starting, jump starting and nothing. Not sure if battery in keys been changed however central locking all working and tried spare key. When try to start everything lights up as normal apart from glow plug light and does try to start but missing that final kick!! I'm in Hampshire however on the wrong side to get it to jkm :(

OK. My next suggestion would be to contact a friendly local Briskoda member with VCDS (vag-com) to scan the car for you and see what's up.

Have you checked the fuel pump?Also i had this issue in a car park 100 mile from my house lol... turned out the start motor connector had strain and wire broke. so get someone to push on the connector to the starter and someone else turn the car over,see if that works?

Can you hear the relay click when you turn the key just before you try to start?

OK. My next suggestion would be to contact a friendly local Briskoda member with VCDS (vag-com)to scan the car for you and see what's up.

This might not work if the car is blocking all communications like the mobile mechanic was using?

I've had the mobile mechanic look at fuel pump and he said it was ok and I hope he looked at starter motor himself (had to go in today as absolutely bucketing it down) but will try that in the morning. I've checked relays myself and could feel a little click on them and so did mechanic!! When it comes to reading what's wrong I saw him attempt with a laptop and handheld device and my neighbour tried his a couple of days ago with no luck either. I have booked it in professional vag garage Monday just gotta find tow rope to get there lol worse case scenario and it is ecu can I replace for a second hand one?? Does it need to be all programmed in??