Had a problem starting the Fabia the other morning , not sure what fixed it in the end....  On occasion I heard the Diesel pump engage, combination of ignition on/off and locking and unlocking the doors to start the process again.

 

So this morning it started straight away no problems as per usual but this lunch time I tried to start it and again it wouldn’t go.

 

I tried what I did before with no success then put jump leads on from another car to see if it was the old flat battery issue I have read about . This after a turn or three seemed to work but immediately after starting the revs dropped like it was going to stall and then reved up again. Like it had run out of Diesel ?!?!?

 

This is my daily driver and with a new addition to the family I want to keep it reliable as possible .

 

I’ve just had a big service done ( Oil,Oil filter, Cambelt kit inc water pump and tensioners/dampers) so it should be good, does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom to help me ?

 

 

It’s a X plate 100 pd comfort hatch .

I could be a million miles off here but if the problem has started since having a major service, I'd be asking the garage who fitted the cambelt kit to check the timing of the belt.  I don't know if it's mega out, if it will prevent or prove troublesome when starting the vehicle.  Could be worth a quick google - in fact a quick google reveals this http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1602780

 

So crank sensors or timing could be out?  I have heard of the starter going on these vehicles (stuck solenoid?) so again something to look into.  I'm lead to believe that a whack on the starter can cause it to kick in!

air in fuel line?   try parking nose down if possible  see if there's a difference

Well I had a sales meeting and came out to a non starting Fabia... :-( Gutted !

Got a lift home but tomorrow I can feel a garage ripping me off coming on.

The Cambelt was fitted by a VW Audi master technician so that should be perfect. Stressed isn't the word...

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Even they can can get it wrong, it only needs to be 1' out in the wrong direction and it won't start, I have just been re-timing one of my cars to find how critical it has to be.

 

DB.

I'll have a talk and see what he thinks.

Been looking at battery / tandem pump / fuel tank pump / and Egr as faults but the car has had a map on it (unknown mapper) and I would assume the map would have removed the EGR from its duties ..

I'm going to try battery first as this is the cheapest option .

But I'm sure on turning over the engine I'm hitting about 350 rpm which should get the tandem pump doing its bit which makes me think pump or air in the system .

So many possibilities .......

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Did the garage scan the car for logged fault codes and did they check the timing?  I believe you can check it via software though don't count on my word, but if so, with the right diagnostic tools wouldn't be much hassle for them.

I doubt the timing is far enough out (if at all) as you've had the car running. The fuel lines on my PD Passat self-bleed - eg after a filter change or even if you run out of gas. I wonder what wiring was disturbed during the cambelt change? I've just done a Golf PD and can't think of anything.

 

Sounds more as though it's an intermittent electrical fault. You can waste a lot of nervous energy, time and money guessing and speculatively swapping bits so best to get the DTCs read by someone with a code reader and go from there.

Ok so the RAC came out and got it started with a can of brake cleaner... He did a before and after on the vag com thing they have and came up with this

So I drove it to my Master techi and he's had it to bits tonight. He thinks it wouldn't run at all if the crank sensor wasn't operating and the cam sensor just syncs the injectors to fire in the correct order to start the engine efficiently and quick.

So..... Fuel pump primes ok which leaves tandem pump...

Ill update when more happens .

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Crank and cam timing out so ecu is confused and injecting at wrong point 

Uses crank sensor as datum then cam sensor for when to inject fuel.

Need to get it running and look at sync angle in vcds

So the pump in the tank is running as it should, looks like I may need a Tandem pump so been on the look out.

Mine is a LUK one 038 145 209 A . Loads of used ones on eBay including Bosch ones which may be better? But I am seeing the same part numbers with C D G J H at the end which could be superseded numbers, ill get on the phone to TPS to sort the best option.

Fingers crossed !!!

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I'm sure I'm seen something about the bolts on the tandem pump needing replacing and this is done on a recall. If that is a fault might be able to get labour cheaper at skoda...though be lucky if they would fit a second hand pump.

Clamp off return line from tandem pump if it starts easier then its the pump

Ok. It's not the Tandem pump....

Suspecting engine crank sensor g28 faulty.

Ill keep updating as it might save someone a heap of cash and garage bills . (Not me tho) lol.

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G28 didn't cure it... Checked the signal on the osilloscope and the signals weak. Checking the wiring now and it looks like a short in the shielding wiring back to the ecu, I need to get a wiring diagram to double check. I think you can buy the piece of loom separate ill find out tomorrow..

The fix continues .

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I think it remains only the wrong timming possibility or maybe the camshaft sensor is broken. Try with another sensor for test.

Cam timing is checked (much to the annoyance of the guy that did it) and all ok.

The thing is its always started nice and quick before and after the cambelt was done.

The bill is running up now and the car cost me £900... Thinking I may need to set a budget to say no that's it and buy another Fabia. At least ill have spares for the next few years lol.

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Osilascope ? test found a weak signal going to the ECU, wiring loom joining block near the battery on the inner wing was corroded and shot.

Cut in out, joined the loom ( properly ) and booooom !!!!

It lives again. ;-)

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Good to hear you got it back on the road and thanks for posting a resolve