Well after extolling the reliability of the VRS, as predicted (http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/291695-fabia-vrs/) came back to haunt me.

 

This morning, the car took a while to start, now it was a little cold and foggy, but nothing compared to what it has dealt with in the past. 

 

Starter was turning (and strong) but its just didnt want to start, i heard the fuel pump prime when turning the ignition on.

 

So..ideas of what to check - no warning lights or anything has appeared and i serviced it the other month (inc fuel filter) with OEM parts and quantum oil.

 

Cheers,

 

Kyle

Maybe unplug Cts and try

Cts?

I have had similar symptoms....started my Fabia VRS and got an anti-freeze indicator (this is common on my street due to the camber of the road). I thought I'd warm the engine a little a drive to a more level road.  Did so and stopped the car and switched it off in order to reset the anti-freeze warning. Tried to re-start the car and nothing...It just didn't do anything. I didn't get any more warnings on the dash (including the anti-freeze warning).  Everything starts up as usual but when I turn the key, I get no ignition, no noise, nothing.  Anyone got any ideas/remedies?

Cts?

 

Coolant Temperature Sensor. That which tells the ECU how cold or hot the coolant is. ECU in turn tells gauge in cluster.

 

 

 

I have had similar symptoms....started my Fabia VRS and got an anti-freeze indicator (this is common on my street due to the camber of the road). I thought I'd warm the engine a little a drive to a more level road.  Did so and stopped the car and switched it off in order to reset the anti-freeze warning. Tried to re-start the car and nothing...It just didn't do anything. I didn't get any more warnings on the dash (including the anti-freeze warning).  Everything starts up as usual but when I turn the key, I get no ignition, no noise, nothing.  Anyone got any ideas/remedies?

Check that the thinnest wire connected to the starter motor (actually to the solenoid part alongside the starter motor itself) hasn't broken at the point where it goes into the connector.

Ah right, I assume the cts, is inside the expansion bottle? I replaced my expansion bottle about 18mth ago.

It's been fine since, but it has been warmer since then. I'd put it down to one of those things, but it really did take an age (few mins) of trying to get it started.

Coolant Temperature Sensor. That which tells the ECU how cold or hot the coolant is. ECU in turn tells gauge in cluster.

 

 

 

Check that the thinnest wire connected to the starter motor (actually to the solenoid part alongside the starter motor itself) hasn't broken at the point where it goes into the connector.

 

Cheers for the advice Wino, I'm gonna try and check it myself.  If the solenoid wire requires repair, will I need to book it in at the garage or it something I can remedy at home?

Cheers for the advice Wino, I'm gonna try and check it myself.  If the solenoid wire requires repair, will I need to book it in at the garage or it something I can remedy at home?

 

Worth a try, if it is broken. Depends whether you're handy with wires/connectors/soldering etc. If it proves difficult to get into the original connector, you can probably buy a 'repair connector' which would have a short tail of wire that you would just have to robustly join to the end of the existing loom wire, making sure that the joint was weatherproofed and insulated to prevent future problems.  An autoelectrician should be able to repair it quickly and reasonably inexpensively, I'd hope.

Thanks for the advice Wino, much appreciated. I'm gonna get a autoelectrian give it a once over.  I'll tell him that the suspicion is a dodgy solenoid signal wire, and we'll see after that. I'll let you know what they say once I see 'em.

"Starter was turning and strongly.." suggests it's not the starter solenoid wire. Or even the alternator load wire(s).

 

When was the fuel filter last changed?

Hi vindaloo, thats related to anothers issue, the quote you use is my original thread.

Fuel filter was replaced a month or two ago(as in op thread)

My apologies for the confusion. It seemed right at the time of my first post to try to help both Kyle and dipakp in one reply.  Then it took over the thread more than was entirely polite/productive to the OP.

 

Thisday: the coolant temperature sensor will not be in the expansion bottle, only the coolant level sensor is in there.  CTS is usually in a flange/thermostat housing at the engine end of the radiator top-hose, or somewhere else on the engine's head. Not certain on the VRS, others surely can say. 

 

Not sure how much the on-board diagnostics can detect about glow plugs' health, but maybe one or two of them is bust, resulting in harder cold starts?

No worries Wino, if it ended in someone else been helped all is good!

 

Will wait for the cold weather to come back around before i investigate further as its been fine since. Though once it doesn't start again watch this thread be revived.

 

Thanks for you advice!!

Morning,

 

Have you checked the glow plugs?

 

SN

Well I had the vrs checked with a computer and the starter motor is on its last legs after 205,000 miles. The replacement will be fitted on next week. Hopefully that'll be the end of the intermittent startups. Thanks for the advice Wino.

Hi Steve,

 

I could pull them out, but i don't have a clue how to know check if they are any good or not.

Thisday,

 

No need to remove them.

 

Disconnect the wiring and check each one wih a muti-meter set to resistance.  Any that are no good will have no resistance.

 

When the car eventually starts is there a cloud of smoke from the exhaust?

 

SN

Edited 24 October, 201312 yr by Steve Neate

Not noticed any smoke etc.

It did only happen the once so far to I was just glad to get it started.

Unfortunately I haven't got a multi-meter, so could.only use a visual test.

Thisday,

 

Unfortunately a visual inspection of the glow plug may not tell you anything.

 

You could get a cheap meter from Maplins or similar.  I am sure they will tell you how to use it.

 

Sn

Well was a little cold again this morning, and although it started first time, it did take long than normal, will look into that multimeter thanks.