I bought a 2002 Fabia 1.9sdi back in January and its been a great little car. Over the summer she had a little hiccup going up quite a steep hill and it didn't happen again till September while traveling on the A55 up Rhuallt (for anyone who knows it)  she started spluttering and losing power, I stopped when I managed to get to the top and there was no problems there on out. I just assumed it needed a service as I had a service alert.

However, the problem has just got worse. About a month ago I was overtaking two trucks on the bypass when she started spluttering and lost power, very frightening. I pulled over and she seemed ok again but I took her straight to the garage.

 

2 codes on OBD, 1 manifold flap?, 1 timing pump? (I don't remember the actual codes)

All filters have been replaced, new timing belt, tensioners, water pump, throttle body and crank shaft sensor. VAG.com can find nothing wrong. No codes on OBD. He said it may be the injection pump but can't guarantee that it will fix the problem.

 

Ideas I've been given so far are, it could be an air intake from somewhere, a blockage, fuel pump broken or someone suggested it could even be the ECU, I'm fed up of guessing and it not fixing it.

 

When going up hills or I try to drive on the bypass she starts spluttering and losing power more and more, I pull over bringing her to a complete halt, then I go on my way again with no problems until the next hill. I daren't overtake anything bigger than me just incase I don't make it!

 

Has anyone got any ideas, its sending me  insane!!!!

spluttering and loosing power sounds like its entering limp mode? with it struggling uphill it sounds like a fuel issue (ie not getting enough), suggest an ECU reset (disconnect battery for 20 mins, reconnect and let engine idle for 5-10 mins and re learn the engine how fuel works!) its a cost free thing to try

 

good luck

could be a tank breather prob'    try giving it a workout somewhere quiet when---- it plays up pull up quick and try to judge the vac in the tank when removing the fuel cap    or remove cap with tank less than half full and see what happens

sounds like fuel pump to me

I tried the ECU reset, but it didn't make any difference but thank you, it was worth a try, and I'd been driving around earlier with the cap off to see if it made any difference, but unfortunately none, thank you too.

The fuel pipes were all checked today and can't find any blockage or breaks.  :|

 

I thought if the fuel pump had broken then it wouldn't start at all and it starts first time every time. 99% of the time you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with the car.

Has it got Traction Control?

My previous 2003 TDi suffered on hills in snow because if a wheel slipped, the TC would slow down the others until the car stalled.

Always turned it off at the bottom of the hill & never had any more problems.

Try reading this:

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/240537-diesel-fuel-pump-problem/

 

Specifically:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/195615-need-help-with-the-skoda-octavia-19-tdi/#entry2329573

 

 

I'd say if the fuel filter has been checked out and fuel is getting to the engine, then it "might" be fuel pump related. Does the engine sound any different when the problem occurs? (From the threads I linked, probalem could be mechanical - with aspects of the pump or electrical - dicky wiring).

SDI, no torque. My 1.9TDi wil go uphill in 3rd, sometimes fourth without  even applying any throttle.

it's a long shot but there have been reports on BBC radio of diesel fuel filter problems   across the country but don't have any details   in desperation it may be worth changing again for a quality one   another thought is excessive injector leak off but only likely after large milage

Edited 8 December, 201312 yr by cheshire cat

get the manifold flap checked out and the egr valve too, the flap can fail and get sucked closed which causes the engine to loose power and stop. the egr will do the same and just choke the engine to death on a hill if it is stuck open.

SDI, no torque.

 

You mean no anything!

 

Seriously though it's like any lower power engine, you just get used to it and drive accordingly.

Did you get this sorted or like me are you just living with it?

Today I found the problem, still a little confused as to how it happened.

 

The car got steadily worse, to the point I just couldn't drive it anymore. 

 

I found the remains of a leaf in the reservoir of my lift pump/sender unit and the veins of the leaf and what other crap had decided to clog up there, tightly compacted into the out pipe valve, how it actually got into the pump is a bit of a mystery. Cleared all the crap out with the compressor and my little Fabia is running lovely again. Found as many hills as I could and it didn't splutter once.

 

Next job - tank cleaned incase there is anymore leaves in there. 

Edited 6 January, 201412 yr by Francine

Glad you got it sorted. I've got a polo sdi and getting up some hills can be embarrassing enough as it is without having more problems lol.

that takes me back to approx. 1966?  my ford thames (anglia) van had the same problem took months to find but the leaf was stuck to the side of the tank -floated around   till it found the end of the pipe(no strainer) and stop--petrol resistant leaf  --- glad your sorted