Car won't start just makes clicking noise. Octavia VRS diesel. Looks like I need RAC out then off to garage tomorrow I would think. Car only 1 year old so under warranty. Am I missing anything stupid?

Dead battery?

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Turn the headlights on and get someone to watch them while you try to start the car. if they dim then more than likely the battery, if they stay bright then likely to be starter motor.

Ian

Didn't think diesels had a starter motor?

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Every internal combustion engine has to have a starter motor of some sort. Back in the good old days of farming it was common practice for an engine to be started with a shotgun cartridge, placed in a special holder, one that springs readily to mind is the Field Marshall. Then someone invented the electrical motor then engaged with a ring gear on the flywheel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh1lxbelxVI

Ian

Thanks Ian I never knew that

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You're welcome, why not have a look at this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPn7CtfZlT0

sorry for the thread hijack Markd, hope you get it sorted soon.

Ian

Definitely sounds like the starter relay not getting enough power due to a flat battery.

Could be a bad battery/chassis connection though.

Thanks for your response guys. Called Skoda Assistance out (RAC). Turns out was a poor connection to battery so car thought it was trying to charge a duff battery. Impressed with (RAC) guy VAG group specialist and said so on his van. Knew his stuff. Found the actual fault and fixed it, then gave me a lesson on DPF process and what car does, when it does it and importance of doing it for mpg.

Top guy, well done to Skoda Assistance for a good breakdown experience. Much more than a generalist who just arranges for your car to be taken to a garage, as many would.

I've just had this problem twice (a few weeks apart)...

 

Put key in, dials do their sweep thing, try to start... Everything goes black with a faint click, clock and mpg reset to zero... Turn key back off and on again and repeat...

 

A few minutes later, all is normal...

 

I doubt it's the battery (2yrs 7 months old - 75,000 miles), as when it does work normally (99% of the time) there's plenty of grunt turning the starter motor and the engine catches within a couple of revolutions.

 

I'll investigate when I get home (currently in The Netherlands working til 28th August), on the poor connection side, where exactly was this? Negative lead to chassis?

 

Thanks in advance!

Hoete morgen...

Check tighten the connections to the battery (nip with a spanner or tap with a hammer) and the battery negative to chassis connection.

Thanks, I'll have a play when I get back, suppose I should also check the cranking power and alternator output. We'll see...