Hi all

I have a skoda fabia 1.4 16v 2000 (X reg)

I have recently started getting problems with my car not starting at times the engine won't turn over ocasonaly... usually takes a few tries

Had a check done on my car my egr and cat need changing

starter motor makes a whining sound

I have a slow engine leak every few thousand miles it needs topping up also coolant needs topping up every so often

Have been told that head gasket is fine

I have taken it to a few garages but they can not diagnose the fault

Has anybody else had the same problems and how can I fix it?

Assuming the diagnosis is right and it's not the HG then you have a small coolant leak, it could be hose/clip/pipe, expansion tank cap, radiator edge/corner or just a hole that perhaps only shows up when the system is hot/under pressure, have a look about for the tell tale white deposits where the coolant has evaporated. Nothing major, just find it and replace/tighten whatever needs attention, also check the lower radiator tap at the front n/s, it should be visible from under the car without removing the under tray.

 

For the starter issue read the fault codes before you go any further, if they show anything it will really help you. Other than that it's a case of fault finding, does the fuel pump prime, has the filter been drained recently, do the spark plugs all look the same colour, when was the battery last replaced (jump start from another car to eliminate battery), does the starter motor fully engage (get someone else to start car and dig out the multi meter) have you discovered next door's missing cat in your air box, has Freddy Kruger re-assembled your vac hoses, are you suffering coil failure or a knackered ignition lead, when was the timing last done, how's the injector loom looking prior to each injector, are they all firing, after that you're about at the point of compression and leak down tests. Fault codes could save you a lot of that or at least point to the cylinder that's got an issue.

Edited 25 April, 201412 yr by Avalon

 have you discovered next door's missing cat in your air box, has Freddy Kruger re-assembled your vac hoses...

 

I may have slipped the odd minor dramatic illustration into that list just to illustrate the point. Then again next doors missing cat could be called Freddy and have claws like his name sake....

Edited 26 April, 201412 yr by Avalon

I may have slipped the odd minor dramatic illustration into that list just to illustrate the point. Then again next doors missing cat could be called Freddy and have claws like his name sake....

 

A more likely scenario than the HG, it's not an MPI!

A more likely scenario than the HG, it's not an MPI!

You're right, it's the 16v in 100bhp guise, a block that is known to have its own issues, ones that in parts and labour can be a lot more expensive than an mpi HG. Also unlike an mpi it may not have had a new HG up till now, on a car that's up to 14 years old it's not unreasonable to consider it, but you'll notice I left the tests related to the HG till last