Hi I have just joined because I broke down yesterday in my fabia 1.9sdi 2000 and it took me 5 and half hours to be brought home from Colchester to my home 12 miles away and my car was brought home separately another 3 hours later. I have had intermittent starting problems mainly if I try and start the car whilst it is hot. I did this yesterday and it didn't start so I waited for it to get cold and still no joy, so I bought a gallon of diesel as I was low and thought I might be lower that it was telling me and still no joy. I decided to call breakdown out. They arrived about hour and half later. I told him the story and asked is he going to try and bleed it. He said no he has a magic spray to start it. I told him I don't like easy start because it isn't good for the engine and can make it knock and he agreed with this. So he pulls out his magic spray LYNZ deodrant. I laugh he reassures me and explains any deodorant will do as long as it has buthane in it. Okay so this works the car roars into life immediately, great! I asked him will it start again once I swich it off, yes he replies no problem, I replie even though you haven't bleed it, he replied yes it is self priming, I am not sure but a little doubtful but dont argue after all he is the mechanic and should know what he is talking about.

Off I go to the nearest garage to fill up thinking how daft I had been to run a diesel out. I put £20 in kept in running whilst I put it in just to make sure there was enough diesel being primed and then I thought I best make sure it turns off then on again to make sure as I was in a garage better than on the side of a road somewhere. My gut feeling was correct it didn't stsrt again. I phoned breakdown again explained the situation and they apologised and then kept me on hold for half an hour while the reached the breakdown company. I was told it would have to be a new job and I would have to wait another hour. I am freezing now broken down for 5 hours argh!!!! I waited patiently for the same man to arrive with his lynz can lol and surprise it won't keep running. I asked him could he fix it properly so I could go home. He decides it is a broken lead from the solenoid to the battery. He rigs up a wire to bridge it to the battery to prove his point and it started, then wire falls off and he trys it again and it won't again, just constant cranking but no firing. He decided to plug his laptop in which keep closing down every few minutes, once he managed to keep it on long enough he came back with some fault codes he cleared but 2 would one being no contact with the ECU. Theres my problem he said going to cost me hundreds need a new ECU right ok. Gut feeling is telling me he is wrong but I am frozen hungry and tired, he offers to take me home as he lives near to me, I gladly accept. He said my car would be bought back on a truck, which was at 11.45pm . I broke down at 2pm just 12 miles from home. I will renew my brake down to a company that doesnt sub contract out,RAC or AA at least I will get home in a reasonable time then.

That brings me to here checking forums I have found the broken wire that he was on about, still won't start, so I keep reading and have found out about RELAY 109 I must need one of these. Where is it located on the fabia sdi please. Is it behind the glove box passenger side????? Any help would be appreciated pleeeaaassseee!!!!!!!!!

Have you got any warning lights coming on?, such as the immobiliser one.  Have you got any warning lights not coming on?, such as the glow plug light.  The relays are located behind the dash above the pedals, if you look for a guide on here on replacing the brake light switch, it'll become apparent.

 

A start would be to interrogate the car for any faults.

Hi yes it has had the warning light 8 on its side as someone decribes it, intermittently coming on and off, no glow plug light coming on since I have owned the car from March 14. I had this problem before and it had the crank sensor changed, the fuel filter and fuel sender I believe which is under the rear righthand side passengers seat. It took ages for it to start by snatch starting on a tow and it ran okay until yesterday, whith the occasional not starting when hot wait 10 minutes and it will start again. I have been reading lots of these forums and all what has been happening seems tohave happeed quite alot to other fabia owners, some saying it is a faulty relay 109 with bad solding inside causing an intermittent non start problem.

As fordfan says check fault memory for any stored faults, if you dont want to take it to a garage as they might charge £20-£50 depending where you go, you can get a cheap obd2 reader on ebay for about £15 delivered, 

 

If you did actually run out of fuel then it will take a while to get current fuel through the system, try priming fuel pump (if you can here it) 10 times (by switching ignition on and off, wait 10secs between each cycle of ignition) 

 

They were quite bad for coolant temp sensors but it would show a fault on fault memory if thats the case

 

also have a look at this thread, may be of some help, hope you find the fault and get back on the road,

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/233519-starter-motor-turns-but-wont-start-after-short-stop/

Edited 9 January, 201511 yr by mikey200615

Thanks peeps for your assistance so far. I think now I know where the relay 109 is located I will replace it hopefully tomorrow. To prime the diesel through do you have to crank open each intector in turn and crank the engine over briefly until the fuel squirts out. Or is there a less messy way? I have shaken the fuel filter and can hear some fuel in it.

Thanks peeps for your assistance so far. I think now I know where the relay 109 is located I will replace it hopefully tomorrow. To prime the diesel through do you have to crank open each intector in turn and crank the engine over briefly until the fuel squirts out. Or is there a less messy way? I have shaken the fuel filter and can hear some fuel in it.

 

It's self-priming, bleeding isn't necessary and hasn't been since the 90's.

Thanks for the link, it seems I have a couple of issues on the go then because my temperature reads mainly cold even though it is hot, which could cause the intermittent problem. Also the computer said I had 30 miles left of fuel but I think it had perhaps ran out and there is the broken wire off the solenoid which I have reconnected, but still only cranking over as if there is fuel starvation :(

I am going to try what you suggested turn on and off up to ten times and maybe wahla it might start.

When you turn ignition on you should hear the system prime from behind you, don't take it exactly as 10 times, think mine took more than that and I only changed the fuel filter.

When you turn the ignition on check if the orange glow plug light comes on, if it doesn't come on at all I would suspect that the ECU isn't getting any power.  Check its fuses, wiring and the relay that powers it.

Hi peeps many thanks for reading my newbe post and giving advice. A very big thank you to not (really a g4), I persevered with turning the ignition on an off and the the glow plug light flashed and the stayed on briefly this is the symbol that flashes intermittently when I drive and I turned the key and wow it started to my relief, drove around for a while, turned it on and a few times and it is back to its usual self. If only the breakdown guy had known to do this on Thursday when I broke down. He said the ECU had gone, good old gut feeling I knew he was wrong, thats why I turned to you guys. Many thanks once again and happy new year to you all x

I think I will still replace the ECU relay 109 as I am hoping it will cure the flashing symbol when I drive.

Which symbol is flashing, you can get an 6quid eBay cable and download vcds literally to check codes yourself.

Lights sometimes go after a bit if the problem gets sorted but best to clear it yourself anyway that way if it comes back you can dig deeper

Sorry just saw glow plug one. Scan it yourself for 6quid, it will come in later anyway...Haha

I will do that thanks. What site would I get the vcd codes from please

Google Ross tech, codes and program on there. Guide to use it all on hidden power website (aka faboka aka mapping genius on here)

Most VAG diesels prime when you open the drivers door, you usually then hear the system priming. Which means no need for ignition on and off 10 times. Hope you get this problem fixed soon either way