Hello,

Fabia I 1.2 2003
After having been parked for about 3 weeks, the Fabia refused to start again. 
Actually the enginge was running for about 8-10 seconds and then died. Starter enginge, battery and spark plugs are OK.

I had a similar problem a few months ago where the engine died in the middle of the street just after i drove off. That time I noticed there was no sound from the fuel pump when turning on the ignition. After about 1 hour of waiting, the engine would start as normal again.
But not this time.

Tried changing the pump itself now (had a spare one lying around in a box...not having done much diagnostics I figured the success rate for this was about 50%), the only thing that changed was that the low fuel-lamp comes on, and the fuel indicator shows an empty tank. 

Any ideas here? Fuel pump relay? 

Regards

Dodgy fuse, loose maybe.

Is the battery low, close to flat? (Recharge it)

 

Immobiliser? Have you taken your keyfob apart recently?

 

Did you change the fuel pump in the tank? Does it work (whirr for a second or so when drivers door opened after being stood for a while to build fuel pressure)

 

How old is the petrol?

 

Take side panel on dash off and check fuses, make sure all are pushed home

Edited 22 September, 20187 yr by xman

Thanks for the suggestions.

Ended up hauling the car away to the mechanic today.
The tow truck driver gave me a baffled look when, having put the car back on the ground, the engine fired up as if nothing was wrong. It stalled again after around 10 seconds, though. I suppose som fuel made its way to the engine as a result of the petrol being rocked back and forth as we were towing it.

As it turned out, the spare fuel pump was also no good, got it replaced with a brand new one and now the Fabia is back on the road.

Glad you're back on the road, and thanks for letting us know what it turned out to be.