Hi,

　

I was wondering if anyone on here could give me some advice on an issue i've been having with my Fabia (2012) estate 1.6 TDi for the last few months. I'll go though the full history so you know what is going on.

　

Purchased the car in February 2017.

　

In March 2018, during the very cold weather (it was heavy snow if I remember correctly), the glow plug warning light came on when I started my car. After about 3 miles, the car conked out and I had to get it recovered. The engine was turning over but not starting. The vehicle was recovered to a local garage and they said it was an issue with the battery. I wasn't convinced at the time but I was able to drive it away.

　

The very next day I drove it to get some fuel and it conked out again (with the glow plug light coming on before hand). Recovered again with the recovery driver saying that it was an issue with fuel getting to the engine. I recovered it to the same garage again who were unconvinced but did change the fuel pump.

　

It all worked fine until about July when it all happened again. Car had been sitting around for 3-4 days as I was off work and I started it up about 5am and after about 2-3 miles (glow plug warning light came on again), it conked out, although would turn over. I recovered it to a skoda garage this time. They looked at it a couple of days later but said that it was starting fine and they could not find an issue with it as it was starting ok, although they did replace a fuel relay sensor or switch (cannot remember which). The light was not flashing.  I took it away again.

　

Two days later, vehicle had been left overnight and I started it again. Guess what? Glow plug light on again. It ran for about 30 seconds before cutting out. I waited for recovery for about 2 hours and just before they came, I tried to start the engine and it started with no glow plug light on! The recovery agent said there was little he could do (fair enough) and I drove it home again. I took it to Skoda and asked them to have another look. After a few days, one of their drivers took it home and the next day, the glow plug light came on and it conked out. They looked at it and replaced the fuel pump under warranty. I had no further issues until last weekend.

　

On the Friday I had the car serviced by a mobile mechanic. I went to start the car on Sunday afternoon and the glow plug warning light was flashing (car hadn't been driven since the service). I didn't drive the car due to the previous issues. Called the mobile mechanic out who said it wasn't anything they had done and the error code was P0627 (something to do with fuel supply). However, he said the light had gone out.

　

I drove it to the Skoda garage (no light flashing) who looked at it and said that they couldn't find anything wrong other than some screws near the fuel plug were loose so they tightened those. They said the error code had been cleared and the glow plug light was not on.

　

Today, I have started the car up again and the glow plug light was on. I had to risk it as I have appointments today and drove it about 6 miles to the next town to get the bus. Light was flashing the whole time. Switched the engine on again being curious and the light was off. I drove it all the way into work (20 miles) and had no issues.

　

This problem is driving me nuts! When the issue happened last year the car was conking out after a few minutes, but then the garage was struggling to replicate the fault as it would start again after a couple of hours! Now, i've driven it with the light on and it dissapears once the engine is warm.

　

Does anyone have any ideas? I'm wondering whether the cold weather has any impact on it? The issues started last year during the really cold weather and then again this week it's been really cold. The thing that makes me think it might not be the weather is that in July it was most definetly not cold and yet the same problems happened.

　

Thank you for reading.

Welcome.

 

Has the car had the VW Emissions 'Fix' so covered by the 24 month Trust Building warranty, so you should be having Skoda / VW paying maybe.

http://skoda.co.uk/dieselinfo

?

When was The Fix done, so your Engine Management changed and a plastic bit of tat put in the air intake.  If Serviced at a Main Dealers it likely has been done.

 

?

How many miles has the car done.

?

Which of the Mechanics or techs dealing with the car has replaced the Fuel Filter while failing to diagnose the issue?

 

Hello

 

Thank you for the response.

 

The emissions fix has not been completed as I had heard a number of bad things about.

 

The mileage is about 67000. 

 

The fuel pump was replaced in march last year by an independent mechanic, which I paid for.

In July 2018, it was replaced by the Skoda garage under warranty.

Last week, when it was serviced, the fuel filter was changed by a mobile mechanic.

 

Thanks again.

 

We really need to know greater detail here

What is your normal driving routine?   Multiple short journeys or reasonable distances each day?

When you say 'conked out' - does this mean a complete stoppage OR does the car go into limp mode.

Have the glow plugs been replaced at any point? The wiring to the glow plugs can suffer, partly because accessing the plugs is tight, and the wiring harness has very little give during maintenance if swapping out plugs. Given you've had multiple glow plug errors I'd be tempted to replace the plugs and wiring harness.

 

The point mentioned earlier about batteries is important. If it's short journeys, then the battery could be suspect, especially given cold temperatures lately. Can recommend Yuasa battery if you're replacing.

 

I've had issues with my own car, but only limp mode and it's never been recovered. Consider the points above, if there's still issues after installing, you can rule out plugs, harness and battery.

Edited 30 January, 20197 yr by spartacus68

Hi

 

Thanks for the replies.

 

The glow plugs have never been replaced so I will look into that.

 

The battery was replaced the very first time there was an issue last year so I don't believe there is any issue there.

 

My normal driving routine is 6 working days and then four days off. 30 miles into work across national speed limit roads, i.e. not motorways or dual carriageways for the most part.

 

When it conks out, the engine just stops. The warning lights all come on. There is no limp mode. Trying to restart it, it turns over but just can't start. 

 

I'll give the glow plugs a go and let you know what happens.

 

Thank you.

Edited 31 January, 20197 yr by sjc502

I think that you are on a false trail by looking at the glow plugs. Consider you are already in motion when the car conks out. Whilst in motion the glow plugs are not actuating.

Following 'possibles' is a waste of time and money. Your first step is to get a full read out by a competent analyser operator.

On 01/02/2019 at 11:00, 2ndskoda said:

I think that you are on a false trail by looking at the glow plugs. Consider you are already in motion when the car conks out. Whilst in motion the glow plugs are not actuating.

Following 'possibles' is a waste of time and money. Your first step is to get a full read out by a competent analyser operator.

I agree, however Skoda are going to charge £113 to scan (gives up to an hour) https://www.marshall.co.uk/skoda/service/skoda-diagnostics-check/

 

That said, if forum member was close by, then hook up to VCDS.

 

There's to evidence the glow plugs have ever been renewed? The fact it's stopping altogether does sound like fuel. He's already had fuel pump and switch replaced. Genuine glow plug harness is £50 and Bosch plugs another £45. That's preventative rather than a fix in my book.

 

P0627 is an open circuit fault. Possibly goosed wiring near the fuel pump? That would make sense as I had an engine management fault last year. Granted the car didn't go into limp mode or cut out completely but was traced to G42 air intake sensor broken wiring.

 

The fault I had a couple of years ago with flashing glow plug and limp mode was traced to broken wiring at plug harness.

Def look at fuel pump plugs / wiring.......also

 

Might be worth throwing in a new fuel pump relay......all the control has to go through that and relays do "wear" out.......often intermittently.

Edited 3 February, 20197 yr by UrbanPanzer

£113 to scan is scandalous . Try  a local independent garage with a scan facility.  Many advertise themselves as VW specialist.

6 hours ago, 2ndskoda said:

£113 to scan is scandalous . Try  a local independent garage with a scan facility.  Many advertise themselves as VW specialist.

 

Indeed.

 

A VAG independent specialist or a multi-brand independent with the full VCDS system ought to charge much less for a diagnostic scan, maybe even free for good reputation and word-of-mouth publicity.