My Octavia Scout refused to start one day at the end of June with the glow plug lamp flashing. I traced the problem to Fuse 14. This fuse is labelled Ignition and supplies the fuel metering valve (N290) and fuel pressure regulating valve (N276). There were no problems for three months and about 1500 miles when it stalled again after travelling about 200mtrs. Replacing this fuse rectified the problem and the engine started and has been OK ever since.

 

The standing current through this fuse is about 1.5 amps and it's a 20A fuse so it looked like a short somewhere. I traced the problem to where the cable leaves the metering valve and passes in front of the engine. On the block there is a 'bush' with sharp edges which the cable appeared to rubbing on. The cable is made up of the wires wrapped in cloth tape. Where the fault was, was very difficult to see, even with an inspection camera. So to prove this was the problem I used a multi meter  with a round head screw in one of the probes and the other to ground. With the ignition turned on I ran the end of the screw down the cable to where I thought the problem was and hey presto, measured 12V. This proved it. Before I had proved it I had tied the cable away from the block with a cable tie; I'll now put some wraparound sleeving around it.

 

I attach a picture of the cable and the 'bush' can just be seen behind it. (it was very difficult to photograph)

 

I thought this would be of interest to others, but what I would like to know is is a way of reporting this to Skoda/VW as this is a potentially dangerous fault as the car could stall at any time with perhaps dire consequences!

Well done for tracking down the fault! It's not totally clear from your verbal description where the problem is on your picture, can you edit a ring round the problem area? Is it where the tape-wrapped loom crosses that coolant elbow near the centre of the photo?

 

Not unheard of on here, see https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/461868-ecu-fuse-blowing/

Maybe others.

 

Not sure if there's a reporting system from customer to Skoda/VW.  They'd almost certainly tell you it's the first time this has ever happened, even if they are quietly aware of it happening every other day...

 

 

 

 

Yes, just behind the coolant elbow. It's very difficult to see. I could just see a little bit of the cable wrapping tape sticking up and looking a brown colour which was adjacent to the 'bush' on the engine. It's now adjacent to the cable in the convoluted sleeving as I've pulled it forward. You can just about see it in the picture at the end of the arrow. The larger ring shows the 'bush' on the engine.

 

It sounds very similar to the link you posted but in a different place. I hope this makes more sense now.

Could you explain a little how you solved it? I'm having problems with all three fuel-related sensors, and when I measure their voltage with the key on, they show 2.5V instead of 12V, so I suspect a short circuit. This post really caught my attention...