Where to begin. 

Skoda Fabia Ambiente Mk1 1.4 16v Auto 2004

 

Initial problems - wouldn't start - everyone said new battery. Changed battery no difference.

 

Search threads - loose wire on starter motor? Starter motor on Auto - well hidden!! Nope all good there.

 

Local 'mate' mechanic - volt meter etc - starter motor gone. Obtained and fitted new starter motor. Initially didn't work then after full charge on new battery - spluttered into life.

 

Great me thinks.

 

Ongoing brake switch error code - P0571 - but nothing stopping car running. 

 

Car wouldn't start (wife driving of course) - clear error code - car starts (but could have also pressed brake pedal and move gear selector as well) all lights on but no turn over - same as always.

 

Ok must get the switch changed - didn't know it was enough to stop car starting but that's what its pointing to. 

 

Got new switch from local skoda dealer - followed guide on here - really good guide many thanks.

 

Car still won't start and P0571 coming up immediately. Brake lights are working.

 

What next any thoughts ideas would be greatly appreciated.......

 

Is there a switch in the gear selector that can kill engine start? I can move gear selector (no ignition but but brake pressed) - can brake light switch stop car from starting.

EPC warning light is on as was check engine. Clear codes - clears check engine but not EPC - it used to but not any more. About 6 months ago we had a power steering sensor code - cleared and never appeared again. Admit we have/had been using with the EPC and Check engine on but  code reader only ever reported P0571.

 

Many Thanks folks (in advance)

 

Michael

 

 

First job will be to connect starter solenoid wire through a bulb to earth - or use a multimeter - and check that you are getting power to the starter motor solenoid when you turn the key to the start position. The bulb option allows you to view from inside the car while trying different permutations of brake, gear selector etc. I find it very strange that the starter would not operate until the battery was charged, and then you mention "spluttered into life". Was this due to slow cranking?

ODBEleven reports that P0571 is: Cruise/Brake Switch (Automatic) Circuit Malfunction.  It doesn't sounds like the switch - it sounds like a circuit problem.  The circuit which detects the pressing of the brake pedal is occassionally experiencing open-circuit.  If you have fitted a new switch, it probably won't be that one.  What we need here is a circuit diagram to understand what that circuit electrically looks like and for a multimetre to be used to check contenuity.

The brake pedal switch is actually two separate switches, one does the brake lights (non-conducting until pedal pressed), the other tells the engine ECU when the brake pedal is pressed (conducting until pedal pressed).  The latter is fed by cabin fuse 28, so check or replace that.  The ECU switch is the thinner pair of wires, middle two on the connector, brake light switch is the outer, thicker wires.

 

Genuine brake pedal switch is cheap enough from Skoda, but a bit of a faff to fit due to the lower dash trim having to come off to get to it. Guide in the Fabia Guides section, I think.

 

I don't know what impact the ECU part of the switch will have on starting behaviour in automatic cars, I've never got involved with one.

 

Hi  -thanks for the replys.

 

Fuse 28 looks.

 

Going to have a look at the switch again as car is complete non starter with the new switch where as with the old switch it would go eventually sometimes. Wondering if it might be a poor connection on the ECU pair of wires - will have a look at them tomorrow when I have time.

 

Slow cranking - the new Starter motor in there it was definatly a more laboured start than the old motor. When i had charged the battery and put it back on the car started and died, i then gave it some pedal and it fired up. We have had all the inlet/fuel rail off to get to starter motor as its buried at the back of the engine in an auto - not under the battery in a 'normal' car.

 

Cheers

As Wino says, biggest faff is getting lower dash out. There is a guide on here, but I found that using common sense to locate the screws let us drop lower dash, and then next faff is the heater pipe to tray in RH dash. At that my back gave up and SIL took over . He tells me that the brake switch is sort of "keyed" into the bracket. One way right-other way wrong and switch does not sit right.  The guide on Brisky mentions taking the light switch out, but we just removed the plug from the light switch and removed the section of dash with switch.

With a slow starter it cold be either electrical or mechanical . Electrical- a solenoid is basically a relay operated with a low current to allow a switch to make a circuit capable of carrying a higher current. In older ones it was a copper plate pushed across a pair of contacts. One carried 12v heavy cable from battery, the other carried current to the motor. Over time the copper plate got corroded and ended up HR. The simplest way to test for this is to measure the voltage accro9ss the solenoid contacts at crank. I remember 0.5v being the upper limit, and I used to be able to get in and clean the plate to get below this figure. These days, I'd suspect it's new solenoid. Measuring that low voltage needs a meter. Mechanically it could be a sticky/dirty clutch or other mechanical part ,caused by dust from the brushes, which could be worn enough to cause problems.

I think on an auto, the ECU needs to know that the gearbox is in Park or Neutral before it will allow the starter to turn.

 

So there will be a switch either on the gearbox or selector which may be faulty.