Hey!

 

I have a littlebit of a problem with my Octavia 4x4 1,8t (2003). Yesterday when I was going home from the store, when I started my engine it died after 1 sec (enginetemp 90 C), I first thought I just stalled it, but then it didn't want to start. It ignited a little bit but didn't have the power to start, after about 1 minute of trying it started and ran fine again. Then it happend once more (enginetemp under 50 C), it started for 1 sec and died, then it sounded completly dead when I cranked the engine. I tried som startergas and i started directly and the died when the gas had burned out. After 5 minutes it started and ran fine again. For a novice like me it sounds like a fuel problem.

 

When I turn the ignition key (pos 2) the fuelpump sounds very "tired", not as it usaually sounds. And ones the engine starts a noticed a "whisling noice" that comes from the back (you can here it in the coupe)

 

Where should I start troubleshooting? Any common errors?
Clogged up filter? The fuelpump itself? Relay?

9 minutes ago, sebbehof said:

Where should I start troubleshooting?

On the grounds of being cheap, I'd start with the alternator control wires. When you switch on, does the battery light illuminate? If not, good odds on (90%+) there's an issue with the alternator control wires.

You may well need to recharge the battery afterwards, but there's no point in doing that first because you'll only have the charge in the battery, since the alternator won't be charging.

3 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

On the grounds of being cheap, I'd start with the alternator control wires. When you switch on, does the battery light illuminate? If not, good odds on (90%+) there's an issue with the alternator control wires.

You may well need to recharge the battery afterwards, but there's no point in doing that first because you'll only have the charge in the battery, since the alternator won't be charging.

The batterylight goes on when I turn on the ignition and lights out when the engine starts. I don't think it's a battery issue. The battery gets charged. The startermotor runs as it should when i turn the ignition. What I ment was that the engine sounded dead. As if you ran the starter motor whitout igniton. It wasn't even close to start.

Lift up the back seats and give a good thump on the housing and see if the sound changes when trying to start it up. If it does or it springs it back into life then you know it's on its way out. I did then when I was stuck in a car pack and it got my home haha.

Now it happened again, when you turn the ignition key on (pos 2) usually the fuelpump makes a little noise for abaout 2 seconds, this doesn't happen now and the car isn't starting. Is the more common error the pump itself or the relay?

57 minutes ago, sebbehof said:

Now it happened again, when you turn the ignition key on (pos 2) usually the fuelpump makes a little noise for abaout 2 seconds, this doesn't happen now and the car isn't starting. Is the more common error the pump itself or the relay?

As above with my message, I would think the pump has died. The only way to really know is take it out. But depending on mileage, you may as well replace it.