Hi,

I've just bought a second hand 1.9TDi GLX 1998with 60K on the clock from a no-name (non-skoda) dealer , and within 3 days of having it the engine died half way through a long drive, meaning loss of everything while doing 70mph on the motorway- never nice!

It started again after 10 mins of sitting around ( engine cranked but didn't start) , and did it again 3 times on the way home via the backroutes to the local garage. The guy at the garage took the ECU out of the car, blaming a bad solder joint and dead diode, replaced it, and the car started again without a problem.

2 weeks later i'm back to the same problem - it lost all power and doesn't start for 5 mins.

Nothing flashes up at me on the indicator panel when it dies, no immobilisor light, nothing.

I'm now stuck 200 miles from home, unsure of what to do.

Are there any quick checks that I can do to see wtf the problem is? Vag-com isn't due to be delivered to home for 5 days, so can't check without getting it towed to a garage... which the dealer isn't going to pay for!

The dealer has trying to back out of his warranty, as they always do, so he would rather give me my money back than fix the car, which is a sod as it took me a month to find this one!

Cheers in advance,

Wolfsbane2k

It could be a problem with Relay 109 ?

trying searching the forums for 'Relay 109' for some useful pointers

It could be a problem with Relay 109 ?

trying searching the forums for 'Relay 109' for some useful pointers

Relay 109 - the sure-fire sign is when you try to start the car' date=' the glowplug lamp stays out. After a few tries, glowplug light comes on, car starts[/quote']

Just tried that - Aye, that's the sod!

Took out the relay. It's a new black one, rather than the grey ones that originally appear to be the problem.

Cost for a replacement is

Talking to oneself - the first signs of madness.

Pulled the relay apart, and there in front of me was one of the worst solder joint's i've ever seen. Flux everywhere, huge solder gap.

Resoldered it all, hoping it'll get me to the dealers without problems now!

It should now be problem solved.

Common problem that one, hence the modded relays.

Re-soldering the relay didn't fix it... broke down half way to shop.

Getting new relay shipped to my door tomorrow morning instead :/

Damn it!

hope the new one is soldered better !!

Good luck

Well, it's now 5 days and 450 miles later - looks like that fixed the problem!