I've been driving my car fine since middle of November as I'd just passed my test, however just before driving last week the engine won't start. I had it started a minute before and turned it off due to a low coolant beeping noise which was annoying so i turned it off while i sorted things out. I then tried turning it on again only to find it was cranking but wouldn't start. I've looked around and talked to people and have come to the assumption it was a dodgy fuel pump. Could anyone reinforce my belief or give any other ideas? Many thanks.

 

also to note the car was sat on my drive for 4-5 months while i learnt to drive. Had a dead battery upon starting but worked fine afterwards. Hope this helps.

See if fuse 52 is blown.

Check fuse 14 too.

Diagram attached:

 

Mk1 Fabia Cabin Fuses.pdf

i've swapped the fuse for the fuel pump and no change. 

 

Fuel pumps rarely give trouble.

Thing is though i can't hear the pump engage when ignition. So i thought that basically meant it was dead. I checked the voltage with a multimeter and the fuel pump was getting 4V i think

 

Do you hear the fuel pump run as you open the driver's door, after unlocking the car from outside at least half an hour since last used?

3 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Do you hear the fuel pump run as you open the driver's door, after unlocking the car from outside at least half an hour since last used?

i tried today. I had someone open and start the car while i stood outside with the fuel cap off and open. I couldn't hear anything. 

If only 4 volts is getting to the pump it probably won't work, but there are two different relays that supply this voltage at different times, one when driver's door is first opened, the other when engine ECU tells it to. Seems unlikely both have a problem.

Please check the two fuses I've mentioned.

52 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

See if fuse 52 is blown.

Check fuse 14 too.

Diagram attached:

 

Mk1 Fabia Cabin Fuses.pdf 502.2 kB · 2 downloads

ah sorry, i couldn't see the message for this originally, i thought you had meant 61.

so check fuse 14 (Diesel engine control unit) and 52 (Ignition). Why fuse 14?

Just checked both fuses. Neither have blown.

Fuse 14 is associated with ECU relay for your engine.

 

1 minute ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Fuse 14 is associated with ECU relay for your engine.

 

Ah alright I see. I checked both fuses and neither were burnt out, both looked fine.

Just a couple of ideas I had.

 

Does your courtesy light come on when driver's door is opened?

10 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Just a couple of ideas I had.

 

Does your courtesy light come on when driver's door is opened?

Off the top of my head, yes it does. 

Just checked my battery voltage and it was 11.9V, is that of any need for concern?

Yes, very little charge in that, get a charger on it.

Gotcha I’ll do that and see if it starts

 

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

@benjman the 12v car battery is important to the car, if it is low but it still starts the car and the lights still seem to be bright the battery can still be low enough to cause all sorts computer / computer programs problems and your car battery is lower than that as it won't start the car.

 

11.9v is about 40% capacity, a new "12v" car battery fully will show 12.7v or more.

 

Recharge your battery as low slow as you can, the battery only needs a 6 amp maximum charger but may take many hours to fully recharge and you do want it fully recharged.  A higher quick charge won't be as good.  Not fully recharging the battery will have you back with battery issues sooner.

 

If your battery has the magic eye (green ball) take it with a pinch of salt, even if you tap the battery it might not give a true reading and it only relates to one of the 6 cells in your "12v" battery (6 x 2.1v = 12.6v).  After charging my neighbour's (non-VW car) battery once the green ball disappeared to reappear after the next time I charged it, showed green yesterday with battery low at 12.2v (60% capacity), recharged the battery and after 17 hours of resting from being charged it showed 12.79v on my optimistic multimeter (the battery is 6 years old).

 

Why was your low coolant warning bleeping?

(If it wasn't because of low coolant then it might (or might not) be because the battery is low and messing with the sensor to computer/program.)

 

Edited 5 January, 20233 yr by nta16
ETA: Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

3 hours ago, nta16 said:

@benjman the 12v car battery is important to the car, if it is low but it still starts the car and the lights still seem to be bright the battery can still be low enough to cause all sorts computer / computer programs problems and your car battery is lower than that as it won't start the car.

 

11.9v is about 40% capacity, a new "12v" car battery fully will show 12.7v or more.

 

Recharge your battery as low slow as you can, the battery only needs a 6 amp maximum charger but may take many hours to fully recharge and you do want it fully recharged.  A higher quick charge won't be as good.  Not fully recharging the battery will have you back with battery issues sooner.

 

If your battery has the magic eye (green ball) take it with a pinch of salt, even if you tap the battery it might not give a true reading and it only relates to one of the 6 cells in your "12v" battery (6 x 2.1v = 12.6v).  After charging my neighbour's (non-VW car) battery once the green ball disappeared to reappear after the next time I charged it, showed green yesterday with battery low at 12.2v (60% capacity), recharged the battery and after 17 hours of resting from being charged it showed 12.79v on my optimistic multimeter (the battery is 6 years old).

 

Why was your low coolant warning bleeping?

(If it wasn't because of low coolant then it might (or might not) be because the battery is low and messing with the sensor to computer/program.)

 

Thanks for the advice, I have a battery charger which I’ll use tomorrow if I have time.
 

the low coolant warning was due to low coolant lol, the coolant was a bit below the minimum level and has now been topped up. 

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

1 hour ago, benjman said:

Thanks for the advice, I have a battery charger which I’ll use tomorrow if I have time.

Up to you but if you can I really suggest you find the time and if you can do it tonight that will at least give the battery x-hours charge before tomorrow's use, whilst the battery needs to be fully recharged putting more in will help as Tesco tell us.

 

Number one cause of breakdown call out outs is battery (charging) issues and the vast majority are self inflicted by the driver, Sod's Law the breakdown rarely happens on a pleasant sunny day with the car in the pub's (other favoured places available) car park.

 

Don't be tempted to do a quick charge particularly with a bigger charger unless you intend to change the battery sooner than latter, follow the advice in the Owner's Manual, if you don't have the paper printed copy you can download a pdf copy from the following link using your VIN from your V5C paper or other papers or using model and year the car was made. - https://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Models

 

If you read the (whole) Owner's Manual and refer to it as required in future you will know more about your car than many long term owners.

 

 

1 hour ago, benjman said:

the low coolant warning was due to low coolant lol, the coolant was a bit below the minimum level and has now been topped up. 

That was my point, but possibly best dealt with as another thread, why was it low, for how long, how much below min, etc., etc..

 

 

I've no idea what is taught now to learner drivers for passing the test as mine was done 45 years ago but for car use, servicing and maintenance the priorities are brakes, steering, suspension (all three include tyres), safety electrics (lights, blower, horn, etc.), and glass areas (see and be seen).  Modern cars rely on the battery for most of these items - even if you can't start and drive the car you might want the hazard and other lights to be working.

 

(ETA: forgot photo/image)

Edited 5 January, 20233 yr by nta16