I've been delighted with my Fabia 1.9TDi Elegance Estate until a recent intermittant serious problem. This has the garage completely lost because the diagnostics don't work and they don't seem to have any diagnostic skills of their own. Here's the low down...

The car won't start. This has happened 4 times: there is no common factor with the weather, temperature or conditions other than it won't start. It has happened when the engine is hot after a long motorway run and when the car has been parked outside all night at zero degrees, in the wet and in the dry.

Turning on the ignition and all the dashboard fault lights come on and then slowly go off (except the engine and brakes) as normal. The key seems to be identified correctly (tried a second key just in case). When trying to start, the engine turns over normally but won't fire at all.

Called out Skoda Recovery and each time the diagnostics unit is plugged in and is unable to talk to the Control Unit. Hence no diagnostics.

The last time, the guy pulled off the air intake pipe and sprayed in Plus Gas (?) aerosol and the engine started and ran until the the spray was stopped. I guess this means that the engine is fine and the injectors are opening/closing but the ECU is not delivering any diesel.

Twice now I have been recovered (120 miles and this weekend 300 miles) back home where the car has been dropped outside Sparshotts of Chichester. When they pushed the car into the garage next day, it works immediately. And of course, no diagnostics faults are logged.

So I have a car that is now not trustworthy and a garage unable to diagose a problem. So far they have done nothing.

Has anyone any idea what may be wrong or where to start fault diagnoosis?

Should this be escalated someway to Skoda? The car is less that 2 years old and has done only 10,500 miles.

Starting it on easystart or whatever means there's no seriuos mecahnical issues, but doesn't mean your injectors are working.

I'd check relay 109 first- it powers the ECU. Then check all battery and earth strap connections.

Mind you, as it's only 2 years old, that's a warrantly job surely?

Absolutely, it is a warranty job. But the mechanics at this garage rely entirely on the diagnostics and because the diagnostics say nothing is wrong, they are completely clueless what to do. Their take on the problem is, "We could spend a whole week on this problem, change everything and still not find what it wrong."

So their solution is to do nothing and give me the car back. This time I have got a loan car (an Octavia TDi) and they won't get it back until they do something constructive.

I have passed on your suggestion that the problem could be Relay 109 and to check that the earth straps are all firmly connected.

Thanks for the pointers. I'll let you know if there are any further developments.

But the mechanics at this garage rely entirely on the diagnostics and because the diagnostics say nothing is wrong, they are completely clueless what to do. Their take on the problem is, "We could spend a whole week on this problem, change everything and still not find what it wrong."

So their solution is to do nothing and give me the car back.

If they fail to find anything this time, maybe contact SUK Customer Services, pass on the garage's comment and ask for a referral to a less clueless more customer-oriented dealer?

Absolutely, it is a warranty job. But the mechanics at this garage rely entirely on the diagnostics and because the diagnostics say nothing is wrong, they are completely clueless what to do. Their take on the problem is, "We could spend a whole week on this problem, change everything and still not find what it wrong."

Tough in business isn't it! They are purporting to be a proficient Skoda service centre, because they are trading. Don't be putoff by a service receptionist or even Dealer service manager, escalate to the Dealer Principal right away. THEY should be seeking asistance from elsewhere, not you!!!

But the mechanics at this garage rely entirely on the diagnostics and because the diagnostics say nothing is wrong, they are completely clueless what to do.

That's depressingly common these days.

SWMBO had a 1996 mini with ecu and fuel injection. It cut out on her, wouldn't restart. Mobile mechanic looks at it, it starts. He says it needs hooking up to the diag computer, and follows her home. I get gome from work, start it, and wiggle test the wiring, to find a loose connection on the coil, just like on my Mom's 1980 mini with points and a carb 10 years before.....