I have been having issues with my Octavia starting up- it quite frequently makes a strange noise when it starts, it's hard to explain it, but it sounds like a growling noise.

It doesn't make the noise every time, which is really annoying, as it has now been to the dealers 3 times for this problem and every time it doesn't make the noise.

Recently I have been having problems with the car starting all together- take Monday, it took me about 20 minutes to get it to start (wasn't trying for the 20 minutes, I gave it a rest in between attempts)

It is turning over, just not firing up.

I have also noticed a serious reduction in fuel economy (I have a 1.6 FSI) take this week for example, I have now done about 205 miles & have used almost 3/4 of a tank of fuel. I have not been driving any differently to normal- I try and be quite economical these day's with the price of petrol. I normally get 200 miles out of 1/2 a talk of fuel, so this is a serious increase in consumption.

I went to the dealer yet again today about the problem & all they could say was I need to bring it in when it is making the noise at startup, their computer is not showing anything wrong with my car.

This is getting very frustrating as you can imagine- has anyone get any ideas on what it could be, or on ways to try and get the dealer to look further into the problem???

Hopefully someone will have an idea, I'm getting towards the end of my tether with my car now.

Get the dealer to keep the car for a few days until the fault occurs?

Try another dealer, you may get a different view on the problem.

Well it's booked in at the dealership I bought it from (have been going to the one closest to where I live previously)

1st dealer had it for 2 days, but it never made the noise for them & they didn't find anything.

So fingers crossed for Tuesday when it's back in

Well another day in a different garage & still not resolved.

Have left it with them for a couple of days to try and get it resolved.

In the mean time I'm starting to look for a new car........

Could that noise be the starter solenoid sticking in the flywheel.

I am guessing that if that is iffy, then it would also not go out which would give the effect of the starter turning but not turning the engine over.

As for the fuel consumption, have you had a new air filter yet?