| (by Hej456 June, 2009)
I have written a small tutorial about this issue I experienced in my Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI from 2000. For some time the car were having starting issues 1-2 times a week, and sometimes also when I had been driving for a while and wanted to start after a short break. Also while driving sometimes the cruise control did not work as it should. When key is turned the glow plug light doesn’t light up, engine doesn’t start: 
So I wait for some minutes and try again, and usually the glow plug light shows and everything is fine as it should be, engine starts right away. There are lots of threads about the issue read detailed at: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=199038 This is how the relay looks: 
The issue was fixed in 109 relays after 2001, but my Skoda had the older black type. Of course a solution is to buy a new relay. VW part number is 1J0 906 381 A. In my case I fixed the issue by resolder a bad soldering point. The procedure took me about 10 minutes, and fixed the issue promptly. Remember to use some high quality solder, so the problem will not return. A soldering point can crack because of heat or physical stress. A cracked point looks like a little circle shape in the solder. It gives you this situation, where it sometimes does and sometimes doesn't work. Here is a picture demonstrating the broken soldering point (red circle): 
I also resoldered the other soldering points, so the issue hopefully doesn’t return. I have been driving for a month now without any starting problems at all. |