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Skoda Fabia I - The car does not start after replacing the battery

osliczka 12105 11
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  • #1 16708638
    osliczka
    Level 14  
    Posts: 296
    Rate: 169
    Skoda Fabia I 2008 1.4 petrol engine.
    Marelli 4HV engine driver.
    After changing the battery, which lasted literally a few seconds, the car stopped ignition.
    When trying to run for several seconds, it shows no signs of life.
    During subsequent attempts, the yellow indicator light of the "car with the key" flashes and the car lights up for a second and then goes out.
    An error appears in immo:
    - 01177 Damaged driver, Unauthorized, discontinuous

    In the engine driver error:
    - 17978, Electronic engine control module blocked, Steel

    The next day he appeared in the ECU
    error:
    17069 - ECM / PCM power relay control open circuit
    - discontinuous

    On the third day, the car behaves so that it does not crash any errors in any of the controllers. Immo sees two authorized keys. After ignition, you can hear the fuel pump, turns the starter, but will not even talk for a moment. After approximately 5 seconds of turning, the red oil lamp and the dash signal flash.
    What is going on? Where to look because your hands fall down.
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  • #2 16708683
    milejow

    Level 43  
    Posts: 13066
    Help: 1559
    Rate: 5127
    Any added alarm / security is not sitting by accident?
    Company Account:
    Działalność własna
    Mętów 99, Lublin, 20-388
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  • #3 16709332
    osliczka
    Level 14  
    Posts: 296
    Rate: 169
    milejow wrote:
    Any added alarm / security is not sitting by accident?


    There is an alarm, but it works correctly and is disarmed, i.e. in service mode. What makes me more concerned is that there are different symptoms and different types of car behavior. Maybe some strange coincidence happened. Maybe someone knows which relay corresponds to the controller power supply?
  • #4 16709453
    CameR

    Moderator of Vehicle Security
    Posts: 7705
    Help: 1139
    Rate: 3266
    osliczka wrote:
    There is an alarm, but it works correctly and is disarmed, i.e. in service mode.

    While searching for a fault, connect the alarm pins responsible for cutting off with a piece of wire.
    You will be 100% sure that it is not a broken alarm that stops the vehicle.
    Company Account:
    ABC KOM
    Barcelońska 77, Katowice, 40-683 | Tel.: 601XXXXXX (Show) | Company Website: https://www.auto-alarm.com.pl
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #5 16711579
    Mad Max
    Level 23  
    Posts: 644
    Help: 38
    Rate: 156
    I always thought it couldn't be done, but there are those who can ... Didn't the battery connect upside down?
  • #6 16711688
    andrzej20001
    Level 43  
    Posts: 17761
    Help: 1574
    Rate: 6645
    It is not raining immo since replacing the battery, unless it was charging the battery connected to the car with a type rectifier and the pins detained something. I don't know about volatile memory because I have the same kind of myself so I don't remember.
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  • #7 16712251
    tzok
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl
    Posts: 38692
    Help: 3162
    Rate: 6463
    sk700 wrote:
    I thought about it too. There is also an option to disconnect the battery when the ignition is on when the processor was writing something to this memory.
    Yes, theoretically, if the ignition was on, even after turning it off with the battery disconnected, you should wait for the electronics to "sleep", i.e. usually a dozen to several dozen seconds. I used to try very hard in my Grande Punto ... the result was a checksum error and the entire contents of the configuration memory (EEPROM) flew out, i.e. injection coding, immobilizer code, mileage, gearbox configuration. But this is not a problem in this Fiat, after switching on the ignition the immobilizer paired with the BCM itself and the engine started (except that in the emergency mode and hardly under the bonnet it did not jump out on unencrypted CR injections).

    Of course, the order of disconnecting / connecting with the clamp is completely irrelevant to electronics, it is only about the safety of the person who does it.

    There is another probable scenario - damage to the memory content due to a large voltage drop when trying to start on a discharged battery and / or when it crashes when disconnecting / connecting the battery. Often the problem is incorrect disarming of the alarm (especially unmanned).
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  • #8 16712330
    robokop
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl
    Posts: 29412
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    tzok wrote:
    There is one more likely scenario - memory damage due to a large voltage drop when attempting to start on an empty battery

    It's unlikely - it shouldn't happen.
    tzok wrote:
    or at the time of sparking when disconnecting / connecting the battery

    This, in turn, is the most likely.
    tzok wrote:
    Often the problem is incorrect disarming of the alarm (especially unmanned).

    And that would say that probably the most real cause of the whole fault.
  • #9 16712415
    tzok
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl
    Posts: 38692
    Help: 3162
    Rate: 6463
    robokop wrote:
    It's unlikely - it shouldn't happen.
    It shouldn't but maybe. If the battery is sulphated and the voltage will drop and rise, the microcontroller can do various "miracles". The BOD system may not react properly in such a situation, in total from the point of view of uK it is a situation similar to sparking power cables, only the frequency of "chaff" much lower.
  • #10 16712592
    robokop
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl
    Posts: 29412
    Help: 1762
    Rate: 6357
    tzok wrote:
    It shouldn't but maybe. If the battery is sulphated and the voltage will drop and rise, the microcontroller can do various "miracles".

    Stop. How many such cases have you seen in the VAG group? Every winter there would be a Skód / VW discharge with unused drivers. Everything can, including the landing of a UFO. Why make fantastic hypotheses, since you don't really know what the dear author was doing, in addition to replacing the battery. Stupid errors can even be caused by the scorched body mass.
  • #11 16718805
    osliczka
    Level 14  
    Posts: 296
    Rate: 169
    I see that the topic has gone down to the secondary threads, I refresh.
    The alarm is 100% disarmed.
    The situation is that I am turning the starter for the first time and after 3 seconds of shooting a single ignition appears on one of the cylinders. On the second attempt, the immo key indicator lamp flashes and the car lights up for a second.
    Errors in immo and driver are the same. Immo does not accept VCDS attempts to delete / add keys. Any ideas?
  • #12 16718867
    robokop
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl
    Posts: 29412
    Help: 1762
    Rate: 6357
    While playing with the battery, you moved the cables - somewhere rotted the mass lead / eyelet, fuses on the battery, loose clamp, and finally a damaged battery. I am already skipping a slip-up polarity mishap or mixing controllers' loads with some strange diagnostic device.

Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a 2008 Skoda Fabia I with a 1.4 petrol engine that fails to start after a battery replacement. The user reports various symptoms, including a flashing "car with the key" indicator, multiple error codes related to the immobilizer and engine control module, and intermittent ignition attempts. Responses suggest checking for issues with the alarm system, battery connections, and potential damage to the vehicle's electronic components due to incorrect battery installation or voltage drops. The user confirms the alarm is disarmed and describes sporadic ignition behavior, indicating possible wiring or relay issues. Suggestions include inspecting ground connections, battery condition, and ensuring proper relay functionality.
Generated by the language model.

FAQ

TL;DR: After a battery swap, wait 10–30 seconds for modules to "sleep"; sparking can corrupt configs. Check alarm cuts and grounds first. [Elektroda, tzok, post #16712251]

Why it matters: This FAQ helps Fabia I owners fix post-battery-change no‑start, immobilizer, and relay faults fast and safely.

Quick Facts

Why won’t my Skoda Fabia I start right after a battery change?

Common causes are alarm cut circuits left open, poor grounds, blown battery‑top fuses, or ECU power glitches from reconnect sparking. Inspect the alarm bypass, tighten clamps, and re-seat ground eyelets. “Sparking power cables” can upset module memory, so power cycling methodically helps. [Elektroda, tzok, post #16712251]

What does error 01177 (Immobilizer) and 17978 (ECM blocked) actually mean?

01177 flags an immobilizer/authorization fault. 17978 indicates the engine control module is blocked by immobilizer. Together with a flashing key icon, they point to immobilizer authorization being denied after power loss. Expect cranking and brief firing, then stall. [Elektroda, osliczka, post #16708638]

The key icon flashes and the engine starts for one second, then dies—what’s that?

That is classic immobilizer behavior. The ECU allows a momentary start, then cuts injection/ignition when immo authorization fails. Users reported a one‑second run and repeatable stall after battery work. [Elektroda, osliczka, post #16718805]

How do I quickly test if an aftermarket alarm is blocking the start?

Locate the alarm’s starter or ignition cut wires. Temporarily bridge the two cut ends with a short jumper to restore the original circuit. Try starting again and remove the jumper after testing. “You will be 100% sure” if the alarm is not the cause. [Elektroda, CameR, post #16709453]

Could disconnecting the battery with ignition on corrupt ECU/BCM memory? What wait time is safe?

Yes. Voltage drop and reconnect sparking can scramble configuration writes. After switching ignition off, wait roughly 10–30 seconds for modules to enter sleep before disconnecting or reconnecting. This reduces EEPROM corruption risk during power transitions. [Elektroda, tzok, post #16712251]

I saw 17069 (ECM/PCM power relay control open circuit). What should I check?

Check the ECU power relay control path, battery‑top fuses, and harness continuity. Inspect the ground eyelets and the relay socket for looseness or corrosion. Intermittent open circuits can clear temporarily and return later. [Elektroda, osliczka, post #16708638]

Could reversed battery polarity cause a no‑start even if it was brief?

Yes. Reverse polarity can damage fuses, diodes, or modules instantly. If any doubt exists, verify polarity events and test battery‑top fuses and ECU supply integrity before deeper diagnostics. [Elektroda, Mad Max, post #16711579]

What quick checks should I do on grounds, clamps, and fuses?

Verify tight, clean battery clamps. Inspect the negative lead to body and engine block for corrosion or a cracked eyelet. Open the battery‑top fuse block and check each fuse for hairline breaks or heat marks. Re-seat connectors. [Elektroda, robokop, post #16718867]

It cranks and I hear the fuel pump, but there’s no sustained ignition—why?

The immobilizer can authorize the key inconsistently, causing one ignition event after ~3 seconds on first crank, then a stall. This points back to immo/ECU authorization and power integrity, not the starter. [Elektroda, osliczka, post #16718805]

VCDS refuses to add/delete keys after the battery swap. What next?

Stabilize power first. Use a charger/maintainer during programming, confirm grounds, and clear immobilizer/ECU faults. If immo still shows “unauthorized,” resolve alarm cuts and supply errors before key adaptation attempts. [Elektroda, osliczka, post #16718805]

Does low voltage during cranking really cause electronic glitches?

Yes. Severe voltage sag during cranking or reconnect “chaff” can upset microcontroller behavior and checksums. Avoid sparking. Maintain a stable supply and allow modules to sleep before power changes. [Elektroda, tzok, post #16712251]

What’s a safe 3‑step process to rule out alarm and power issues first?

  1. Bridge the alarm’s cut wires to restore the original circuit temporarily.
  2. Clean/tighten battery clamps; check battery‑top fuses and ground eyelets.
  3. Key off, wait 10–30 s, then reconnect and re‑test start, scanning for 01177/17978. [Elektroda, CameR, post #16709453]
Generated by the language model.
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