Scirocco Central

My car has over the last year been driven only a few days per month as I am away from home with work. It started to give trouble upon initial start. When the key is turned to the start position nothing happens but gives the impression it tried to start as the dash lights are all normal. There are no clicks as you would expect from a flat battery. I had thought something had seized in the starter as after numerous attempts the car would start. It may do this a few times and then be fine over the next few drives. I ran a VCDS scan and came up with a stored fault of the fuel pump relay. I'm guessing this would neither be costly or tricky to replace but wondered has anyone else experienced the same? Could it be caused by lack of use?

Have you checked the two fuses to the fuel pump circuit? Engine Bay Fuse 15 - 10 amps and Dash Fuse 27 - 15amps.

C.

I didn't check the fuses as the car will start after maybe the fifth attempt. If the fuse was blown I'm guessing it wouldn't start at all? Is the relay easy to replace?

Yeah, but always like to make sure the fuses are OK.

Thats normal type of behaviour for fuel pump relays when initially failing. The F.P. relay fault code is an accurate pointer unlike others. Presumably the code description stated "Fuel Pump Relay J17"

Relay is on the panel directly behind the little driver's cubby hole storage. On the second row down on the inboard side as indicated by the red square. Should be a grey coloured relay.
Part number should be 1K0 951 253 (valid to 30.04.10 Sciroccos, [4H 951 253C from 01.05.10 onwards]).

Its a half way house which way depending on the size of your hand. Cubby hole or take the footwell under dash cover off. Just unplugs from the mounting panel as usual after removing the cloth securing straps.

C.

Just replaced the relay cleared fault codes and the car has been starting fine.

Quiet easy to remove by just removing the cubby hole door.

I did notice a further two relays with the same number 449 printed on them. If these are the same relay as the one I have just replaced I wondered how likely they will be to fail also. Tried looking in the handbooks but can't find any information on what the other two relays control?