Skoda Roomster Diesel Starting Trouble

Sounds like a nasty problem! I had something similar happen with my Skoda (not a Roomster, but still). Is your battery draining quickly? Have you checked the charging system to see if it's putting out the correct voltage? A faulty alternator could also cause the battery to die prematurely. It could also be a short circuit somewhere, continuously draining power even when the car is off. Does anything smell burnt, like melting plastic, after the car has been sitting?

The battery does seem to be draining quickly. How would I check for a short circuit? Is that something I can do myself, or do I need special equipment?

Yes, sounds very similar to what I experienced. I spent weeks trying to figure it out myself. Eventually, it turned out to be a chafed wire in the wiring harness, causing a short that drained the battery overnight. It's tricky to find without proper diagnostic tools. Honestly, I'd suggest taking it to a workshop. They can do a proper parasitic draw test to pinpoint the source of the drain. Do you have a multimeter?

Thank you so much for your help. It turned out to be exactly what you said. A short circuit was causing the battery to drain. Got it fixed for 290€, a new wiring harness and a new fuse. Now my Roomster starts like a charm!