JamieH86

I was driving it for an hour or so prior to the test, it should have been warm! Temp gauge said 90, right in the middle. Looking at previous tests they largely seem to be against a 0.8 limit.

Looking at previous years: 2023 I have just got a Smoke Check, which was a FAST PASS. The result was 0.47 and the "normal result" specified (ie the maximum?) is 1.5. 2022 failed on emissions; I've got a "smoke opacity analysis", with the car averaging 2.64. It says "plate value: 0.8". Test type was turbo. The retest was a Smoke Check FAST PASS again, with a value of 0.17 against an apparent 1.5 target. 2021 failed; another different printout! Says result was 2.43 and limit applied was 0.8. Retest same sheet and result 0.4. The invoice mentions 4-TEC fuel treatment. Don't know if any of that helps!

It's always been tested there for me. Here is the actual result inc target: I mean I can only say, it was supposed to have been!

It was serviced in June so filters and oil about 5/6 months old. The MOT expires today so I can't really do any more running around in it.

The oil level was sitting nice at the medium line before the MOT, no loss since I last looked (few months?). No smoke at all either. I was looking in the mirror constantly for some, but there was none! There was some soot on the back of the car though, or at least something grainy and black mixed in with rainwater.

Sorry, hate to miss info! It is 2005, don't think it has a DPF but I am not expert enough to know if "regen" specifically refers to DPFs or has a wider diesel meaning, too.

I have a 1.9 TDI mark 2 Octavia. I have had it six years and in four of them, it failed on the emissions/smoke test (exceeded limits etc). On the first three, a cleaning additive and a run round solved the issue. However not this time - my MOT was yesterday and I put in Redex diesel MOT treatment about five days before, I would say it did 60 miles before the test. I also took it out for 20 minutes before dropping off to tune up. The emissions however came out at 2.8 (max is 0.8). So as recommended, put in some Forté Diesel System Cleaner and really tuned up. Up and down the M4, 2nd gear up to 50mph, third up to 70mph. Basically on the red line (4.5 revs). In total today it has had about a two hours such driving over a four hour period, but this could only get the result down to 1.3. There were NO other failure items, just emissions. Performed well today, nippy car. But... I'd have thought all that treatment and tuning should have got it to target. Would you try anything else? If so, what? The tester said perhaps it needed a regen but at this garage, which is really well recommended locally, they don't do emissions work. Would you get it tested elsewhere? Or are all tests the same or close enough? Or would you scrap an otherwise fine car - maybe as this could indicate an issue somewhere? Cheers.

Three times - just three - the handbrake warning light has come on and chimed, then gone off again when the handbrake is lifted slightly and put down again in the last few weeks. Twice happened when stopped, once when driving. Is this likely a dying sensor or maybe worn/split wire somewhere? 1.9 2005 TDI if that helps you picture it.

Yeah mine does that if you interrupt the regen. It isn't that it comes on when the engine stops, but it was already on but couldn't be heard over the engine. Once the car is stopped the fan winds down.

I had this a few weeks ago. It was a dying battery causing all sorts of problems.

Could be the resistor?

We've still got some nice days... would you say it is too late now this year?

Well mine's only a few short of 250,000 miles. There is some corrosion underneath though I was advised to leave it, as most products, and I quote, "just seal it in". Is there a good way to treat it though?

Moisture was just condensation in the end. And everything else boiled down to... failed battery cell. It was only capable of 4.6 volts. Battery replaced and now good as new.

Ok stop press... looked under the bonnet on the other side of that footwell and there is a dark, damp patch on the fabric lining of the engine bay that corresponds with that area, in the vicinity of the ABS pump. Because it is dark and stained I couldn't say if this was new water ingress or if it has been getting in for some time without issues (though, I did have to have the ABS pump replaced a few months ago). Thoughts? Is there anything around there that could get wet and cause these issues?

Inspired by a similar thread, I took a look under the cover where the fan resistor is under the glove box in the passenger footwell, and there was a slight trace of moisture on the inside of the cover and back wall of the area. However this may just have been condensation as there were a few areas where it was condensed slightly. Might be totally irrelevant!

Cheers. From my reading, I am also wondering if the ingnition switch could be suspect?

Oh and two more things... the fuel needle is now showing the fuel level even when engine off, and I just tried turning the key to first position and got a repetitive clicking from nearby the key area and the dash lights danced again for a bit... plus it reset my clock and trip miles.

Update - had a mechanic come to take a look. During the course of the day, the power had been discharging and so for instance the radio worked this morning, but not now, the boot switch has stopped working etc. The lights on the dash had also died off. The mechanic attached a power pack to the battery, and hey presto, the engine started. However with NO dashboard lights (not even the engine/battery etc ones that come on then go off when you start it). In addition, I then took the key out to turn off the engine... but it kept going. I had to stall it to stop it. It did not start again on subsequent attempst, though the relays were audible on trying. The mechanic had no physical reaction from the battery terminals, ie he was expecting a spark or some sign of life. The headlights work... that is a plus. So to summarise as things stand... 1. car power discharged over the course of today with no use. 2. engine started with power pack, but no dash lights. 3. the car had to be stalled to stop it; it kept going after the key was removed. 4. car did not start on second (or subsequent) attempts, though there was still power in the system. That's where things stand, any help appreciated!

Cheers, yes I am more inclined to battery after thinking it over (but not turning it over!) The battery is six years old almost to the day, installed October 2018. I have no means to test it, but if the battery was the issue, I assume the car would start with leads?

Quick update - tried to start it, and this turns off most of those lights however the engine does not turn over. Instead there was a NGNGNGNGNG kind of noise, which sounded like it was coming from the CD player, and the dash flickered slightly. No sound of trying to actually start. Battery says it's fine (eg colour indicator on top is green).

Morning all - details upfront, 55 plate 1.9 TDI. Have looked for relevant threads first and found a couple that were similar but went off in a different direction at points, so the resolution might not be right for me. So - as of yesterday, when putting in the key and turning to stage one (ie pre-ignition), there is a warning chime from the handbrake along with the brake symbol, *flashing* red (not stead) along with ABS and ESP in amber. This continued on ingnition and whilst driving. There was mixed success with restarting to deal with this. It worked once, the lights went and stayed off, but then didn't work the next time. Performance wise, including the brakes - no issues at all. Nothing out of the ordinary. My car has at times done funny electric things that disappear the next day, usually forever - however this morning I just looked through the window, the car not having been used today, and the dash was flashing - brake light on, ABS and ESP on, and the car with bonnet and key was flashing, along with the steering symbol. Looks like weird electrical shenanigans - a short maybe? That was the cause last time I had weird electrics after heavy rain.

I know, which is why I said full to half after a short drive.

Some good suggestions here in normal circumstances but that consumption is mental. From full to half a tank just for the equivalent of a half hour drive!

Stand down everyone. Replaced the switch and all good.