Chojnackaq

Hi everyone, I’m hoping someone here might recognise this issue because it’s been ongoing since December and neither Skoda nor multiple independent mechanics/electricians have been able to diagnose it. Car: • Skoda Scala • 2021 • 1.5 TSI • Automatic I’ve had intermittent starting problems for over six months. The car usually starts eventually after several attempts, but occasionally it refuses completely. The longest failure was recently it took over an hour before it finally started. It also once failed to start when leaving a ferry, which was a pretty unsafe situation. Timeline & what’s been done so far: • December – first non‑start. Recovery advised replacing the battery → replaced same day → no improvement. • Alternator tested → all fine. • First auto electrician → scanned the car → several faults appeared (photos attached) → he suggested Skoda software updates. • Skoda visit #1 → they said it wasn’t software but my dashcam draining the battery → stopped using dashcam → no improvement. • Skoda visit #2 → they performed software updates and scanned the engine for faults → still no improvement. • Mechanic attempted cable start during a non‑start episode → didn’t help. • Mechanic suggested relay replacement → booked electrician. • Second auto electrician: – Said not the relay – Scanned again → only fault was P0850 (Park/Neutral Position Switch) – Cleared the code – Checked wiring around the gear selector → said it looked clean and intact – Asked me to change gears while he sprayed WD‑40 around the sensor – After this, the issue disappeared for ~2 weeks (25 June → yesterday) • Yesterday and today → starting issue returned several times. The car never shows the fault at the garage, so no one can reproduce it, only just happened once when I was leaving one of the garages, electrician had a look and said looks like it wants to start but something prevents it from doing so It almost always starts eventually, but the inconsistency makes it impossible to trust. Most of the time, when it struggles to start, 'move hear selector to P/N' appears as well as 'error start/stop' although the latter not always The only pattern I can see is that it happens after short journeys but then again sometimes first thing in the morning... Error code: • P0850 – Park/Neutral Position Switch Input This is the only code that has ever appeared (twice, months apart). Has anyone had similar intermittent starting issues on the Scala? Is there anything else worth checking that garages might be overlooking? I’m honestly willing to try anything at this point it’s been months of frustration and uncertainty. Any advice or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!