Skodastephen

My Octavia II 2010 1.6 tdi CR has a notchy, sticky gearchange. Especially after a long run it is quite hard to locate the correct gear and sometimes hard to engage it. The car has done 160,000 miles. Would this be a gearbox oil issue (it has never been changed) or something else? Thanks

Thanks - MicMac the battery cranks the engine fine. I'm just wondering, as a new battery, if it is yet up to full voltage, and if that could be affecting the electronics. langers2k - thanks - sadly I am in Kent, so not nearby - but you are right it was a generic testing kit and not a VAG one

Huge thanks to all who offered advice on the 'engine starts but stops after two seconds' post, which most said was an immobiliser issue. The situation has moved on. I gather that a battery that is not throwing out full voltage can cause all sorts of problems for the ECU/ECM. In the end I put a new battery in. A couple of times then the car started but 'went mad' - no tacho, no speedo, no indicators, etc. but drove fine. Then it had a day when all was exactly as normal - I started it four times during the day and drove about 40 miles in all to ensure the new battery was full charged, and I assumed it had fixed itself. Next morning, back to the main problem. No binnacle lights come on when I open the door. Warning lights come on when I turn the key - including brake warning light with three beeps. Engine turns and starts and dies in one or two seconds. Has been the same for four days now When it was running okay, I went to a friend who has a diagnostic gadget - he plugged it in but it showed no faults. Any thoughts appreciated, thanks

Ha - spoke to soon. Just went out and it is dead again. I give up . . .

Thanks all. It appears much simpler solution - despite charging the battery it clearly wasn't giving enough power to the ECU etc. A new battery has sorted it, even bringing back to life the radio which had previously been asking for a code !

Thanks. No, the key does not fold when in the ignition and has never been a problem. I wouldn't know about a stop valve / solenoid Would disconnecting the battery help to reset the ecu if there is a problem there?

J.R. - thanks. No, usual key. I just wonder if the battery getting really flat has generally upset the electrics/computer side of things? When I open the door I notice the dashboard lights are not coming on that normally would.

My poor 2010 Octy 1.6tdi has been sitting in the cold hardly run for months. I've tried to keep the battery charged up. The engine will occasionally start, run for 1-2 seconds and then cut out. I've tried revving it, but it still cuts out straight away. If I switch off the ignition and try again it will do the same - start and then stop. Any suggestions please? Many thanks

My 2010 1.6tdi Octavia has a very slight drip from the under-engine tray. The liquid is slightly pink, and slightly viscous when rubbed between finger and thumb. My engine coolant is also pinkish with antifreeze but doesn't feel quite so viscous. I don't know what colour brake fluid would be - and frustratingly cannot see where the level is in the BF reservoir. I had a major water leak a couple of years ago and water pump and cambelt kit was all done at once. Can anyone advise what this drip is likely to be please? Thanks