thetucker

It was the ECU in the end, the second unit that was fitted had the same fault, lucky it came with a warranty! New unit fitted fault cleared! Can't fault this guy for his help and service, http://www.the-ecu-doctor.co.uk saved me over £1500 on what Skoda main dealer wanted to charge for a new ECU!

Even a voltage drop to 7V during start? Surely that could possibly interrupt a computing process within the ECU? The fault is generated with engine at 0 RPM. Seems after a full ECU swap for a known serviceable item that it must be something external. I think the ECU might be a red herring in this strange case!

Thank you for the reply, I'll check out the fuse 29 & red and green wire. I've cleaned up a few dodgy looking earths, one heavily corroded stud sheared! lucky there was a vacant one within reach. Starter earth seemed very poor (although startings never been a issue) the battery was a premium quality that's 3 1/2 years old (still under warranty). I'm a avionics engineer on aircraft so I've got a good level of understanding with wiring and mechanical things, in terms of actually working on cars I'm a novice/intermediate level.

Thank you, these forums are full of such great info!! My engine number is BWA037147 and Chassis is TMBUF21Z568083007, hope this helps!

Thank you, where would I get the wiring diagrams for the ECU connections? Thanks for the advice.

Thank you for the reply, where would I find the engine code? Sorry for being so stupid!

Thanks for the reply, the reading was through a diagnostic tool.

Tried a reflash of the stock software but no joy, today I replaced the ECU with a serviceable unit loaded with my car data, fault still returns!! It looks as if its a issue external of the ECU, when hooked up with a VAGCOMM at the local independent garage it showed the fault is only generated on start up. The car starts absolutely fine itself but you can see the voltage to the ECU drops to 7V then returns to 12.5V, is this normal? If not where's the best place to look? the ECU connectors look spotless. Hope somebody can help

Forgot to say the car starts and runs absolutely perfectly

I today changed my ECU with a reconditioned unit programmed to my car to rid the dreaded P0601 fault code. Unfortunately its not cured the fault and looks as if a external problem to the ECU. Lucky I'm able to return it and only receive a £50 fee and get my old unit back. The fault clears but returns when the engine is started (its not generated when running), when the VAGCOMM tools hooked up it shows a voltage drop to around 7V when the key is turned, then returns to 12.5V when engine running, is this normal? If not where is the best place to look? Battery connections all clean, any suspect earths/starter motor? The car is totally stock 2006 Octavia VRS 2.0TFSI. Hope somebody can help with this issue

I've been in touch with several ECU specialist, they have offered to flash the ECU but did say its not a sure fix, but a good chance. Unfortunately the only way of testing it is to actually flash the ECU, however if the software fails to load the car will be completely inoperative. It cost £60 so its a risk I'm going to take as its a lot cheaper than the £1400+VAT & labour. Has anybody else ever had this problem and cleared it with a simple re-flash?

Hi, thanks for the fast reply, just sent Shark a message asking for info. The problem is I use the car daily for work and cant really be without it for a long period, living down in Exeter I'd probably have to remove and ship the ECU to Shark.I wondered if buying a second ECU might be a option (£150 on eBay), but wondered what to look out for. Then I can send my inoperative one away to be overhauled. Thank you again.

Hi, was hoping that somebody was able to help with a problem my cars developed. The EPC light illuminated on my dash, I was able to to read the faults and found it to be the dreaded P0601 "internal check sum error", I attempted to clear but it returned almost straight away on start-up. Although the light remained on there where no running problems what so ever with the car. I booked it into my local main dealer (Carrs, Exeter) and hoped a simple ECU flash/update would clear the problem. They took the car in for a diagnostic test and update (min 2 hours labour), I received a phone call to say they didn't want to carry out the update/flash as it may render the car totally inoperative and that a ECU replacement is what they recommended at a cost of £1400+VAT & fitting. I declined this offer and have decided to try and source a second hand replacement on eBay/scrap yard. I was wondering what to look out for when buying one second hand, what part number would fit my vehicle? and would it require programming on fitment? I was hoping that somebody may be able to help me with this issue, thank you.

Ok, I'll try and get it confirmed first. On reading some other post they seemed to point to the convenience module rather than the microswitch. Its a intermittent defect and also the unlock button on the centre console is intermittant to, they both seem to work after periods of dry weather or a long periods of driving (2hrs plus). This (I hope) points to a moisture issue with the connector on the ccm, which can be cleaned (again, hopefully!) Thanks again

Thanks for the quick reply, once the weather warms up I'll be on it. Hopefully it'lll sort my boot issue!