Info on the electronic control unit on the 1.6 GLXi 1999 Felicia is requested.

There are occasional issues with the tick over after start up being far too high. This corrects if you turn off the engine and restart. A mechanic has said this is probably due to the idle speed sensor of the ecu being faulty. Replacement is said to be £285 + VAT + fitting. If I get a garage to run a diagnostic check would it be able to confirm this?

Is there meant to be a warning indicator bulb for this among the icons lit up at the bottom of the dash when you first turn on the ignition? Could someone have removed a bulb to hide a problem?

Again, it might be dirt inside the throttle assembly but I wouldn’t attempt any work myself. Anybody know of garages in the West Midlands with strong expertise in such work with the Felicia at sensible prices?

Sorry to nest a lot of questions within this post. Any comments would be very welcome.

Well that post didn't generate much interest. I'll answer it myself now.

I decided that main dealer prices are too high and interest too little so I found a VAG specialist garage. After all, Skodas are now made by Volkswagen. A computer diagnostic test showed no faults. The engineer thought that changing the cam belt might have put the timing out slightly. He checked with a strobe light, made a slight adjustment and took it for a test drive. The comment was that it was running beautifully.

He pointed out that it would be nonsense to strip out the dash and remove a bulb especially as no electronic fault code was showing. To his knowledge there's no engine management light on this model.

The garage which I found recommended elsewhere on the internet is MidlandVW at Norton Canes near Cannock. Their expertise and service were very impressive. They are clearly enthusiasts. I hope recommending them doesn't breach forum rules.

:)

Hi bazz,

My tickover on start-up is a touch high for my liking also.

Im going to be changing various sensors this week in an attempt to sort out a low reading temp gauge, my thinking is that if the ecu thinks the engine is cold it would raise the revs a touch, il report back when ive done the job.

I dont think there is a management light on the dash and im not too clued up on fault codes.

No there is no engine management light unlike my uncles Corsa which seemed to light up every month or so when he bought it.

The only lights that come on when I turn my ignition are battery, oil pressure handbrake (if up) and the airbag.

When the cars fired up all the lights should go off bar handbrake.

Not sure what can cause high tickover but when I bought mine I thought it was running rough so I had it serviced and gave it a dose of injector cleaner and a few more a few months later.

Running as sweet as a nut now. Bar a few cooling issues

*Edit* If your car has ABS that light should also come on during ignition and go off when the engine starts. Mine doesn't have the ABS.

Thanks for the info on the dash lights. The temperature gauge sticking at a low setting is familiar. When my thermostat and the sensor on the thermostat housing were replaced the needle didn't budge until I'd been driving for quite a while and then only a little way. A couple of months ago it changed and now moves rapidly to the middle. I got worried but coolant and oil levels are at the correct levels. Rather strange.

Mine stuck at halfway when the engine was warmed up.

Unless it overheats i wouldn't be worried.

Mine overheated once thats when the thermostat/sender and fan switch was replaced

The engine stayed pretty cool afterwards but then the gauge stuck at halfway.

Not using no oil, water levels need checking and topping up occasionally.

Now saving for the cambelt/waterpump change since overheating again this year.

Ordered my temp sensor today, feedback of results soon!

I don't know how experienced at repairs you are but I came unstuck replacing the sensor which is on the same plastic assembly housing as the thermostat. The dealer wouldn't supply a thermostat on its own and I had to buy a complete housing. I thought it would be easy just to leave the old assembly and change the thermostat and sensor. Water poured out in torrents when I removed the sensor and I ended up with a serious airlock which I couldn't shift. I'm lucky in having a garage a couple of minutes away. They found that the water pump was wrecked and that was replaced too. To be as safe as possible a new cambelt was fitted at the same time.

Sounds like a happy ending for yours.

Thats my next one waterpump and belt.

Hi Bazz,

Reporting back as promised.

I changed the four pin temp sensor today and had the car running to check the results.

The temp gauge happily went up to the "normal" midway point and the fan cut in as it should. Idle speed settled down below 1k and the heater is nice and toasty.

Im still not convinced the thermostat is as it should be so that will be changed shortly when i do a full service.

HTH.

Good work. It's great when things go right. I seem to remember a clip of some sort which went round the sensor and caused me loads of problems. The thermostat is pretty straightforward to fit. My Felicia ran OK with no thermostat but that was in much warmer conditions.