Driving home today the glowplug light started to flash intermittently when accelerrating normally plus there seemed to be a bit of uneveness and hesitation in the engines ability to rev. Engine was Ok when crusing. After 20 mins engine seems to have gone into limp home mode with max revs at 3000rpm.

Anyone know what might be wrong ?

OK Ive read the manual - flashing glow plug light means a fault in the engine ECU and limp mode has been selected. Book says go ring a dealer.

Annoying really - its been fine for 18K . I take it to the dealer for its 1st service then afterwards (within 2 weeks) first the MPG seems dodgy but then improves and now it gone on the blink properly. I wonder if the events are linked ?

I had a similar thing last night, getting on to the M3, put my foot down and suddenly no acceleration, went into limp home mode and glow plug light came on (solid, not flashing). Got Skoda Assist out and the diagnostics registered a problem with lack of boost in the turbo. Once I restarted the car it was okay again and the fault was no longer there - it has been fine ever since.

Then funnily enough I got a call from Skoda today telling me there was a recall outstanding on my car...something to do with the glow plug...hmmm...

Call out Skoda Assist, make sure you get a proper VAG technician and they'll have the VAS computer.

The Glowplug issue is quite an old one, an issue with the relay.

The Skoda Asssit chap came promptly this am and diagnosed a faulty "exhaust temp sensor 1". Took the car to the local Skoda dealership with the SA van following to take me back home. They will start working on it on monday. A courtesy car will be delivered to my place of work on monday as they dont expect it to be ready till late tuesday or wednesday.

Sounds similar to the problem which mine is having at the moment. Just after a 37k service (2nd long life service) it started with the tickover occasionally sticking at around 1000rpm. Dealer experienced the problem yet could find a reason for it. They said that the computer was showing a glow plug problem. Hence all they could do was to reboot the ECU with a flash drive, which seemed to sort it for a couple of weeks.

However a couple of weeks later, It is back to occasionally sticking at a 1000rpm or so, and being hesitant and stuttering during acceleration. It feels like fuel starvataion, or ignition break down etc.

I've now got the DPF filter light coming on. All within 3k of the last service. Oddly enough the display is showing only 9k to the next service, even though I should get approx 16 to 18k between services.

Back in she goes!!!! In fairness it has been far from as reliable as I'd hoped for from a Skoda.

I don't think the PD170 was one of the finest triumphs of the VAG group and hence problems are now commonplace.

To be fair this is the first fault Ive had - lets hope it gets sorted quick.

Sounds similar to the problem which mine is having at the moment. Just after a 37k service (2nd long life service) it started with the tickover occasionally sticking at around 1000rpm. Dealer experienced the problem yet could find a reason for it. They said that the computer was showing a glow plug problem. Hence all they could do was to reboot the ECU with a flash drive, which seemed to sort it for a couple of weeks.

However a couple of weeks later, It is back to occasionally sticking at a 1000rpm or so, and being hesitant and stuttering during acceleration. It feels like fuel starvataion, or ignition break down etc.

I've now got the DPF filter light coming on. All within 3k of the last service. Oddly enough the display is showing only 9k to the next service, even though I should get approx 16 to 18k between services.

Back in she goes!!!! In fairness it has been far from as reliable as I'd hoped for from a Skoda.

My symptoms were very similar but with the glow plug light flashing every now and then - not all the time though.

All sorted under warranty and car was back with me this afternoon.

It was the Exhaust Temp Sensor 1 at fault as suggested by Gareth, the Skoda Assist chap. A new one was ordered yesterday. Good service by Central Skoda. Glad to have the VRS back as the Jetta TDI hire car was rather dull, though pleasantly quiet inside. But IMO the red on black display is not nice.

Re-bluefinned it this evening - so all is back to normal.

Exhaust Temp Sensor - wasn't there a recall on that? Or was it the exhaust pressure sensor? I had both go (same symptoms) and I'm sure one or the other had a recall on it....

Quick observation.

I wouldn't have mentioned the bluefin'ing. You've just announced to anyone from Skoda UK who happens to pop by that you are running a non-standard mapping. Based on what you have had done and where, it wouldn't take too much effort to work out the vehicle. Cue much warranty wriggling next time.

Just my view, but sometime more is less.

Exhaust Temp Sensor - wasn't there a recall on that? Or was it the exhaust pressure sensor? I had both go (same symptoms) and I'm sure one or the other had a recall on it....

I think this is what you are refering to :

26E6 - June/July 2008 - Octavia vRS TDI PD170 engines - Full ECU remap and fitting of modified/upgraded Exhaust Gas Pressure Sensor; to resolve DPF regeneration issues.

Ive had that done last year.

Quick observation.

I wouldn't have mentioned the bluefin'ing. You've just announced to anyone from Skoda UK who happens to pop by that you are running a non-standard mapping. Based on what you have had done and where, it wouldn't take too much effort to work out the vehicle. Cue much warranty wriggling next time.

Just my view, but sometime more is less.

Point taken.