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ABS Control Unit failure


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Hi everyone,

This is my first post on Briskoda.net and I am seeking some help regarding a fault diagnosed by Skoda today.

The ESP warning light (the one that comes on when the wheels spin) has come on and doesn't go off at all. I took the car into Skoda today and they diagnosed the fault to the ABS Pump Control Unit and quoted a price tag just under £1500... yes, that is the correct :(

I was wondering if anyone else has heared of similar issues on a Skoda. My ride is an 06 Octavia II vRS TFSi (just run out of warranty back in March).

I have read a few posts about similar issues on VW's... see below:

Golf 6 days out of warranty & £1350 bill! - uk-mkivs

Help wanted re ESP dashboard light - VWAUDI Forum

ABS pump replacement 2600 Euros???? - ClubTouran.net

Hope you can help,

Regards, Paulo

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That sounds ridiculous. It often seems to be the case that expensive faults like this are caused by a cheap sensor malfunctioning rather than the part the garage wants to replace failing, but its easier to replace stuff blindly than learn enough about the system to diagnose the faults correctly. If it's in any way close to warranty I'd try to get it on goodwill.

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Looks like this is a complete unit and there are no sensors attached to it to replace. If it had of been a sensor fault you would be able to check in the ABS control unit and that would have logged a fault code but it seems that it is the control unit that is at fault and not a sensor attached to it.

Looked it up on ETKA and it is showing up as £1200.60 for the part.

Phil

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If you do end up having to buy one there is a company in the poole/bournemouth area that specialise in repairing them, sorry I forget the name but I think you'll find them on eBay.

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Mine had that same issue about 2 months ago, luckely in warranty and was replaced FOC.

Cant remember the exact cost of the part but it was around the £1000 to £1500 as mentioned.

Happened just before a road trip to Scotland to. Was fun not having traction control, but nervy without ABS.

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Thanks guys. will look up the info above. The funny thing with this ABS control unit is that the ABS still works :), I know because I've tested it, but the ESP and traction control don't.

In an attempt to fix it myself I have even re-flashed the ecu with my bluefin device by restoring it to stock.

I have to say that driving it without traction control is fun, but then, I do that all the time anyway.

I also own a VW Touran, which is still under warranty. Just hope it doesn't go on that one :)

Paulo

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  • 2 weeks later...

Paulo,

I've just had the exact same thing happen with my 06 Vrs. The car was sitting over night last week (on a very wet night), I started it up in the morning and the ESP lights wouldn't go off. The warranty ran out in April so my local dealer are going to apply to Skoda.

Did you get yours fixed by the dealer?

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Not going to help but at Honest John site:

Car review: Skoda Octavia II (2004 - )

"Same massive and disgraceful rate of failure of ABS/ESP on cars over 3 years old as on VW Golfs. This is a SAFETY RELATED FAULT. All cars should be repaired FOC, even if VOSA cannot be bothered to order a vehicle safety recall."

Maybe a letter to VOSA as well?

james.

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I feel your pain, a few months ago the VSA modulator failed on my four year old Honda Accord, I was quoted £1650 to fit a replacement. Looking on forums this is not an unheard of problem in Honda models. I was lucky that Honda UK as a goodwill gesture supplied the part free of charge - so I just paid the labour, that plus the diagnosis still cost £280.

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Paulo,

I've just had the exact same thing happen with my 06 Vrs. The car was sitting over night last week (on a very wet night), I started it up in the morning and the ESP lights wouldn't go off. The warranty ran out in April so my local dealer are going to apply to Skoda.

Did you get yours fixed by the dealer?

The dealer is speaking to Skoda about this, yet I haven't heard anything back other than there is a lot of paperwork to fill in that. Meanwhile, I am finding it great fun driving without ESPicon10.gif, although I hope this is fixed before the winter kicks in.

Keep in touch as we can both use each other as a reference. Surely they have to realise this is a safety system that shouldn't be failing and cover the repair costs.

If not, I will be writing a letter to autoexpress, which I am a subscriber and they just love to hear these stories...

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Not going to help but at Honest John site:

Car review: Skoda Octavia II (2004 - )

"Same massive and disgraceful rate of failure of ABS/ESP on cars over 3 years old as on VW Golfs. This is a SAFETY RELATED FAULT. All cars should be repaired FOC, even if VOSA cannot be bothered to order a vehicle safety recall."

Maybe a letter to VOSA as well?

james.

Thanks James, will be quoting this to Skoda, or anyone that listens.

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BBA reman online catalogue

Try this £100 for fix and 2 Year guarantee. You remove electronic part of ABS, does not require interfering with hydraulic part of system, you can still use car but obviously no ABS. No need to recode unit as own unit is returned and already coded.

That's who I was trying to think of.

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Initial feedback from dealer is that Skoda are willing to pay 50% but this is still a considerable bill. Whats really annoying is this will be a really cheap part that has failed. They should at least offer a recon/exchange basis.

I bought my VRs as my first Skoda and I've praised it to the heavens but this is really a sickner for which seems to be a known failure.

I'm going to phone Skoda UK and speak to them directly.

How many instances have there been of this failure and is it definitely the ABS control unit as the ABS lights are not coming on, only the ESP.

Is this part common across the range or unique to the VRs?

The next problem is lack of maintenance manuals for these models. I bought an Elsawin CD from flea-bay and it doesn't seem to have any engine bay Pt's breakdown on it. Every 2nd Skoda you see on the road is a taxi, if the part is common you would think these guys would be experiencing it?

Kaj

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  • 2 weeks later...
Initial feedback from dealer is that Skoda are willing to pay 50% but this is still a considerable bill. Whats really annoying is this will be a really cheap part that has failed. They should at least offer a recon/exchange basis.

I bought my VRs as my first Skoda and I've praised it to the heavens but this is really a sickner for which seems to be a known failure.

I'm going to phone Skoda UK and speak to them directly.

How many instances have there been of this failure and is it definitely the ABS control unit as the ABS lights are not coming on, only the ESP.

Is this part common across the range or unique to the VRs?

The next problem is lack of maintenance manuals for these models. I bought an Elsawin CD from flea-bay and it doesn't seem to have any engine bay Pt's breakdown on it. Every 2nd Skoda you see on the road is a taxi, if the part is common you would think these guys would be experiencing it?

Kaj

My dealer has now resolved this with customer services and Skoda Customer Services are willing to cover a big chunk of the cost, leaving me to pay around 500... not too bad I suppose (if you are looking for a similar deal IO suppose you can quote my Name to them: Paulo Lourenco)

I do know that this part is common across VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda. I have also found out from the HonestJohn website that this is a known issue on Golf's, Tourans, A3's, Leon's, Octavia's. Curiously, from this site, there is an iminent recall on VW's so maybe the other manufacturer will follow suit. To aid this going forward, we must log this issue with VOSA, which I will be doing and I suggest you do the same.

At this stage I am thinking that a recall might take a while to come through, and as I live in Scotland, I need the traction control/esp sorted for the winter, so I have told my dealer to go ahead and order the part.

If you have any other news let me know.

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Well, having to pay £500 is still a lot, but miles better than the original price.

These things shouldn't be failing in such large numbers, I need mine replaced too as I am concerned about not having a vital safety feature with winter approaching.

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If you have a look at the VOSA recalls for VW in about 2002 they where having something smilier to Golf's etc listed as "anti lock brake control unit concern" and to replace free parts etc.

So i guess this has been around a long time or dodgy units been used again?

James.

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Paulo,

My car is going in next week. The best offer from Skoda UK was 50% of the cost which was just under £700 but as they quoted me without the VAT I'm now paying £558. This is obviously better than the full hit but I'm really ****ed off that this is a known failure across the VW/Audi/Skoda range. The ESP system is only fitted to the higher spec cars so I think this why they are getting away without a recall.

I would like to take this further as my car has just covered 25K miles. Maybe we can gather enough info to put a case together. Has there been anybody else with the same failure?

I did find a company who claim they can repair them at £195 + Vat but then there is the hassle of stripping it and re-assembly and if problems still exist you are then heading for the dealer for another bill. The dealer are giving a 2yr guarantee with the replacement.

These fancy 'safety' systems are more bother than their worth, I've never had the traction light coming on with enthusiastic driving.

This would put me right off buying a car with the DSG gearbox as anything going wrong is going to be very expensive.

ps I'm also in Scotland (south west).

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We too have just have just had to have our ABS unit & pump replaced. Thankfully we had decided to take out the extended warranty when it came to the end of the three year standard cover. We have been blessed by having it replaced by the cover. Our dealer told us it would just take 3 hours to replace. A full 26 hours later we got the car back. We reckon that if this is as common as it now appears then surely no one should have to stump up anything to have the repairs carried out and should have manufacturers extended warranty as Nissan do with their turbo's

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me too, thankfully just inside warranty period (3 years) - a sickener and making me think about whether I want to keep running it, or trade in for a new one with warranty -this is the beauty of warranties, but at a price. so much for "cheap" parts on a cheap-to-run car. If it wa soutside warrant yand they wouldn't budge I'd just stay without ESP and call it a "feature".

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