these days i'm experiencing cold start problems with my 1.2.

same symptoms :rattles, engine that seems to fail and lights blinking).

the engine has gone off just a couple of times and everything turns normal (smooth engine) just after 10-15 seconds.

I think that in this range of behaviour, all this can be considered "normal" for this kind of engine.

ps

still no update of software.

using 98 octane fuel

Did you resolve this issue? I'm have exactly the same issue in new Octavia 2 facelift 1.2 TSI. It has 13.000 km (cca. 8000 miles) and in colder mornings I have the same problem - rattling start for a minute with blinking interior lights.

Hello again,

after 1 year and 7 months, i've passed 29000km with my Yeti. These days morning temperatures in my town were 2-3 C, but engine starts without rattles!!! I must notice that since last service and software update in April, engine work is much smoother with decreased fuel consumption.

I have a new 1.2 TSI DSG delivered in October 2011 with the symptoms described in this thread. Mornings start with a slight uphill reverse to get out of the drive and it keeps losing power and threatening to roll back down the hill. Quite disconcerting but the car is fine afterwards. It's as somebody else described, like a poor choke setting in the old days.

Otherwise very happy and impressed by the smooth nature of the engine and fabulous gearbox. Still hard to believe it's a 1.2 litre. And very comfortable inside with quality feel.

My question is about the ECU software. I would have thought to have got the latest version since the thread goes back to last year where people describe getting the ECU updated to resolve the issue. How do I find out what version it has and whether there's a more current version with improved cold starting?

Also experiencing the electric seat losing settings problem described elsewhere, but that sounds easy to get fixed.

I want to tell the regular contributors how valuable I have found this forum both before ordering and after delivery. Excellent information on winter tyres (16 inch dunlops about to be fitted on steels), snow chains, sunroof settings (yes, the panoramic sunroof is fantastic Mr. Johan 900000, thanks for all your interesting and informative posts) and VCDS. Without those posts I'd still be trying to figure out how to set the MFD to show digital speed in MPH.

As a Mac enthusiast I'm wondering whether to try running the software on a Macbook Pro with VMWare Fusion and forking out on my own lead but for now the main focus is to see if I can get this morning start thing improved. So, can anyone share information on the ECU software version question, please?

There are two known common culprits causing this (cold start rattle, revs dancing up and down, power loss at lower revs):

- old software (2010 cars?)

- worn out / stretched timing chain (which for some series of the 1.2 TSI engines can start to be problematic already at around 10000km. There are even reported cases of the chain "jumping a tooth or two" which results into piston meeting with valve and engine destroyed). Visit service and make them have a look at it.

Please note that some rattle during start is normal. Also the engine normally starts with higher revs (above 1200 rpm), which later drop down to around 650 idle rpm when engine is warmed up.

Edited 27 February, 201214 yr by Ferisko

No engine rattle in my 1.2 Fabia TSI but EPC flashed for once and lost power, when i turned it off and on again, no EPC flash and it drove like it should till I went to service. Drove it to the dealer and they put 2mm thick piece of metal in the wastegate valve. Dont know which are the fault codes. They told me that this is official Skoda service action and that it resolves the problem permanently. Now it goes normally, and maybe even better pulling from lower revs, like it accepts throttle better than before.

Edit: Mileage is 29870km when EPC flashed for the first time.

Edited 27 March, 201214 yr by Uro? TSI

Few days ago the EPC flashed, my Yeti lost power, after turning it off and on again, everything was fine. To be on the safe side, I went to the dealer to have it checked. They have put a 2mm washer on the valve, and changed the ECU with a brand new one. They told me that they were not able to update the software of the present ECU.

Edited 29 March, 201214 yr by cackok

my yeti 12tsi is 18 months old has covered 5000 miles, it was aiways a bit noisy on start up, but recently on cold mornings has made loud roaring/grinding noise not all the time but when its been left for a day. once on the move its fine you can hardly hear it. will mention it at the next service. which i have changed to fixed as i dont do the milage. Any ideas on what it could be cheers

Timing chain, it stretches up and loosens and starts rattling against its casing.

Took it in for second service, and prestons said they would order in a new timing chain, and give me a call when its in. So looks like that should sort it. cheers.

^{My Yeti lost power, so took it to the garage, they found 2 foulty spark plugs and one ignition lead. They've changed all 4 plugs and one lead, and gave me the bill. After investigating this forum, I've found out that this was covered by good will, eventhough my car was out of warranty. I told this to my dealer, and they've changed the other 3 leads as well, and charged me nothing at all.}

Edited 25 January, 201313 yr by cackok