2005 2.0 FSI

[SkodaZ]

I recently bought a used 2005 Octavia II 2.0 FSI with 80 000km. I bought the car after doing a fairly comprehensive diagnostic using a Bosch motronic device and the eyes of a certified Skoda/VW mechanic who inspected the car quite thoroughly. We discovered that the head gasket would need to be replaced if I planned to buy it. The gasket's fault was minor and there were not any signs that it had started to effect performance at all, no frothy oil from coolant leaking into the oil chamber either. I was able to negotiate the cost of this work off the total cost of the car, so I decided to take a risk and bought it. The car's exterior and interior were both in mint condition and mechanically the car checked out, other than the worn gasket (and of course the potential hidden problems which may have contributed to the gasket's failure).

So, I had the gasket replaced and decided to take care of some other things while the mechanic had things apart: new water pump, timing belt and pulleys, gas filter, new plugs and a few other things I can't think of right now. After two weeks, the job was done and I was free to go. Keep in mind, I had only driven about 1500 km after buying the car and before taking it in for the gasket change, so I was eager to finally drive my "new" car. During that time, there was no serious loss of oil or coolant, so the gasket leak was in fact barely noticeable; replacing the gasket was fortunately only a preventative repair at that point.

After I got the car back, the engine light came on after about 15 km. Returned to the mechanic and his tests revealed very inconclusively, or rather quite generally, that there was an air pressure problem, so he slowly went through all the hoses and found one that seemed weakened and replaced it. Got the car back, drove another 50 km this time, light came on again. At this point, my mechanic decided to double check his work, so he concentrated on checking that the timing was in fact set properly (which it was) and concluded that there was a gas pressure problem and found a cable that was faulty (although I am not entirely sure exactly what it was -- I should point out that I live in the Czech Republic but am originally from the USA, so even though I speak Czech relatively well, certain things go over my head, especially when talking to mechanics). Got the car back again, managed to drive an amazingly smooth 175 km before that light once again came on. Went back to the mechanic, did the diagnostic and the final error code reading was this:

P2540. Fuel low pressure sensor - range/performance.

My mechanic is too booked up to deal with it straight away, so I am using this free time to get a second opinion. I trust my mechanic, but he's had my car longer than I have since I bought it in March and I think he may need a break from getting a phone call from me every two days.

My question is, has anyone else out there had any similar problems with this particular engine? Is it just a coincidence that this problem started happening just after the head gasket, timing kit and that work was done? Mind you, I had absolutely no troubles during the 1500 km I drove the car before I took it in to have the gasket replaced. If it isa P2540 error, what could this mean? Worst/best case scenario?

Thanks in advance for anyone who chooses to dive into this with me.

Edited 12 May, 2010 by SkodaZ

[SkodaZ]

I don't know if this means anything more than the error code itself, but the recent information I got was that it is a P2540 error: low pressure fuel system sensor, circuit implausible. Any ideas what I'm looking at here and why this may have suddenly occured after having the head gasket replaced?

Thanks,

Daniel

[Hauptmann]

This signal relates to some fault with data received from the Low Pressure Fuel Sensor - which VAG designate as the 'G410' sensor.

It is a small component, a few cm long, which screws into the low pressure fuel rail. Its location is at the front of the engine, at the end where the timing belt is (passenger's side on your LHD car).

The sensor is easy to replace, should it be faulty. However, given the work done on your engine it is quite possible that the wiring to this sensor has been damaged, or the connector not put back properly. First thing would therefore be to check the wiring for damage and the connector.

PS - the sensor will have a black-coloured connector and a brass hexagon where is screws into the rail. There have been problems with these senors (fuel leaking inside the sensor and damaging it) so improved sensors are available for retrofitment.

Hope this helps.

Edited 17 May, 2010 by Hauptmann

[SkodaZ]

Thanks for the tip. I'm sorry I didn't see your reply earlier. My settings on this forum indicate that I should get emails sent to me if someone replies, but I haven't receieved anything. Anyway, my mechanic has since the time of my first post concluded that the fault is not in the wiring but in the sensor itself, so I will have it replaced and then we'll see. I've had some other people suggest that it was probably wiring damage while the timing belt was being replaced, but if my mechanic disagrees, there is not much I can do besides taking it somewhere else - an option I'm not quite ready to do yet. It took me quite a while to find a guy I trusted. I hope I can say the same thing in years to come about this particular guy. The fact that he did at one point tell me that this sensor is in no way connected to the work that he did seems a bit odd as I learn more about it.

This may be slightly off the topic, but by chance that I catch you again, I've got another question. As my original post mentions, I've got an Octavia II FSI 2.O 110Kw with about 85000km on it now. I was initially quite taken back by the diesel-like, almost unhealthy sounding engine in idle and first gear, but was reassured that it was quite a normal sound for this type of engine. After a few weeks I grew a bit weary of this sound being "normal", assumed I had a hole in the exhaust manifold and took it to a shop that only does exhaust systems and they told me there is no problem with the exhaust system but that the engine did not sound healthy at all. I pushed them to explain themselves, but got very general answers, nothing specific and my conclusion was that they are just not familiar with this type of engine. My mechanic says there is absolutely nothing mechanically wrong with the car and had a chance to look closely at things when he replaced the head gasket (presumably) so I decided it was best just to trust him, however, just for a piece of mind I am trying to get as much information as possible (joining this forum was a start) and have since got a second opinion from another mechanic indicating that these engines just sound that way. What exactly is the reason for the rough sound? If it is normal can a light knocking even be considered ok? I've never owned a diesel, so this further adds to my uncertainty about this engine noise. Let's assume it is mechanical and the "rough" sound isn't entirely natural for this type of engine, what are some of the possible problems it could be for an engine with only 85000km?

Thanks in advance if you find time to answer my questions.

[Marcus A]

As for the engine sound, it is quite normal. I've owned my Octavia 2.0FSI since 2006 and the sound was there from the very beginning. I was told that it is related to fuel direct injection. It sound a bit diesellish while idling, quite unlike any other 16 valve 4 cylinder engine.

Marcus.

[Marcus A]

As for the engine sound, it is quite normal. I've owned my Octavia 2.0FSI since 2006 and the sound was there from the very beginning. I was told that it is related to fuel direct injection. It sound a bit diesellish while idling, quite unlike any other 16 valve 4 cylinder engine.

Marcus.

[SkodaZ]

As for the engine sound, it is quite normal. I've owned my Octavia 2.0FSI since 2006 and the sound was there from the very beginning. I was told that it is related to fuel direct injection. It sound a bit diesellish while idling, quite unlike any other 16 valve 4 cylinder engine.

Marcus.

Thanks for your reply. I've heard something similar to what you wrote about the diesel-like sound enough times recently that I should just accept it, especially when I consider the performance alone; this engine is probably the most responsive 4 cylinder I've ever driven for a car of this weight.

I'm curious, how has your Octavia treated you since you got it in 2006? Satisfied? Have you had to do any major repairs to your Octavia? I thought having my head gasket go bad at 80 000km seemed a bit early, but I've heard it is relatively common for Octavias of this type and I'm hoping it is the result of poor quality gaskets, nothing more.

Daniel

Edited 8 June, 2010 by SkodaZ

[Marcus A]

Enginewise, I am satisfied. Very responsive. When compared to earlier Skoda 1.8T in Octavia I, a lot more responsive, very lively. 1.8T turbolag left me feeling a bit detached while accelerating. I guess 2.0 FSI engine and gearbox are perfectly mated. A rare sight.

As for the reliability, this was my company car I bought off after three years, colleague got the very same model and engine, so I have a nice statistical sample (both cars had exactly same issues ) >

Front right and left axle exchanged, likely a specific batch bug, cars produced later (other colleague) did not have this issue.

Distributor belt and pulleys exchanged - increasingly whistling sound with cold engine.

Air conditioning servos in center front panel replaced - clicking sound.

Otherwise no issues. I have read that MY2006 injectors and induction coils are prone to failure, but haven't experienced that yet.

Also, got a bit surprised as far as oil is concerned. 25tKm not a drop missing, and after one 1000km trip with avg speed of 120km/h (oil was checked before) 700ml of oil gone missing. Had to refill. No trouble found otherwise.

To sum it up - most of the issues are model year specific rather than engine specific. Skoda/VW might have had some quality issues down the line, sometimes related to a small batches of parts. It was nicely obvious as our two cars were produced one right after another (VIN sequence). I believe since you have 05 model, previous owner had most likely treated all major gripes under warranty, so I guess there's nothing bad ahead of you unless you manage to accidentally take diesel instead of 98 octane

Thanks for your reply. I've heard something similar to what you wrote about the diesel-like sound enough times recently that I should just accept it, especially when I consider the performance alone; this engine is probably the most responsive 4 cylinder I've ever driven for a car of this weight.

I'm curious, how has your Octavia treated you since you got it in 2006? Satisfied? Have you had to do any major repairs to your Octavia? I thought having my head gasket go bad at 80 000km seemed a bit early, but I've heard it is relatively common for Octavias of this type and I'm hoping it is the result of poor quality gaskets, nothing more.

Daniel

[SkodaZ]

Just a little update on my Octavia, post head gasket repair.

Had the head gasket replaced in spring 2010. After that the engine light came on indicating the error P2540. Fuel low pressure sensor - range/performance. One guy on this forum suggested that during the gasket replacement, the sensor may have got damaged and that is what caused this error code to show up, but my mechanic did not agree with that one bit. Anyway, I had the sensor replaced after about a year, but before that the EPC light started coming on from time to time. I couldn't notice any sort of pattern as to why, nor could I notice any changes in performance - nothing obvious anyway.My mechanic said that it was likely related to the sensor in need of replacement (the error 2540 problem), but 5 minutes after picking up my car from the mechanic the EPC light came back on. Fortunately, replacing the sensor seemed to fix the engine light problem at least but not the EPC.

Any thoughts regarding what COULD be the problem here? I know that the EPC light coming on intermittently could mean many things, but if anyone has an informed guess, let me know.

[ednmra]

I had a 2005 2.0 FSi from new. Faults that appeared were air con compressor went (fortunately while still in warranty) at about 21000 miles, cat was starting to go when I traded in, and the esp light came on sometimes for no reason (usually when 4 up) and car went into limp mode until iginition was turned off, then back on again, which always fixed it.

Don't recall it being lumpy or diesel-like at low revs though.

[SkodaZ]

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't had my car go into limp mode yet. I'll assume that it still knows when it needs to, so the esp light might not be indicating anything terribly serious at this point- we'll see. Sorry, but I'm not sure if 4-up means 4th gear and above? Also, by "cat", do you mean the cat-back exhaust system? I'm a "newbie" on this forum and obviously in lingo as well. ;-)

Anyway, it seems clear that I need to get further diagnostic work done. Asking people on this forum to trouble shoot something like this is asking a bit much. It could be many things it seems. Regardless, I'll post the results.

I had a 2005 2.0 FSi from new. Faults that appeared were air con compressor went (fortunately while still in warranty) at about 21000 miles, cat was starting to go when I traded in, and the esp light came on sometimes for no reason (usually when 4 up) and car went into limp mode until iginition was turned off, then back on again, which always fixed it.

Don't recall it being lumpy or diesel-like at low revs though.

[ednmra]

Thanks for the feedback. I haven't had my car go into limp mode yet. I'll assume that it still knows when it needs to, so the esp light might not be indicating anything terribly serious at this point- we'll see. Sorry, but I'm not sure if 4-up means 4th gear and above? Also, by "cat", do you mean the cat-back exhaust system? I'm a "newbie" on this forum and obviously in lingo as well. ;-)

Cat = catalytic converter in exhaust system - pricey item if not under warranty

[tony2311]

Just wonder how your mechcanic using a bosch general fault reader and checking can say the head gasket is going to fail soon? the bosch will tell him nothing, if there is no coolant leak into engine how did he know?

[SkodaZ]

The gasket leak was earlier before the bosch reading and was visible from examination under the car and I was losing coolant quite quickly. After the gasket was replaced, as well as the timing belt, water pump and a few other things, the engine light came on. It was at this point that the mechanic found an error via the bosch reader and determined it was a sensor. That problem is fixed but now the EPC light started coming on, though intermittently.

Just wonder how your mechcanic using a bosch general fault reader and checking can say the head gasket is going to fail soon? the bosch will tell him nothing, if there is no coolant leak into engine how did he know?

[m0bov]

if he is a vag tech then he should be using vcds. get yourself into a main dealer!