Well I know it's the ABS pressure sensor that fails, but I can't comment on how that actually affects the system - other than it WON'T cause total brake failure!

Worryingly, looking on other car forums, other makes' dealers seem to be turning away claims stating that the brake fluid hasn't been changed often enough - surely that would be easy enough to prove, though...???

Well I know it's the ABS pressure sensor that fails, but I can't comment on how that actually affects the system - other than it WON'T cause total brake failure!

Worryingly, looking on other car forums, other makes' dealers seem to be turning away claims stating that the brake fluid hasn't been changed often enough - surely that would be easy enough to prove, though...???

Ah right.

Ok we need a willing volunteer currently with this problem to test out their ABS for us!

Any takers?

Well I know it's the ABS pressure sensor that fails, but I can't comment on how that actually affects the system - other than it WON'T cause total brake failure!

Worryingly, looking on other car forums, other makes' dealers seem to be turning away claims stating that the brake fluid hasn't been changed often enough - surely that would be easy enough to prove, though...???

True that it won't cause total brake failure, if you can get to look at the original thread about the Honest John article, it states that there won't be a VOSA safety recall as this is not a safety failure and the brakes will still continue to work without the ESP.

Ian

Hi,

I have emailed Tommy Murphy Car sales in Waterford as they are shown as stockists of the repair kit. The reply came back as follows;

"I have checked all the details you have given us and they are correct. The problem is the part is not available in Ireland at the

Moment. We can only order the complete unit. Thanks for your inquiry but we cannot supply a repair kit at this time."

So that is another avenue closed! Other than trying to locate a repair kit in Germany, the only other chance of gertting the proper fix done is seeing if Skoda Technical will authorise my dealer to order one as Tech1 stated in an earlier post.

Going to dealers now as they rang on Friday asking for me to take the car in for a diagnostic, even though it has obviously had one in order to get the fault codes and diagnose the problem. I feared that this was because they didn't charge me for that one as they did it along with the MOT to determine the fault during the MOT and now wanted to charge me for one. It turns out that Skoda have asked for a DISS report so they have to have the car linked up to generate one of those (whatever they are).

I will be pushing for the repair kit being supplied from Skoda. Failing that I will push for 100% cost to them for the abs unit. I will be changing the car within the next 12-18 months so it should last that long, and indeed be under warranty for most of it.

I thought VOSA said it wasn't a recall because the ABS still worked.

If your MOT centre is saying otherwise, then I'd get VOSA involved, because then surely it would be recall time

As I understood the VOSA response was that because you got a warning indicator up for the fault it would not come under their remit as you have the warning to stop driving and contact your dealer.

I have spoken to a local BMW specialist we use for wifes car and he said it is an MOT failure as well. BMW do a repair kit for their cars which I suspect must be the same item as the abs units are the same. Just would have to cross check parts numbers etc across the different manufacturers.

I have just quoted the repair kit part number to local Volkswagon dealer JCT 600 and the guy seemed to know about them straight away but said that they are "no longer available". He said that they did supply them but not for long as they were deemed to be "not a good repair" so they no longer supply them and have gone back to supplying the full abs unit!! He reckoned that they have never had one come back a second time. I did say that it is an age related thing so time will tell on that one.

My Skoda dealer has now done the 'DISS' report and says he will try for the max 100% contribution and see what they come back with but will then mention that the customer is aware of the repair kit. The idea being that if they come with, say, a 50% contribution to a £1050 repair then he can push for a 100% repair using the repair kit through technical dept as that would be cheaper for them. We will see what happens.

I have also had an email back from the Irish dealer after the earlier posted reply. He now says he has checked further and that the workshop has actually sold some of the repair kits so they are indeed available and has quoted me for one along with a delivery estimate.

So it would seem that VW have supplied the kit and then withdrawn it as they think it unsuitable. Skoda UK not supplying the kit (it comes up as 'brand unavailable' on their system so looks like the old VAG hierarchy bit again) but VAG in Ireland supply it. Unl;ess they are the same as UK VW and HAVE supplied it in the past but no longer do so.

I will just have to wait and see what Skoda come back with as don't seem to have much option other than ECU TESTING mods being done which will cost ME over £600 all told.

UPDATE;

Skoda dealer has just rang and has been told Skoda UK will contribute 100% parts/50% labour so the bill to me for a new abs unit will be just over £100 incl vat.

I have booked the car in for next Monday and consider that a result for a 1st offer from them. Ideally I would have liked the repair kit fitting but that seems a long and difficult road to source one and then the concerns that VW have pulled them as not being a good repair.

Thankyou to everyone who has offered advice on this matter and at least this thread can now add to the others on this subject as a source of information to others with this problem to come.

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by xyster

The 'G201 sensor failure' of the ESP/ABS unit is definitely NOT an MoT failure because operation of the ABS is not affected. It is only the ESP which is disabled. ESP is not tested during the MoT.

The Germans still seem to be able to buy the repair kit (judging by posts on the German forums) so I rather suspect this is some BS from VAG UK. Especially so if the Irish dealers can supply them.

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by Hauptmann

So how do I correct the dealers mistake in failing the car for this fault? TBH it is a non issue in that they are fitting the new abs unit next Monday. There is the issue that I cannot use my car for the interim period but I can live with that. I would still like to clarify the MOT failure though. Does anyone know where I can find this info out??

update.. I have just trolled through a VW forum and have emailed Skoda dealer as ssome on there have had the mot problem and have, apparently, got it in writing from VOSA that the ESP light being lit does not constitute an MOT failure. I am going to see if I can get the same as although I can get by without my car for a while now as am off work after Wednesday, why the hell should I if they are wrong?

Edited 10 January, 201115 yr by xyster

Ring the manager at your local VOSA office. Chances are that he will be aware of this ESP failure and be able to put the dealer straight.

Ring the manager at your local VOSA office. Chances are that he will be aware of this ESP failure and be able to put the dealer straight.

I actually emailed the query to general enquires but have just emailed their technical team the same questions. I have also emailed my dealer guy to ask him to check the situation with VOSA/Skoda.

I just hope they come back with a pass cert and I am back on the road in a day or two. Sick of driving wifey's Mini One!!!

Oh, in case you think I am a saddo on these forums at 4 in the morning - I work shifts!

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by xyster

So how do I correct the dealers mistake in failing the car for this fault? TBH it is a non issue in that they are fitting the new abs unit next Monday. There is the issue that I cannot use my car for the interim period but I can live with that. I would still like to clarify the MOT failure though. Does anyone know where I can find this info out??

It's been a few years since I had to MOT my car, but isn't there an appeals process?

It's been a few years since I had to MOT my car, but isn't there an appeals process?

here is a link to the gov website which explains how to appeal....

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_4022113

looks quite a long process unfortunately and not sure whether it would actually cover this issue if the dealer cannot be persuaded that this shouldn't be a failure... hope you get sorted soon

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by hugothebear

As I said earlier, quickest way will be informally - just phone the manager at your local VOSA office and get him to call the tester.

As I said earlier, quickest way will be informally - just phone the manager at your local VOSA office and get him to call the tester.

UPDATE; Having had no response to VOSA email I rang the local office and, although the guy I spoke to didn't seem aware of the specific issues with these abs unit faults, basically said that if just the ESP light is lit then it is not a part of the MOT and should not therefore constitute a failure. I know some people have had the ABS light on as well so that may be a different fault and would therefore fail the MOT but deffo not the common fault where the ESP light is on. Have spoken to dealer, who I also emailed to check the situation, and he confirms it is not a failure afterall and will issue the MOT cert!

Once again, many thanks to all who offered advice. This is the whole point of these forums and they are the best manufacturer forums I have been on.

Special thanks to Hauptmann

An update on our Octavia Mk2 (2006) ABS unit failure - encouraged by all you good folks who've had the same problem, and especial thanks to Hauptmann- we contacted everyone we could think of. No reply from VAG..not really surprised - but Skoda UK rang us the same day. Very nice chap, went over the service history on the phone. Certainly they are taking the problem seriously. We are waiting to hear what they decide.

As previously posted, we started from a position of £1500 plus the dignostic fee £70. We hope to improve on that. Meanwhile we are luckier than most - we kept the Octavia Mk 1 so we're using that!

An update on our ABS control unit story - Skoda have contributed £470 "goodwill", and we have had excellent communication and service. Very pleased. Thanks to all on this forum who helped us.