I was about 5 minutes into the drive to work when the glow plug light started flashing, followed by the exhaust control system symbol lighting up. At the same time, I noticed that the car wasn't revving normally, presumably this is limp mode.

Drove straight to Alex Laurie in Liverpool, where the reception guy mentioned a couple of possible faults, as well as "the DPF might need a forced re-gen". If the DPF was clogging up, surely the DPF symbol would have lit up? Perhaps he was just rattling off ideas, but I'll be pee'd off if the car was having a DPF problem and not reporting it via the DPF symbol; Skoda sure aren't going to cough up for the diagnosis and re-gen if it's just that.

To darken my mood a little more, Admiral charged me £21 for adding the courtesy car to my insurance. This is the first time I've needed a courtesy car and Admiral says it's £21 whether I have the car just for today, or a whole week. What a swizz!

If your car was first registered in 2010 as indicated in your profile, I don't understand why Skoda UK is not going to pick up the bill and provide a loan car?

If the DPF light was becoming blocked then you would have had the DPF light a long time ago giving you the chance to read the manual and follow its advice so that that you could meet the requirements for a natural regen of the DPF. I think the light comes on at around 45% full.

If you ignore the DPF light and continue to drive whilst not allowing the DPF to regen then it continues to fill to a point a natural regen no longer becomes possible. This is when you get both lights and limp home mode so that you have to take it to the garage for a forced regen.

Getting both lights and limp home mode without first getting only the DPF light suggests a sensor fault to me.

I too am with Admiral. Instead of paying them £21 I chose the local dealers own insurance at £10 / day instead.

Surely your car is still in warranty?

This is when you get both lights and limp home mode so that you have to take it to the garage for a forced regen.

At the end of last year, the DPF symbol lit up one morning, but after a run up the motorway it resolved itself. I can say for certain that the DPF light hasn't been back since. A faulty sensor would make sense, let's see what the dealer says.....

I too am with Admiral. Instead of paying them £21 I chose the local dealers own insurance at £10 / day instead.

Huh. He never mentioned that. A guy I work with just confirmed that his VW dealer offers the same thing. I'll be sure to bring that up when I go back this evening!

Surely your car is still in warranty?

Yes, until April next year as far as I'm aware. I think it was just speculation that a forced re-gen might be the answer, of course this would assume the DPF light came on and I did nothing about it. Hopefully once they've done the diagnostic work, it will throw up a faulty sensor code and confirm I'm not at fault. To be fair, he did mention the possibility of a fault, but spent far more time talking about driving style, forced re-gens and work not covered by warranty.

My dealer offers three options with a courtesy car: Your own insurance as long as you can provide the valid paperwork, £8 a day fully comp, free but you have a £500 excess.

I go for the last one cos I don't drive that far and i'm REALLY careful!!

I taught cr,s didn't give dpf problems?

I taught cr,s didn't give dpf problems?

Well mine has just spent 3 weeks in the garage........

Started the same as the OP - turns out that it was the G450 sensor + calibration needed.

If you want more info on what happened with mine, then PM me.

Justin

I taught cr,s didn't give dpf problems?

They give far less problems and are less likely to require active regeneration, let alone forced regeneration. If however, a sensor is bad...

They don't normally, hence the reason I suspect it is a sensor fault.

Of course the sensor fault may have knackered the DPF if it is now too full?

They don't normally, hence the reason I suspect it is a sensor fault.

Of course the sensor fault may have knackered the DPF if it is now too full?

Yeah, this would be my concern and the implications is has.

Incidentally, during the last week of May, we did 1000 miles in France and England. About 90% of that motorway. Since the beginning of June it's been the usual shorter work and weekend runs. Since purchase Jan 2011, our 'usual' mileage and town:motorway ratio hasn't changed and in that time, only once has the DPF light appeared (and quickly dealt with).

If you want more info on what happened with mine, then PM me.

Cheers, will bear in mind pending outcome.

Edited 15 June, 201214 yr by fidgec94

Alex Laurie got back to me yesterday, apparently there is a fault with the exhaust gas recirculation valve. The parts won't be in until Tuesday, so I've got the courtesy car until then, would have been nice to have another Octavia, but instead I have a tiny Fabia on the drive! I asked if there were any knock-on effects for the DPF and he said they would check the % blockage, presumably carrying out a forced re-gen if necessary.