Hi,

my wee Fabia started playing up last night.

I got in it at the station to drive homw, and it took roughly 10 secs for glowplug light to go out (usually 2 or 3). Then the check engine warning light came on.

Once I got home (23 miles) I switched it off, tried again and glowplug light went ut straight away - classic flat battery behaviour.

Then the engine light went out as I was driving around a wee bit!

The last time I had a flat battery (back from hols) the check engine light stayed on and had to be cleared using VAGCOM.

Now this morning, drove thru to Glasgow (52 miles), everything fine for 40 or so, then engine warning light comes back on, and temperature gauge drops to around 1/4 (usually bankg on 1/2).

Temp gauge continued to rise and fall, but always staying around 1/4.

I've parked it up and gone to work, but dreading what awaits me tomorrow morning.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks,

Steven

do you have access to VCDS mate? get it scanned for any errors

Sent a message to someone on here who has code reader, and also just bought generic VCDS lead from ebay and going to install VCDS-Lite on my laptop.

Was just hoping someone would recognize symptoms before I try and drive home tomorrow!

cheers.

Sure its not just the glowplugs

possabley temp sensor i had it go on my car for years before i had it was taking forever for the glowplug light to go out we put glowplugs, the wiring loom and then i got the car and it didnt bother me cos it was always like it then after about 3 months the temp gauge kept going up and down so we fitted a new temp sensor and all problems solved! was quite shocked actually lol

Thanks Adam - been doing some reading and it does sound like the temp sensor.

Temp gauge was sitting at 90 on way home today but CEL still on.

Got my cable so gonna install VCDS and have a look.

Cheers.

OK, here are the results of my scan:

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/17664/P1256

Temp

Sensor!

Bloody phone!

Lol, thanks Mike, appreciated!

OK so I finally got my hands on a new sensor (after second attempt, Skoda spares left one for me at front desk during the week...for a Felicia )

swapped it over today with minimal coolant loss and...no change - CEL still on and temp gauge takes forever to get up to 90.

Glowplug light goes out after around 15 secs instead of the usual 2-3.

What are the chances my new sensor is also up the spout?

More likely to be wiring or something?

HELP!

hmm sounds like the temp sensor has done something maybe that was faulty too and something else but as i have never used vcds i dont understand that picture you gave before if you could get it plugged into a skoda machine i would understand totally... tbh they can take a while to get to 90 because of how the diesels run like many people complain that they have never heard their fans kicked in its because they just dont get that hot.. erm really not sure wont be long before someone who knows more comes a log like tech1e! he is always a great help!

seems strange that the glow plug light should stay on for longer as i assume it would stay on for the same amount of time whether the plugs are good or bad?

i had number 3 plug get a fault that brought the engine light on?

i think the glowplugs stay on longer as i read that, due to the malfunctioning temp sensor, the ecu thinks its -48 degrees or something!

Were the faults cleared after replacing the sensor?

No - my freeware copy of VCDS coupled with my ebay OBDII cable does not offer me that luxury

Do you think it will have a bearing? I thought that the temp gauge would at least work like normal?

Probalbe causes for 17664, coolant sensor- open circuit/short to positive, are:

• wiring open circuit/short to positive
  
• coolant sensor
  

I get the 18009 code on my vRS but do not get any of the problems you describe.

Hope this helps.

SN

Thanks Steve.

I had the CEL cleared tonight, and whilst the engine was running it stayed away...but as soon as you switch off and restart, it comes back!

Thinking it may be wiring related (as per Steve's post) so will look at that when I get time.

So the saga continues...

I decided to bite the bullet and buy a second new Coolant Sensor, but went for Darkside Developments this time as it's 1/2 the price of Skoda.

Was meant to be getting fitted this weekend, as well as oil service and Polyflex console bushes fitted but...on monday night, I jumped in the car and as I was driving, I was aware something was different.

The CEL light had gone out!

I haven't changed anything for a couple of weeks, so why would it just start working again?

Now the glowplug light goes out when cold within 1-2 seconds, like normal, and the temp gauge is reading like normal again i.e. heating up gradually and much quicker than it had been.

So, is my problem fixed? To be honest, i'm more nervous now as who knows, it could come back at any time.

Talk about perplexing!

Engine management light came back on this morning :(

Coupled with a delay in glowplug light extinguishing, and temp gauge erratic.

Looks like a wiring issue - bugger!

Did you fit the coolant sensor or not bother as it could be what's causing the glow plug light's and engine management light to be on.

Did you fit the coolant sensor or not bother as it could be what's causing the glow plug light's and engine management light to be on.

Fitted the first one I bought from Skoda, didn't bother with the second one as it had started working again for 2 weeks, which leads me to believe it's not the sensor, but wiring.