Hi All,

1st Post!

I have been a member here since 2007 and a big Skoda fan. I have always wanted a VRS and yesterday took ownership of a 2011 Skoda Fabia Greenline II 1.2TDi. Not as exciting but I have just changed jobs and face a 90 mile round trip commute so I needed to be sensible.

I drove it home 50 miles on A-Roads at a steady 50-60mph and achieved 83mpg! Very impressed, especially since I am not known for economical driving.

I do however have some niggles I dont understand yet and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on them. The car is still under warranty and I shall be calling the dealers tomorrow but just wanted to see if anyone could supply any information so I can go prepared (dont trust dealers). I do apologise in advance if I am doing something wrong or am just being stupid.

1st Issue:- The car wont start fist time. - Very annoying, didnt realise this issue before I bought it. Yes I feel stupid. I turn the key and wait for the lights to go out. Press in the clutch and turn the key while applying some "gas" and it just dies. To get it to start I turn the key to "off" and go through to the whole process again and it should start. The more I think about it the more worried I am that it is a serious issue. Am I doing something wrong?

2nd Issue:- When the car is started the fog lights come on and I cant switch them off! Are these some sort of DRL's or is there an issue?

3rd Issue:- Stop-Start - When I start car there is an error on the display stating "Stop start error". I have read a few threads on this and am hoping the warranty should cover this.

So far this is it! Thanks for listening and I shall keep you updated on progress.

Welcome to the forum.

Enjoy your new car once you have its sussed & any little niggles sorted out.

Sorry i dont know anything about your model.

Have you actually read the Owners Manual yet?

It will most likely be DRL's that up have fitted

& you will need to read the 'Owners Manual' and see how to Disable them if you dont want to run with them on.

Maybe on page 48 of your manual.

george

I wouldn't start the car like that. You shouldn't use the accelerator pedal at any point to start the engine -you might be confusing the electronics.

In this order

1) Fully depress and hold down clutch pedal

2) Turn key and wait for engine to start -there will be a slight delay

3) Drive like a normal car.

You don't need to wait for coils to warm like on an old diesel -the car will do it all for you.

Yes you have day running lights -they are in the same housing as the fog lights but are separate.

Can't help you with start stop error -best get it checked out.

Hi Supercat and welcome to the site.

Congrats on buying the new car. You won't be sorry!

As greenstripe say, don't touch the accelerator. It's a digital drive by wire system and will confuse the ecu and shut the engine off as soon as it starts if you do. You should have a glow plug heater light on the dash that tells you when the time to turn the ignition key is. You should in theory always wait for the light to go out before starting the engine, especially from cold as it's the glow plugs that help ignite the fuel from cold and these continue to operate during the first 45 seconds of running to make sure the engine runs smoothly. If you turn the key too soon before the light goes out the ecu will get the wrong signals and it can affect the running of the car in the first few minutes of operation. This is because the cars ecu doesn't finish 'booting up' ready to run/drive until the light goes out.

The front 'fog lamps' are again, as has been said DRL's. The stop start error is your system telling you that feature is switched off currently...I think!

Not wishing to over complicate things and I know that you are very knowledgeable Estate Man. My glow plug light is probably the first light to go out on my dash, when turning the key. I've never seen it stay on indicating that it needs to warm, even when it's been -25 degrees Centigrade and the car has been standing all night. I have seen it with my other diesel cars but not this one. Also there is a conspicuous pause of a few seconds before the engine starts after you turn the key on the Greenline II -is that specific to the model or is that the same for all VW group common rail diesels?

read the manual as to the start top messages,

it will not normlly do a start stop while still cold (blue engine temp light on), or if you reverse park,

has the car done any start stop for you?

what is the exact message you are seeing?

there is a list of about 16 items in the manual that have to be met before it will stop, i have had mine for just over 2 weeks now and still getting used to it stopping at lights etc

If you have front fogs the lights that are on are DRLs the fog lights are next to them if you want to turn them off the switch is in the pannel under the steering wheel where the fuses are

Thats' interesting Greenstripe. I certaintly don't know all there is to know about the Greenline 2 but it seems maybe the software being run in the ecu is, as you say, "doing it all for you". That's pretty good then in my book. I must admit that I drove one a short few weeks ago as a loan car. I didn't even notice what was happening on the dash as the car was given to me 'hot' and I returned it later the same day having driven it the grand total of 6 miles! All I know is it went well and was just a tad quieter than my 1422cc PD tdi. Nice car actually. Thanks for that info.

If you have front fogs the lights that are on are DRLs the fog lights are next to them if you want to turn them off the switch is in the pannel under the steering wheel where the fuses are

Not on the Greenline II there isn't due to legislation

Legislation was that they had to be fitted to New EU approved vehicles after Feb 2011, that was Approval after Feb even if Manufacturers fitted them earlier,

not that you have to have them lit in the UK yet.

If no off switch to disable them as DRLs,

Can you not do something like pulling a fuse or removing bulbs, or are they doubling as the Sidelights with the headlights?

george

There probably is a fuse or something that you can do in the software to disable them, they do switch off when you turn on side lights or main headlights. In the manual it shows where the switch is -and I believe that this is so on earlier models. On my car you can clearly see where the switch should be but is not. I read somewhere -it might have been on here that the switch was deleted due to legislation.

I have no problem with day running lights if they are sensible and these are.

Edited 9 July, 201213 yr by greenstripe

1) dont apply gas when starting it! EVER! just turn the key after the glowplugs go out...

2) you have DRL's they are not front fogs... its a legal requirement now, just be happy you are more visable

3) not sure about the stop/start... there are lots of situations where it wont work... aircon on, not enough batter charge ect ect , check the manual

4) enjoy your new car, and welcome to the forum

DRL's, must be pedantic again so sorry..

'legal requirement' to have them as standard on cars that are 'legally required to have them fitted.

IE New Models with Type approval after February 2011, so not these Skodas, unless approved in or after 2011, which they were not.

No 'Legal requirement' to display them, or in simple terms have them on.

No UK MOT can possibly be changed to check any vehicle from 2011 untill 2015, if they do include DRL,s then.

*If its good to be seen, then why not switch on the Sidelights where the DRL,s are actually dual side/DLRs.?

Then there will be lighting to the rear also.

DRL,s at least do give some lighting warning to other road users in poor light where a stupid driver does not put on Dipped beam,

but helps not one bit to people coming up behind in those poor visibility conditions.

george

IE New Models with Type approval after February 2011, so not these Skodas, unless approved in or after 2011, which they were not.

There's your answer; the Greenline II came out after this time and is regarded as a new model because it is substantially different from a regular Fabia

Edited 9 July, 201213 yr by greenstripe

'Type approval'

happens before they churn them out of a factory and they stockpile a good few ready to transport around Europe.

ie

Before Feb 2011.

Cant start taking Orders on a car thats spec is not finalised.

george

right George, I'm going to be like you for a change because you **** me off for so pedantic all the time, and seeming to make posts just to wind people up.

"why not switch on sidelights" ? as you say..

WORNG.

sidelights are to park on the road at nightime. END OF. its illegal to park on the road at night unless its a streetlight 30 mph zone... anything other than this, thats what sidelights are for....

in most cases (with some excemtions like fords dim/dip system) sidelights are way too weak to be seen in poor conditions.

in the case of DRL's they will dim when used as sidelights so will actually give you less visibility....

and george, there's a big difference between someone comming up behind you and not being able to see you than there is to someone looking for you comming towards them when they are trying to pull out of a junction! much more chance of them not seeing you than there is is if they were comming up behind you at normal road speeds, any bigger difference in road speeds any you are likley to have your brake lights on....

DRL's work, and are a good idea.

what I've just done george is what you do to people all the time. its very annoying, havent you realised by the responses you get yet?

what was wrong with what I wrote about DRL's before?!

I explained it perfectly for the purposes of the OP's requrement as he was confusing them with fog lights.

whats wrong with you?

I am never annoyed by you or anyone, water off a ducks back with me,

you see if you dont like me or my opinion, thts your right.

Whats wrong with me is that i make you look good,

good cop bad cop and you are the one with all the correct answers,

and i let you do your rant at someone thats not liked and dummer than you..

What was wrong with what you said?

not much, just the bit that annoys me, but not as much as i annoy you.

i said it in my post.

Your "Legal requirement", that was a bit General and ill informed.

Sidelights.

Well the DRL,s we are talking about are also the same lights as the 'Sidelights' and a 'single' one becomes a 'Parking light' when the ignition is off.

Funnily according to you not good enough for driving with but OK to park up with unattended in the dark and poor visabilty with just the usual reflector to the rear thats always been there.

DRL,s were introduced in Europe to mirror Scandanavian countries as 'Moving Lights' to warn Road and roadside users/padestrians of moving vehicles.

Not in poor lighting or visability, Dipped Beams with light rear sidelights are for Poor visibility situations.

Good to see on the Tour de France that skodas that clearly need seen have on Headlights and not DRL,s at some stupid low fog/driving light height while other manufactures cars with DRL,s at headlight height are happy to use just those.

Importantly re Sidelights and there use.

Traffic law in the UK and highway code.

The must be dispayed and rear numberplate light between the hours of darkness Dusk to dawn.

They are in law the only lights you need to display unless reduced visibility in Town, street light areas, no requirement for Headlights if dark but not reduced Visibility due to poor weather.

We know thats pretty stupid and out of date and how quickly you get flashed if you drive off in town with just sidelights on.

Thats their designed lighting use though, not only as something to stop or park with at a roadside.

george

Edited 9 July, 201213 yr by sk4gw

Hi again Briskodians,

UPDATE!

Issue 1:- Starting up - I dont apply "gas" anymore - it was the trader who taught me that! This is the process I now take:-

I turn the key and wait for certain lights to out which takes a couple of seconds at the most.

Press the clutch and turn the key.

The engine attempts to start and sounds like it fails.

My key is still turned and it attempts to start again a couple of seconds later, this time with success.

So a bit of progress.

Issue 2:- DRL's - These lights are definately DRL's!!

Issue 3:- Start Stop error - When car starts I get a scrolling "STOP START ERROR" message across the middle of the dash display. I can disable the feature however when I enable it again I get the same message in the dash. Just to clarify it has never been working since I have owned the car (2 days) I was aware of the issue before I bought it and thought it was a warranty issue. Booked in at Skoda for Thursday so hoping it will be sorted. I have read a lot of issues with this system so we will see.

So that my post does not across as a complaint I would like to add:-

I love the car so far and getting used to the new driving style. I got 65mpg to my current workplace which is a 5 mile run on local roads, excellent. We are off for a long weekend and If I can get my 3 kids in the back I will be taking the Fabia. Start my new job next Tuesday which is 90% motorway commute and looking forward to seeing how it behaves on the motorway, if it can reach 80mph and what figures it returns.

Thanks for your input everyone and I shall return with more information soon.

Are they like this. Mine has a switch in the fuse box. Have you got a 12 plate if so they might of deleted the switch so they are on all the time. just a thought.

Edited 9 July, 201213 yr by skoda1982

Yes mate - they are definately DRL's and so issue sorted. Makes sense now!

Hi again Briskodians,

UPDATE!

Issue 1:- Starting up - I dont apply "gas" anymore - it was the trader who taught me that! This is the process I now take:-

I turn the key and wait for certain lights to out which takes a couple of seconds at the most.

Press the clutch and turn the key.

The engine attempts to start and sounds like it fails.

My key is still turned and it attempts to start again a couple of seconds later, this time with success.

So a bit of progress.

Issue 2:- DRL's - These lights are definately DRL's!!

Issue 3:- Start Stop error - When car starts I get a scrolling "STOP START ERROR" message across the middle of the dash display. I can disable the feature however when I enable it again I get the same message in the dash. Just to clarify it has never been working since I have owned the car (2 days) I was aware of the issue before I bought it and thought it was a warranty issue. Booked in at Skoda for Thursday so hoping it will be sorted. I have read a lot of issues with this system so we will see.

So that my post does not across as a complaint I would like to add:-

I love the car so far and getting used to the new driving style. I got 65mpg to my current workplace which is a 5 mile run on local roads, excellent. We are off for a long weekend and If I can get my 3 kids in the back I will be taking the Fabia. Start my new job next Tuesday which is 90% motorway commute and looking forward to seeing how it behaves on the motorway, if it can reach 80mph and what figures it returns.

Thanks for your input everyone and I shall return with more information soon.

The starting issue you have is abnormal for the GL2 and could be something very wrong ( in my case it was a new engine) or just something small and linked to the stop start issue.

You should not have any error messages about stop start and indicates a fault with the system.

The lights on your car are daylight running lights and can be turned off and the way can be found www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/225276-turning-onoff-drl-in-skdoa-fabia/ - look for my input.

I hope you get the problems solved.

Edited 9 July, 201213 yr by Dempsek

very interesting all this about DRL`s.....it seems they may differ from model to model

last year I bought an 11plate monte carlo and when the drl`s were on and I switched to sidelights the drl`s went off and a normal sidelight came on (next to main beam) in the usual place.I could sit in the car and swap between them.2 weeks ago I sold the Monte for a 11 plate vrs and when the drl`s are on and you switch to sidelights the drl`s stop on and theres nothing from the sidelight next to the main beam.In the manual it says the drl`s and sidelights are shared,so by leaving the drls on and using the bulbs they wont last as long.not a problem until you want sidelights on at mot time or at dusk.So when i get a minute am gonna knock drls off I think.

I know drl`s are supposed to make you more visible but 8 weeks ago a woman driver came straight out of a junction into the side of my monte carlo.it was a very open junction and visibilty was good.she caused £2000 of damage and all I got was "I never saw you" so it just shows you cant factor in for other poor road users!

very interesting all this about DRL`s.....it seems they may differ from model to model

last year I bought an 11plate monte carlo and when the drl`s were on and I switched to sidelights the drl`s went off and a normal sidelight came on (next to main beam) in the usual place.I could sit in the car and swap between them.2 weeks ago I sold the Monte for a 11 plate vrs and when the drl`s are on and you switch to sidelights the drl`s stop on and theres nothing from the sidelight next to the main beam.In the manual it says the drl`s and sidelights are shared,so by leaving the drls on and using the bulbs they wont last as long.not a problem until you want sidelights on at mot time or at dusk.So when i get a minute am gonna knock drls off I think.

I know drl`s are supposed to make you more visible but 8 weeks ago a woman driver came straight out of a junction into the side of my monte carlo.it was a very open junction and visibilty was good.she caused £2000 of damage and all I got was "I never saw you" so it just shows you cant factor in for other poor road users!

On a vrs the DRLs act as side lights when you put lights on. The 501s in the main light dont work on the vrs. The DRLs are not bulbs they are LEDs and your lights will not fail an mot unless you have a buld that has blown. your lights are set to uk standard

Edited 14 July, 201213 yr by skoda1982

UPDATE

Been very busy lately with my new job and commuting so havent had a chance to log in, but here is my update.

Car was checked out by Skoda 2 Fridays ago and they suspected a faulty ignition switch and was booked in again for last Friday.

Wife took car it in as I had made alternative transport plans for my commute and got a phone call an hour later saying they ordered the wrong part and booked me in for today.

I made alternative arrangements again today and wife took car in again. Got phone call earlier in the afternoon saying issue has not been solved and could they have the car untill Friday.

Now this is where it gets intresting. There have been a couple of times last week when the car did start first time. I cant recreate this and it seems to be when the car feels like it it will start.

Also 2 days ago as I left work for home on a very hot and humid day and stopped in traffic put the hanbrake on and the engine seemed to die. My heart skipped a beat, I thought i'd broken down pressed the clutch and everything came to life again. My first ever stop-start experience! It did it a second time as well. I got excited however it refused to do it a third time. It "stopped" however would not "start" again (although it did try) and I had to "reboot" the engine. BTW this return journey home also returned figures 70mpg whereas I normally get 60-65mpg, not relevent but I thought i'd mention it.

I also think the error message changes slightly when fuel is low. ie "stop start error" changes to something like "stop start problem".

Thanks for listening and enjoy your evening.