1.2TSi turbo / EPC issues

[JamieWakeham]

Hi all

 

A shame that my first post is to ask for help.  I've just bought a 2010 1.2TSi Yeti with 18k on the clock.

 

I've had the EPC light illuminate, putting the car into limp home mode, several times.  It's always when I suddenly slow down when the engine is very hot - most failures have been at the roundabout having just exited a motorway.

 

I've taken it to my local independant garage (who are VAG specialists, so they have the diagnostics kit).  They've found the fault codes that suggest mechanical failure of the wastegate actuator.  They wanted to check that the fault was actually with the turbo, and not an electrical glitch, before they put me to the expense of a new turbo, so they've sent me off to an automotive electrical specialist.

 

The electricals guy has told me that he can't find anything wrong with the electrics as such.  He did say, though, that he knew of an ongoing problem with the turbo in these cars where the potentiometer that's used to check the operation of the wastegate can give slightly elevated readings, which the computer mis-diagnoses a failure with.

 

He thinks there's been a software update that widens the 'acceptable' range of readings from this sensor, and suggested that I find out if I've had this update.  He tells me that I've currently got:

SW 03F 906 070M

HW 03F 906 070F

 

Sadly he didn't know if this was the most recent update. 

 

So, firstly, can anyone tell me if that's the right software?  And whilst I'm at it, are there other updates I should be checking for?

 

And what else should i be watching for?  Reading around it looks like there are a few issues with the early build of this model; I'm under an AA warranty for a few more months so I'd like to spot any impending issues before it expires.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Jamie

[bilun777]

Personally I'd get it all checked out at a reputable Skoda dealer before any AA warranty runs out.

Oh, and welcome to Briskoda.

I'm sure more helpful advice will be along soon.

[wakev]

There was a update for the software plus a shim was fitted to the early 1.2 turbos, go to a skoda dealer and see if the update was carried out on yours.  

[JamieWakeham]

Thanks, both.  My next step is definitely to go to a main dealer and see what they say.  I just like to have an idea of what they're going to tell me before I start!

 

I'll ask about the turbo shim.  Is that something they can check by interrogating the computer, or will it involve them actually looking at the turbo in some way?

 

Cheers

Jamie

[7029bob]

Hi Jamie

Later models had a clear plastic covering for want of a better description over the rear wheel arch to give some protection against gravel rash which the Yeti seems very prone too.

This did cause pin head size bubbles to appear on a few early models but I believe after mid 2011 Skoda fitted the clear protection covering as standard.

Might be a good idea to have a good examination around wheel arches and bottom of doors just to put your mind at rest.

This subject has been covered in past posts so have a dig around in history.

[wakev]

If it was done and by a skoda dealer it should be logged on the system, traceable using your reg no. 

[JamieWakeham]

That's really useful to know - thanks, both.

 

Should I expect to pay for these updates, if they need doing?  Or is this one of those 'creeping' recalls?

[wakev]

Could go ether way on that one, but a stern face and hard pushing may go a long way to getting it done for nothing or a good will payment from skoda.

[JamieWakeham]

So, the eventual resolution:

 

I went to Skoda UK and asked if they would look up if the shim and software updates had taken place.  They told me that their records showed two updates had been done in 2012, one on the turbo and one on the rear badge, but that they had no details of exactly what was carried out.  They gave me the name of the Skoda dealer who had handled it and suggested I asked them.

 

I duly did, and got told that the car had indeed had both the software and shim.  They did suggest that there might be newer software out and that I ought to take it into a local dealer (the recall eaaler is several hundred miles away) and have them check.

 

I'm very glad I followed this advice.  It turns out that the shim and software had NOT been updated.  Skoda's records had been falsely updated - presumably by Skoda dealer #1 in 2012. 

 

Kudos to Ridgeway Skoda, who - as soon as they realised what the situation was - carried out the updates there and then, and didn't even mention the possibility of my paying for the job.  They were as incredulous as I was that another dealer should have claimed to have done the work.

 

So, if another early 1.2TSi owner finds this thread in the future, and you're getting fault codes P334B 11825 (mechanical failure of wastegate actuator), then it might not be a replacement turbo after all.  Get a dealer you trust to make sure the shim and software recalls have *actually* been carried out.

 

Cheers, all.

Jamie

[freedie]

Amazing cautionary tale. Thank you for keeping us informed.

[wakev]

Good end result, it pays to persevere,  hope you can enjoy your yeti now   

[yetifabia]

It's worrying that a dealer should do this.  Can you say who they were?

[JamieWakeham]

It's worrying that a dealer should do this.  Can you say who they were?

 

I'm unsure if I ought or not.  At the moment, all I have is the second dealer's word that the work hadn't been carried out, against the first dealer's claim that it had, which opens me up to accusations of libel.  I have no reason to think that dealer #2 would lie, but then I cannot see why dealer #1 would have lied in the first place.

 

If it turns out that the work the second dealer did yesterday has indeed fixed the problem (the fault was intermittent enough that only time will tell, although coming home yesterday I encountered exactly the conditions that usually set it off and had no problem, so I already suspect they have fixed it) then I suppose I become increasingly confident in dealer #2's word. 

 

Dealer #2 (who I am perfectly happy to name as Ridgeway) did infer that it might get a little interesting when they claimed for the warranty work from Skoda UK, as the work will show up as already having been done - they suggested that Skoda UK will probably try to claim back the charges they made in 2012.  No idea if I will ever hear the outcome of this, though I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Skoda UK discuss the matter with dealer #1.

Edited 14 June, 2014 by JamieWakeham

[serkanfen]

Hi all,

 

I've had the same fault: "11825 - mechanical failure of the wastegate actuator". Then my service applied the part "03F 145 371 A - spacer washer" like explained at this link:

 

http://skoda-fabia-israel.blogspot.com.tr/2012/03/wastegate-actuator-fix.html

 

Software update was not applied to my car. Now it works fine but it was only 100 km before in the following days If i get any problem i will share.

 

from Ankara - Türkiye.

[skoda1982]

7 minutes ago, cliveb said:

 

Thanks for your comments. I fear that as an early 2012 car, I may never find out if it needs the shim update.

 

When I called my local Skoda dealer and offered to give them the fault code, they said it wouldn't be the same as theirs and they'd need to charge me £69 for diagnosis. My feeling was that this is probably BS - surely the P334B fault code is a Skoda (or VAG) one?

 

I will try calling another Skoda dealer tomorrow to see if they are any more helpful. What I don't want to happen is to be ripped off for a new turbo if all it needs is the shim update (or perhaps a new actuator).

This was mine that needed a shim update