My first post here - Hi !!

I swapped to a nearly-new Yeti from a Renault Avantime in Jun (largely because of reliability concerns)....well...so far very pleased until today...

 

My car (63 plate Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDi  2wd "Adventure" - the one that "looks like a stormtrooper's car" apparently) won't start, or at least it fires, runs for a second then stops.

The instrument pod appears to be down...and the following OBDII code observed:

 

U0155 Lost Communication With Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Control Module

 

-fuses checked

-battery reset

-multiplug checked

 

It seems (to me) like the ECU shuts the engine down if it cannot detect the Instrument Cluster (possibly an anti-theft measure ? ...or just a fail safe measure ?...disturbance in "the force" ? who knows).

 

Called the Skoda Assist  (AA) person out - he was here for a good hour or so checking the connections/fuses - even popping out the cluster as far as he could without steering wheel removal (to check the multiplug).

He was on the phone to his VAG/Skoda technical folk - and there was little on their systems about this type of fault...suggests a rare fault ???

 

I guess there may be a defective relay, or the cluster itself has gone pop.

The car is in warranty and will be relayed when I can find a dealer with a free workshop slot.

 

Skoda Assist will deliver a courtesy car (but only tomorrow 10 am - on a Sunday there is an option to go pick up a car from an airport hire company..but I had wasted enough time today...why is it generally assumed you wont break down (or get ill for that matter) on a Sunday !). Anyway - it is good the Skoda Assist provide this at all - mustn't grumble too much.

 

I had a quick search and think this is a one-off fault ? But thought I would post here my experience...I'll let you know how this pans out !

Edited 5 October, 201411 yr by DaveWill

have you tried using the spare key?

Very unusual.

Sorry that your welcome here has to be with such a rare occurrence.

The immobiliser is in the instrument cluster, the car will not start unless the cluster has power as a result.

 

Is that code from VCDS or a generic fault code reader, VCDS will be able to talk to a lot more than just the engine ECU.

Thanks - yes - I tried both keys earlier - but no joy...before the AA man cometh

 

I just went out again (half thinking this is a waste of time), and guess what..when I opened the door (with the "spare" key) the MFD  lit up (could see mileage and the door open icon)..which was not happening earlier

The car started. (Lee - I don't know if you did some voodoo, but thanks for the prompt)

 

I then tried with the other main key too - and that also works fine. The AA man had only the main key during his diagnostics.

 

The clock now showed a time of 2:20...so it looks like the car may have sprung into life at ~18:30 (assuming it starts at 00:00 after a battery reset), 

The AA left at about 15:30 (they were actually here a full 2 hours) at which time the car was then locked.

Weird !!...so I have no idea what occurred.

 

Will have the dealer check it over - at least I should be able to drive it there.

 

There is an amber power steering warning symbol - and an ESP warning - but according the manual the power steering warning comes on after a reboot, and should go out (if no real fault exists).

 

What I will say is my wife took the car out yesterday with the "spare" key, and when I first tried to start this morning it was with the other "main" key.

Are there known issues with interchanging keys ? 

The immobiliser is in the instrument cluster, the car will not start unless the cluster has power as a result.

 

Is that code from VCDS or a generic fault code reader, VCDS will be able to talk to a lot more than just the engine ECU.

 

Thanks for comfirming the immobiliser location - I had suspected that.

The codes came from the "AA  Issue"  laptop - think it was just a generic OBDII reader.

In short, I don't think the AA have the manufacturer systems, and won't see the same level of detail.

Hopefully a visit to a dealer and VAG/Skoda expert will yield more info...

Edited 5 October, 201411 yr by DaveWill

Hi Dave, welcome to Briskoda first and foremost.

 

Sorry your new Yeti is having a few teething issues, I hope the dealer you got it from can pinpoint and fix the problem to prevent it from ever reoccurring in the future.

 

I thought Skoda Assist was with the RAC, unless SUK (Skoda UK) changed over since I bought my Yeti in 2010.

Hi Dave, welcome to Briskoda first and foremost.

 

Sorry your new Yeti is having a few teething issues, I hope the dealer you got it from can pinpoint and fix the problem to prevent it from ever reoccurring in the future.

 

I thought Skoda Assist was with the RAC, unless SUK (Skoda UK) changed over since I bought my Yeti in 2010.

Thanks for the welcome. Hopefully just a glitch.

Indeed the Skoda assistance is now delivered by the AA (assume they (SUK) switched to get a better deal - just like domestic customers !...maybe back to RAC next year)

I had to google for the number to call earlier...0800 526 625

here's the link...

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/on-the-road/roadside-assistance

 

I was debating whether to use my own AA policy or the Skoda Assistance version. I'd say always use the Skoda one ..as they will provide courtesy cars and it covers things you may not have on normal AA cover.

(indeed I now question whether I need my own AA cover - my other cars on a classic policy have recovery included in the insurance..and I am rarely a passenger or drive other cars)

I thought Skoda Assist was with the RAC, unless SUK (Skoda UK) changed over since I bought my Yeti in 2010.

 

Mac, it changed to the AA earlier this year

Indeed the Skoda assistance is now delivered by the AA (assume they (SUK) switched to get a better deal - just like domestic customers !...maybe back to RAC next year)

 

Mac, it changed to the AA earlier this year

 

 

Great, thanks for the updates chaps.  

Agreed.  I called Škoda Assistance in August to deal with a flat tyre; the AA chap who attended confirmed the (then) recent changeover. 

Quick update...drove car into SG Smith (Croydon Skoda dealership) yesterday to get this checked and a 12month oil service.

They found no faults...and no historic logs.

It might be the AA in their investigations reset these..or perhaps only so much data is stored.

I would have preferred it if the outcome was "we found this broken bit, and replaced it"...as I can't help thinking it could recur.

But if there is no data now, and no fault at present..then I am hoping it was an isolated incident. The AA man did pick up the fault code mentioned at the top of this thread....It would have been good if the AA had VCDS..so that full diagnostics can be captured at the time..all down to cost (of the unit + training) I suppose.

I have the Yeti back home now..drives fine..

The skoda assist courtesy car should go back in the morning...hopefully this was just a glitch.