Ohhhhhh kay here goes, please be kind as I'm a typical bloody woman and my knowledge is very basic lol.

 

Just bought a Skoda Octavia Ambiente 1.9 TDI 5 dr hatchback 2004 with 160k miles.

 

Few knocks and scratches, the usual, but generally a very nice-driving car (though, what do I know!).

 

I checked the usual bits and pieces - solid strutt, good acceleration and braking, no water in the oil.. did a bit of tyre kicking.. you know.. the usual.  It DID have engine management light on but apparently if you go over a bump wrong on a Skoda, this comes on and it's generally nothing serious.. and it felt and sounded pretty solid to drive.

 

So, after I bought it, I noticed some worrying things..

 

It has excellent acceleration and roars down the road like a freakin sports car... for about 5 minutes.. then all of a sudden, there is no pull from it anymore, pedal to metal - nothing.  Struggling to overtake oul grandas on a Sunday drive.  Sometimes it kicks back in, but only for a short time.

 

It was starting fine and everything but then I left it to the valeters who txt me half way through to tell me that it was turning on, but now dying out immediately, though he eventually got it going again and now it's grand (but, the acceleration still dies after a few minutes etc).  And the airbag light also came on after I collected it from valeter.

 

So far I've been told three different things that it is... tell me what you think first so that I don't cloud your judgement by giving you an answer if you get me... cheers.

Ohhhhhh kay here goes, please be kind as I'm a typical bloody woman and my knowledge is very basic lol.

 

Just bought a Skoda Octavia Ambiente 1.9 TDI 5 dr hatchback 2004 with 160k miles.

 

Few knocks and scratches, the usual, but generally a very nice-driving car (though, what do I know!).

 

I checked the usual bits and pieces - solid strutt, good acceleration and braking, no water in the oil.. did a bit of tyre kicking.. you know.. the usual.  It DID have engine management light on but apparently if you go over a bump wrong on a Skoda, this comes on and it's generally nothing serious.. and it felt and sounded pretty solid to drive.

 

So, after I bought it, I noticed some worrying things..

 

It has excellent acceleration and roars down the road like a freakin sports car... for about 5 minutes.. then all of a sudden, there is no pull from it anymore, pedal to metal - nothing.  Struggling to overtake oul grandas on a Sunday drive.  Sometimes it kicks back in, but only for a short time.

 

It was starting fine and everything but then I left it to the valeters who txt me half way through to tell me that it was turning on, but now dying out immediately, though he eventually got it going again and now it's grand (but, the acceleration still dies after a few minutes etc).  And the airbag light also came on after I collected it from valeter.

 

So far I've been told three different things that it is... tell me what you think first so that I don't cloud your judgement by giving you an answer if you get me... cheers.

 

Sorry, but who on earth told you this?  :no:

Each time the EML (Engine Management Light) comes on, and quite often when it doesn't the car is able to log faults. These faults are stored in the car's brain (ECU) and can be downloaded using a portable code reader.

 

All Skoda main dealers have these, most non-Skoda garages have generic (usually Bosch) code readers but they will all charge to read the fault codes.

 

The best thing to do is find a local Briskoda  member to you (using the link below) and popping round to their house. There is a piece of software together with the necessary cable and plug offered by a company called Ross-Tech that allows non-garages to read the codes, it is called VCDS and is run on a normal laptop... 

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/224376-vcds-owners-map/

 

A few cans of beer usually do the trick!

 

Once you have the fault codes you can check them here on the Ross-Tech website...

 

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Fault_Codes

 

One of the symptoms you describe (there is more than one here by the looks of it) sounds like a duff turbo. As they age the vanes or actuator can wear or get gummed up. This then drops the car into safe mode or limp-home mode whereby the car limits the available power to protect itself.

Edited 17 November, 201411 yr by silver1011

Lol Fr0d a Skoda dealer.. sigh.. I think you blokes just take the hand out of us women! :( lol

Eugh.. Thought it might be turbo.. what we talkin.. £400? :'(

Was hoping it was Air Mass Meter as it's only like £30-50... any chance of that?? Lol :(

Silver, only one in my area and he was last online May 2013 :(

Could actually boke at the thought of paying £1200 on Saturday for this car (private seller).. Only just rid myself of a typical French scrap heap the day before.. I can't pick cars :( someone please give me the bottom line... how much do you think? :(

If it is limp mode as Silver suggests and the turbo vanes are just clogged, the Mr Muscle treatment may be good enough which is fiddly but not dear (see http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/243533-the-mr-muscle-vnt-turbo-treatment-thought-we-needed-a-guide-of-sorts/).  But the worst case scenario is a buggered turbo and fitting a reconditioned replacement might cost 500-600 inc labour.

 

The VCDS scan is required really to be sure, a good garage should be able to do it for you.

Pay a local garage a few quid for a scan and post the fault codes here.

Thanks adamal.. Looked up a thingy there and someone described the same thing as mine.. an expert replied that it's either Air flow meter or engine coolant temp sensor (both cheap!!) and also to stick some redex in there to get rid of clogs.. it had just been sitting for 6 weeks before sale as previous owner had died.. Oh good god please don't be the turbo :( taking to a mechanic who owes me one tomorrow afternoon who will do diagnostics computer on it for free for me.. will update tomorrow.. if anyone else has any ideas, let me know so I look like I know what I'm talking about and don't get diddled tomorrow lol "yeah sure I replaced the turbo, that'll be £500 please" *really only replaced the MAF but this chick has no clue* lol

Just read up on the Mr Muscle treatment adamal, if it's cheap, may as well give it a whirl... I'll ask someone else to do it though cuz I WILL break something.

Fingers crossed its a cheap fix. If you can get the scan done and post the results someone will likely know what's to be done...

another alternative to cleaning the turbo is using some dedicated turbo clean which you add to the fuel

 

http://www.powerenhancer.co.uk/product.php/839/archoil-ar6600-professional-diesel-turbo-cleaner

 

http://www.oilem.com/turbo-cleaning-and-turbo-cleaners/

 

as for the EML best to get a scan to identify the specific part that is causing the problem as it could be either the MAF or a blocked EGR valve

Diagnostics computer said Air Flow Meter AND Engine Coolant Temp Sensor... Replaced today for £200..

 

On the drive home.. acceleration cut out.

 

FML!!!!!!!

Well if that didn't fix your fault after the garage told you that's what's wrong then take it back and kick off!!

Did you get the faults codes? Post them here before doing anything else!

It sounds like you are suffering from sticking turbo vanes causing overboost and limp mode. 

 

There will be a fault code stored for this, but you need someone with VCDS or VAG diagnostic equipment to check as it may not show up on the generic OBD2 code reader that some garages use.  

They are my thoughts too.

The mechanic dude just plugged in the thingy and it just came up on his computer with AFM and ECTS he said..? I txt him when I got home and he said something about the vacuum pipes?

I know..people always take advantage of others, esp women when it comes to cars!I sold ny old scrap heap car for £250 after spending £1000 on it for 5 months use.. got offered to get full year MOT on it regardless of back axle and more dangerous stuff wrong with it for £150 bribe so I could sell it for about £700.. I wouldn't do that to someone though cuz it's ridiculous and unfair.

so how do I fix these turbo vane things? What u think about vacuum pipes?

You need to go back to whoever scanned the car and ask for the actual codes. not what he thinks they relate to (ie P1024 etc) 

 

Without those codes its hard to relate to what the problem could be with your particular engine, Sticking vanes could be an issue (if thats the case search Mr Muscle VNT post) on here... it could be clogged ERG, could be many things

 

Do you ever have Flashing lights, EML light, Glow plug light?

Dread, no the only light on was engine management one.. takin it back to him tomorrow.. engine management light came back on while driving on Saturday night and acceleration getting worse, was struggling to get up a hill on the motorway, speed went down to about 45mph ffs! Like I paid £200 for this to be fixed on Thursday!

Get it scanned again and ask for the actual codes not what the garage believes it is... these codes are used to identify the problem and are pretty good, post them on here and im sure guys will be able to indicate where you need to look.

 

If its EML and its on solid there will def be a fault code logged.

 

if the car doesnt rev past 3k rpm likely you are getting limp mode and once you turn off and on again it will be ok for a bit... 

 

get those codes and go from there, dont pay any more money with these garages second guessing everything, they do not have the same wealth of experience as the guys on this website!!

Struggling to overtake oul grandas on a Sunday drive

 

Read that and knew you had to be a local, checked location... yep!

 

Where did you buy there car from? And where are you based? There are a good few mechanics I could recommend around the province for you.

 

From the sounds of the initial dying out whilst driving it seems like sticky vanes in the turbo. I had the same symptoms in my 1.9 Fabia.

 

Did you get any warranty?