Skoda Fabia 1.4 16v Sport (2005) - Idling problems, etc. - Any ideas?

Good evening

'Newbie' Philip here but been a Skoda Fabia fan some ten years now - my brother is the same although he is an Octavia person (VRS, some other current top model!, etc.).

I once owned a 1.9 PDI VRS but was company car so, when I started my own business some years ago, bought a 'cut down' version, being the Fabia 1.4 16v Sport Mk1.  I love it and it has been regularly serviced (cam belt changes, etc.) and has only 85,000 on the clock despite it being an '05' registration.  Maybe I should get out more often.....ha ha!

Anyway, let's cut to the chase. (Incidentally, I am not an expert in 'modern cars' so, if I use terms/expressions which aren't quite right, please forgive me and insert your own (and more than likely) correct terms.

The Fabia Sport will be ten years old this year and, in all the time I have had it from new, only three issues with it spring to mind...

1.   I lost 'revs' on a journey home from a meeting - the Skoda garage fixed it by installing a new 'crank sensor' (or something like that)

2.   The 'lights on' warning sounder failed (along with the courtesy light being temperamental) - again the Skoda garage looked at that and couldn't fine the fault.  Oddly, some 18 months later, it all came back and has been working fine.  Go figure!

3.   And now the current problem which has baffled all and sundry......I will explain.

About a month ago, I went to use the car for a short trip to the shops and discovered I had a flat battery.  I was a bit surprised as it was fine the previous day but did all the correct things (i.e. disconnecting the positive cable to battery) and trickle charged it for approx. 90mins.  After that it started fine and I left it running to warm up.  But, as a precaution, I turned off the engine and re-started it.  That's when the trouble started!!

I could start the engine but, as soon as I took my foot off the accelerator pedal, it died - i.e. the revs dropped and it stalled.  I tried again a number of times but with the same result.  As such, I took it a local garage who have now been looking after it for me for the past three/four years - not Skoda specialists but have a good reputation and I have been pleased with their service.

Although only about 1.5 miles away, I soon realised how hairy even that short journey was as, when the engine cut out, I lost power steering!  Anyway, they had it for two days and couldn't get to the bottom of the problem.  They checked all the usual suspects, e.g. coolant temperature sensor (fitted a new one), the alternator in case that was the cause, etc. etc.  As such, without success, I took it back and had an AA mechanic look at it.  Same result and much frustration on his part - no success.

On the recommendation of the AA (and with some difficulty), I drove it to another service centre/garage some 2 miles from home.  And there it has languished until this day!!

Having been through everything they can think of - the VGA valve...(?) has been changed, a second coolant temperature sensor fitted (so 2no new ones within a week), the ECU has been sent away for analysis and, apparently, that's OK,.....etc. etc.

The Skoda garage with whom I had the car in its early life have been very helpful (as best they can from a remote location) and suggested that a check on the wiring loom that pops through the bulkhead into the engine compartment was worth a check as they have discovered water ingress issues there in the past on other vehicles.  Sadly, it seems that all OK in that department.

So, after that long-winded explanation of events, does any one you wonderful people out there in BriSkoda land have anything to offer to help me get to bottom of this issue?  After some four weeks without the car and having to occasionally hire one just to get stuff done, I am at my wits end and, whilst the current garage's assertion that they 'will get there in the end' is somewhat comforting but not much of a solution!!

Many, many thanks for any and all input.

Philip W