I was driving on a twisting country road this morning, taking my time and doing nothing unusual.  The EPC warning light came on for no apparent reason although I didn't get limp mode or any obvious change in the way the car drove.  I finished my journey without any problem and when I re-started the car the light had gone.  I've since done a 45 mile motorway run, everything seems completely normal and the light has stayed off.

 

Does anybody have an idea what could have caused this and is it something I should bother about or just ignore?

I've had the full EPC and limp mode when using full throttle on a not yet warm engine in Sport Mode but, not what sounds like the warning you've had, just like yours, turn it off, turn it back on again and its all systems go.

Windscreen washer level marginal low and a bend briefly activates the low level indicator and EPC?

Thanks guys.  I've just phoned the dealer and booked the car for a precautionary check next week.  The service receptionist tried to persuade me that EPC has something to do with the brakes.  Since the handbook defines EPC as "engine performance check" and says that the light indicates a fault in the engine control that didn't exactly inspire confidence!

If the light came on, then there should be a fault code stored, so I guess it makes sense to get them to read what the error is.

Or find someone who has an OBD fault code reader.

 

It may be the start of an intermittant fault which could be corrected sooner rather than later.

After four days of normal driving without any further sign of the EPC warning I took the car to the dealers today and I've been told I need a new turbo!  So much for the brakes BS from the service receptionist.  I'm mighty glad I decided to get the car checked instead of ignoring the warning.  A failed turbo many miles from home would not have been a happy experience.

 

The dealers have given me a 1.2 Rapid with 25 miles on the clock as a courtesy car.  It's a pleasant enough car but I'll be glad to get the Octavia back.

What was the fault? What problem does the turbo have? What milage do u have?

Mileage is just over 8000.  I'd expected to be at the dealers for a quick diagnostic check but I'd been twiddling my thumbs for nearly two hours when the receptionist came through and told me they were going to have to keep the car to change the turbo and handed me the keys to the Rapid. I was in a hurry to get away and didn't have time to chat but I'll find out more when I get the car back.

 a 1.2 Rapid

Oxymorons are the absolute bain of an OCD suffers life

Haha.. Excellent

Oxymorons are the absolute bain of an OCD suffers life

I hadn't thought of that    

 

If you aren't in a hurry the Rapid is a perfectly nice little car in a bland, harmless sort of way but I wouldn't want to swap the Octavia for it.

A week on and with nothing apparently happening I gave the dealers a ring this afternoon.  

 

My replacement turbo is on "back order" and may (I stress, may) put in an appearance on 31 March.  Then again it may not and the dealers can't say for certain what is going to happen.  

 

When I asked "Are you seriously saying that the entire VAG Group can't come up with a replacement turbo for a 1.4 TSI engine in less than a fortnight?" the answer was "Yes".

 

When I pointed out that my 1.4 Elegance Estate (for which I paid cash out of my own pocket) is laid up doing nothing and I'm stuck with a 1.2 SE Rapid loan car the response was, in effect, "I see where you're coming from, I'll pass on your comments to my manager".

 

This is deeply unimpressive.  Clearly the main fault lies with VAG but I have no confidence that the dealers are actually doing anything to expedite matters and they only seem to react if I rattle their cage. I know others have had far worse problems than me but if this is the level of customer "service" we can now expect my current car will be my fourth and final Skoda.