Hello,

I switched off my 2001 Octavia in a parking "bay" on an 'A' road. I made a 'phone call and then switched my engine back on. As I pulled out, I noticed that the engine warning light was on constantly (orange). I assumed that it was still on from the lamp check starting the engine, but 2 / 3 seconds it was still on. Engine felt fine, but pulled in 100m further on and called the Skoda-branded AA service.

When the guy arrived, he switched on the engine, revved it, poked around a bit, checked oil and the brake lights, before ringing HQ. He then asked me if it had misfired (TBH, I explained, I didn't know what that would feel like but he said that it would be noticeable). He then said that the car was safe to drive normally.

Drove home carefully, although nothing seems amiss - power same as normal, no noises etc.

Other useful info:

When filling up this morning, the pump cut out when there should have been about 20 litres still to go. I restarted, but it cut out every 1/2 litre, no matter how slowly I put fuel in. I gave in, and assumed the pump was faulty.....

My questions are:

1) Any suggested causes?

2) Is there anyone in Kent with the kit to check ECU error codes over the weekend? ( I would happily drive to Kent / Gt London area)

3) Why does the AA computer system (Vixen?) not attach to my car?!

Thanks,

Si

Is that the Testing Engine Electronics light your referring to ? If so check out

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2837

Mine is also a 2001, had about 23k miles on it at the time.

Very interesting, but no - there really is no noticable change in the way the car feels. Should I assume that it really is safe (mechanically, rather than in the "crash" sense) to drive, then? Maybe I should buy VAG-COM?...

Probably easier to take to a dealer and get it fixed. If it is computer related things can get very complex, and if engine related bills rather large! Just a word. Is the light still constantly on when driving about now?

Yeah, the orange light ("icon" of engine) is constantly lit. The handbook says it's possible to continue driving with certain restrictions - but doesn't elaborate. I'll book it in on Monday.

Originally posted by SimonT in this post

When the guy arrived, he switched on the engine, revved it, poked around a bit, checked oil and the brake lights, before ringing HQ. He then asked me if it had misfired (TBH, I explained, I didn't know what that would feel like but he said that it would be noticeable). He then said that the car was safe to drive normally.

Si

I had an identical experience recently with my now departed Mercedes A class. After a couple of misfires the ECU logs it as a fault and switches on the warning light. In my case, the bloke plugged his laptop in and cleared the fault memory. Next time it was in the garage it had a new coil pack fitted. This may be perfectly relevant seeeing as it involves coil packs - Shudder.

If a coil pack goes you will get a CEL light. That said you'll know if the coil goes as the engine will sound like a tractor and drive like a dog i.e rough.

Best take it to your dealer and if they're not busy should be able to plug their 1552 in and see what's up.

Does AA system have the the OBD connection?

I had the "loss of button lighting" phenomenon re-occur last night, and the solution was to push up on the area of lights that come on when the doors open, and the navigation lights. It seemed to make some kind of connection re-attach and all the dash lights came back on. Quite weird, but hasn't re-occurred since thankfully - probably just one of those Skoda things for me.

The check engine light (CEL) will come on if the ECU detects either intermittent or permanent faults in the engine management system.

If there is a permanent fault the CEL will stay on every time you turn on the ignition - until you take your car to the dealer to get it fixed.

Depending on the fault, the engine management may also implement a "limp home" mode that may limit maximum revs to say 3000rpm - until the fault is fixed.

For intermittent faults (like misfires) the ECU logs the fault and starts a fault counter. After a certain time or after turning on and off the ignition, if the fault is not present the ECU turns off the CEL and resets the counter to zero.

The above is generic information that applies to car ECUs - each manufacturer - Bosch, Sagem, Magnetti Marelli & Siemens implements the above in various ways (also the car manufacturer also discusses with the ECU manufacturer, which regime to implement)

Steve

Simon,

Give me a bell on 07866 727618, I have VAG-COM. I'll come over and have a look for you if you want.

Jon

I've switched the engine on 4/5 times now, and on the most recent occasion the light stayed off. I'll pop 'round to my dealer tomorrow to see what the ECU has stored.

Thanks for all your help, especially Jon:cheers:

I'll let you know what they say.

Related to lighting, devonutopia, when I first collected my car, the radio didn't illuminate with the headlights, and didn't switch off when the ignition key was removed. It turned out that the radio hadn't been properly coded to the car, and so the "advanced" functionality was disabled. The dealer plugged in his computer and fixed it in a jiffy.

The AA man said that his computer would have been able to help if I had been in a VW, so it just seemed odd that he didn't think it would work on a Skoda.

Update:

Dealer plugged in small computer (1552?), and said that there was an advisory code logged, but that was it. He said that he would have to hook it up to a more advanced system to find out exactly what had happened, and that I should go away and forget that it had ever happened.

Most frustrating. Sheer panic (my car has died:( ) has turned to frustration (so what ON EARTH happened:mad:? )

Oh well, nothing further I can do, thanks for all your comments guys.

Si

Originally posted by SimonT in this post

Hello,

I switched off my 2001 Octavia in a parking "bay" on an 'A' road. I made a 'phone call and then switched my engine back on. As I pulled out, I noticed that the engine warning light was on constantly (orange). I assumed that it was still on from the lamp check starting the engine, but 2 / 3 seconds it was still on. Engine felt fine, but pulled in 100m further on and called the Skoda-branded AA service.

When the guy arrived, he switched on the engine, revved it, poked around a bit, checked oil and the brake lights, before ringing HQ. He then asked me if it had misfired (TBH, I explained, I didn't know what that would feel like but he said that it would be noticeable). He then said that the car was safe to drive normally.

Drove home carefully, although nothing seems amiss - power same as normal, no noises etc.

Other useful info:

When filling up this morning, the pump cut out when there should have been about 20 litres still to go. I restarted, but it cut out every 1/2 litre, no matter how slowly I put fuel in. I gave in, and assumed the pump was faulty.....

My questions are:

1) Any suggested causes?

2) Is there anyone in Kent with the kit to check ECU error codes over the weekend? ( I would happily drive to Kent / Gt London area)

3) Why does the AA computer system (Vixen?) not attach to my car?!

Thanks,

Si

Simon, just had the same scenario this morning with mine. It happened about 2 months ago and same diagnostic, minor 'sporadic' fault. I was told to ignore it and the fault never reoccurred until now.

Well, no misfire but it was rather damp this morning, so could it be a pre-coil pack warning? I don't know but I will take it to Claybank on the way home and get them to investigate it.

Mike

Checked it out at Claybank last night and it was a cooling system error, so it's in on Saturday for a new thermostat. No problems this morning but I suspect it could be a pre warning, and the warranty is paying so it

Update;

Had the temp sender switch replaced, apparently it was giving a high current reading.

Also had all coil packs replaced FOC

Engine management light came on in the wifes Octy vrs as it tripped over to 1k miles. Took it to dealers they reset it then it went again just before 3k miles. it was to do with the emissions control. In the end they changed something but can't remember what it was (had a drink since then), then car was nicked so I hope it's gone again and blown the engine to bits!!!!!