Hithere guys newbie here and looking for some help with my octavia vrs.

Well first off i must say im not very mechanical minded but im willing to learn as much as possible.

I bought a vrs 2003 with 123,000 miles a couple months ago, when i got it after a few weeks i noticed the temperature gauge always sat about quarter never reaching half unless sat in traffic and the heaters would still always be fine and warm so wasnt too bothered.

A week or so later the car is still running ok but popped into my local garage to ask an opinion and he said straight away coolant temp sensor as he has done a few on seat cupras and they are very prone on the octavia too , i said ok fine while you at it change the thermostat too just incase its that aswell.

Anyway did that and collected the car but noticed no difference in readings, i called the garage after a bit if research and asked him the car was still the same did you change the sensor for a genuine vag one or a aftermarket one he said an aftermarket one as the genuine one is 50 quid ish and all the ones he changed the non genuine one has done the trick . I said well mine is still reading low temperature so he said maybe try the genuine part next ?

A few days past and while thinking what to do the management light has come on and as a member of the rac i called them out and he read the code as P1296 and it says characteristic field control coolant system malfunction ?

Now he had no idea what it meant and when i explained i had changed the cts and thermostat he was at a loss as what could be , the car drives fine and have noticed now the management light on when you start it sometimes it can rev a bit higher for a few seconds more than normal also the fan can come on quite early although im not sure if it has always been like that since i bought it ?

Im wondering what to do and wether to try the genuine cts next as all symptoms point to it being this although am quite surprised the one i just put in hasnt done anything ? Alot of people on the internet have had the same problem and some have not had to replace the cts with a genuine part

Any help in what to do or were to look would be great .

Many thanks jonny

Did he change the coolant for the correct VAG type when he did the cts and thermostat change? If he used the wrong coolant it can cause issues (a search will show you)

Id also be putting the genuine CTS in it..

Edited 28 November, 20169 yr by mac11irl

Hi.

Im not sure as i trusted him to do the job as for coolant it has a orangey red colored one in and had the same in when i collected the car from the dealer i bought it from.

Thanks jonny

The genuine CTS is important, and I wouldn't trust a mechanic who "fitted a cheap Fleabay one to save you money".

 

The coolant colour is correct for VAG G12 (and later) spec OAT antifreeze. Always use one of these and not a blue or green glycol.

So would you get a genuine cts fitted as a next step?

Do all the signs point to that ?.its just strange the one fitted didnt even work at all , not even a day it just did nothing ?

Many thanks jonny

Id put the genuine one in.

at least if nothing else it elliminates a possible source of the issue.

And even if you're not mechanically minded they are really quick to change. Always best to drain the coolant down a bit, there is a drain tap on the bottom left of the radiator but you'd have to remove the under engine tray to get at it though.

Otherwise you just have to accept you'll lose a bit of fluid when you pull the old one out (once system is cool and depressurised). There is almost certain to be a how to YouTube video if you search CTS change VW 1.8t or something similar.

About 6 months into ownership I had temp error, AA had a look, suggested CTS, at that time its body was black plastic. Everyone on here said green body one was the more reliable sender. I changed it for a VAG one in 5/11/2007, and is still going strong.

Part number was then:- 059919501A (4 pin).

Change it when the engine is stone cold, also undo the expansion tank top (release any pressure build up).

Remember when you take it out to remove the o-ring that it sits on, buy a new one Part Number:- N90563801.

If you do the above you will only loose about a tea spoon of water (thats all i lost).

Good Luck

Edited 28 November, 20169 yr by Silver Bullet

Have a look at this http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/17704/P1296/004758