Hi,

 

Bit of a back story - car has been leaking coolant and been in to Skoda twice to try and identify the problem. Turns out its leaking coolant internally from the EGR valve cooler. I refused the repair as i simply cannot afford £900 at the moment. Plan was to keep topping up coolant until i can get it repaired.

 

After i got the car back, it was fine driving out of the dealer and fine the rest of the day. Next day i get flashing glow plug warning light on the dash. Tried reading codes with my cheap ODB2 i had in the car but no codes found. After a bit of research i found that it could be one of sensors on the exhuast system if the glow plug error happens 3 times and the EML comes on. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/370061-exhaust-gas-temperature-sensor/ (reference to a MK2)

 

Well that happened and i managed to read a code when the EML was on. Code came back as P0544. Did a search and could only find the code P0546 which had the same description (think its the same error just different for a MK2). I cleared the codes and everything was fine for a day, Flashing glow plugs have come back with a loss of performance - not limp mode but i can notice the difference. To add another layer of confusion, i got a ERROR: STOP / START unavailable a few hours ago.

 

Car is booked in on Thursday at Skoda after telling them this has occured after getting my car back. They've informed me that if it had anything to do with them they would repair it FOC.

 

Im 50/50 whether its their fault. They could of damaged some wiring or a sensor when putting the car back together, however im wondering if anyone has had the same issue or maybe able to estimate a cost of repair - i cant find which sensor is failing or any info on part numbers etc.

 

car is a 2014 VRS TDI - 60k miles

 

whilst im at it - can anyone confirm if an EGR valve cooler from another VAG car would fit the octavia? I have found one from a 2017 seat leon but unsure if part numbers etc are the same.

 

Any input welcome. TIA

 

EDIT: just to add, i read somewhere this could effect the car doing a regen... i can confirm car was regenerating before and also clearing the soot as normal.

Edited 9 March, 20206 yr by Dowsett
EDIT

I’ve had this same fault code shown on my Octavia 1.6 TDi last week at 37k. Was diagnosed as a faulty fuel pressure sensor. The fault was cleared on a software update but was told it could return at any time. Car is going in this morning for a replacement sensor. 

The actual egr does not cost that much. It is the location that is the issue as you have to remove the particle filter to access it. I would imagine you would get it repaired a lot less by going to an independent garage who know VAG engines. 

A genuine egr cooler retails about £300, so Skoda were charging you £600 labour. They must charge over £150 an hour labour as it is about a 3 hr job max on ramps with easy access.

Did you have the same code come up, @threadbear?

 

FYI the part is £305. The rest is gasket kit etc and labour @ 4 hours. See attached. 

 

I have found a cooler at a breakers but would still need to buy the gasket kit around £50 and then find a garage willing to fit it so plus that labour... 

No. @Dowsett I think that might be a generic error message that comes up when there is a fault. I didn’t have a fault with my glow plugs or stop/start system. A diagnosis of a faulty pressure sensor was the cause of the problem. Felt like the turbo wasn’t working. It is being replaced as I type this. Costing about £200 to have replaced.