Only joined as having major issues with my Mk3 Octavia. The day after a main dealer service the EPC light came on with Error with the Stop/Start being the cause, although the Stop/Start still functioned intermittently. They couldn't look at it for 2 weeks with the earliest appointment on Christmas Eve, so I decided to try a local independent garage. 

 

The independent garage said the Turbo actuator was faulty and this had been raising errors for some time, so it was obvious the main dealer hadn't checked this at the service. The actuator was repaired in January and all was OK until just before lockdown when the EPC came on again.

 

The car is now with the independent garage who will check the actuator and if faulty will take the car to a Skoda main dealer as the genuine parts are under warranty and the main dealer will confirm what has caused this (expecting at least a 2 week wait for the main dealer appointment). 

 

Possible causes are in order of preference 1. the actuator failed again, 2. the turbo is causing the actuator to fail 3. an electrical issue / ECU.

 

If its  a turbo issue has anyone had a reconditioned turbo? 

 

The car is 6 years old with less than 45K on the clock so I think spending over £1K on a turbo is excessive.

 

Any experience of similar failures much appreciated.

 

Ant

Update: Actuator is fine and software checked so all good there....A worn pivot point on the turbo has been suggested...Any other possible causes?

After two weeks off the road I got the Octavia back on Tuesday. The turbo and actuator were sent to Midland Turbos for a complete overhaul. Apparently they have modified the spigot on the turbo to a larger size and enlarged the hole on the actuator rod to fit. Apparently they have done this mod many times to fix  sticky/worn actuator problems.

 

Anyone else had this mod done?

 

Hopefully all sorted now.

2 minutes ago, AntD6 said:

After two weeks off the road I got the Octavia back on Tuesday. The turbo and actuator were sent to Midland Turbos for a complete overhaul. Apparently they have modified the spigot on the turbo to a larger size and enlarged the hole on the actuator rod to fit. Apparently they have done this mod many times to fix  sticky/worn actuator problems.

 

Anyone else had this mod done?

 

Hopefully all sorted now.

BTW Turbo mod and recondition cost £350 although I paid the garage and not Midland Turbos. Had to have new air and oil filters and oil change to meet the warranty that Midland Turbos provide. 

 

39 minutes ago, AntD6 said:

After two weeks off the road I got the Octavia back on Tuesday. The turbo and actuator were sent to Midland Turbos for a complete overhaul. Apparently they have modified the spigot on the turbo to a larger size and enlarged the hole on the actuator rod to fit. Apparently they have done this mod many times to fix  sticky/worn actuator problems.

 

Anyone else had this mod done?

 

Hopefully all sorted now.

Glad you’ve got it sorted. Interesting updates, not had any problems yet with mine but I’ll be sure to remember Midland turbos if I have any trouble in future.👍

1 hour ago, classic said:

Glad you’ve got it sorted. Interesting updates, not had any problems yet with mine but I’ll be sure to remember Midland turbos if I have any trouble in future.👍

To be very honest they were incredibly helpful. When I suggested to the local garage we get a recon or get it reconditioned they were skeptical so I rang Midland first and told them how the issue would come in after 15 minutes driving on fast A roads. They suggested it would be the spigot point as that would expand as the turbo got hot. They also suggested some changes to the software and further checks and suggested the garage called them first before removing the turbo. 

 

The garage thought some of the settings that Midland had them check and change had sorted it but the fault came back on the VCDS.

 

Midland Turbos arrange a courier to pick up and due to the Covid situation they still managed to turn it around within the week, although on FB page people have said they've done it in 24 hours! 

 

Must admit the Octavia does seem to more get up and go...

 

Hopefully it's not needed but hope this helps others having similar problems.