I've got a 2008 Skoda octavia diesal 4 x4

It's done a lot of miles can't remember off hand but a lot.   Please hear in mind I know nothing about cars.

on a couple of occasions while driving the car lost power.   Too cut a long story short took to local garage. Plugged in to diagnostic thing came up with egr valve.

Garage cleaned valve all seemed ok.   Bear in mind that only symptoms were lack of power.   No warning light etc.

Next thing although car going ok engine light came on but driving ok.

Back to garage diagnostic again.  Egr valve again.   Mechanic reluctant to do anything as says it could mean taking the engine apart and if running ok just ignore?  It appears to run ok only thing is can be a bit rough to start.  What to do?  Can't afford a new car and worried. I'm on furlough from work and don't know what to do.  I don't know about cars so please don't blind me with science!   Should I go to a different garage?

 

 

 

Sorry if I haven't put this in the right place

hi, its in the mk1 section, should be in the mk2, but a friendly mod, like @Chris, might move it for you.

 

on the issue, did you see the diagnostic scan, as to what error code it showed up? or did the mech just say "its the egr again"

 

 

 

 

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by mac11irl

All done @mac11irl

Thank you for moving it and for yourhelp.

I can't member exactly what the mechanic said but was something like insufficient flow?!

The valve itself has been cleaned and since this was done Its not seemed to do the loss of power thing which it did 3  or 4 times before it was cleaned.  Strangely the engine warning light didn't come on on those occasions.

The light has only started coming on since the valve was cleaned. Started about a week after valve was cleaned.  Comes on for a day of two goes off for a day of two. It's been plugged in to diagnostic a couple of times and come up with the same code apparently.  Mechanic says it it's  running ok leave well alone? He said he could fit a new valve but the problem could be made where and need the engine pretty much stripping down to find.

It seems to drive fine at the moment. The only thing is it will take a little longer to start sometimes usually when engine is warm.

Sorry that all I know.  It is a old car and done a lot of miles but apart from this seems ok.

I know next to nothing about cars but this light is bothering me!

what engine do have? eg 1.9PD or 2.0PD?

It's 1.9 turbo disel 4x4.  

guess the ERG valve is not expensive to replace (around £75)  for PD engine but the garage should of vacuum tested the ERG valve to eliminate it as it might be clean but if it doesn't hold a vacuum/leaking you will get a warning light normally due to insufficient air flow as do wear with age.

its also possible the cleaning may have damaged it... i doubt its going to need an engine stripping to solve it tbh.

 

you can get a cheap (20-30quid) obdii plugin bluetooth dongle on ebay, then install torque/torque pro/carista app on your phone. next time it throws the light on run your own fault scan and post up the error codes.

 

 

Thanks for the replies.  Apparently it was very dirty " coked up"  when it was cleaned.   It is strange that the light only started coming on after it was cleaned but it stopped doing the loss of power thing.

The mechanic said it was possibly getting stuck. Either open or closed can't remember which now.

I do remember him saying he checked the vacuum.

He said we could replace the part and I think he quoted about £100 for the part plus Labour I guess He didn't think it would solve it.

Apparently the diagnostics only point  down a road it could be a lot of other things other than the valve which could involve stripping down the engine.  Can't remember all the parts he mentions but included a blockage somewhere.

I know he said the code said something like insufficient flow.

The light also goes on and off.  When it was plugged in to diagnostic it went off for about a week but has come back on.  It generally stays on for a few days and then goes off for a while.

Don't know if any of that any help!

I'm not sure about buying a diagnostic thing to be honest as I'm thinking it maybe better to put the money towards a new valve which would at least rule that out?

 

the part is £55 from Euro carparts after apply discount if you wish to source yourself

 

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/haas-egr-valve-424440651

 

this vid should give you better understanding of why the EGR is failing, as there might be vacuum coming from the pipe but if the EGR is leaking the valve won't open and will give you a warning light on the dash

 

 

Thanks very much for that.   I think  I will have to speak to the mechanic again.  He s usually pretty good but have the impression he doesn't want to replace the valve in case it doesn't solve the problem.

he's a small one man band garage and is pretty good as in I trust him not to rip me off but if he doesn't want to do it I may have to go somewhere else.   I couldn't even attempt to do it myself as honestly have no mechanical knowledge.

I'm at present on furlough from work as are a lot of people I know but the last thing I need is a car that let's me down or a huge bill!

 

Hello again.

 

I'm going to speak to the garage again tomorrow.  Today when I started the car the light went off, it had been on for a few days. Drive about 5 miles and I notice the loss of power thing which it hadn't done since the valve was cleaned.  The light stayed off.  I stopped the car and started again and it seemed fine.  DRove home with no problem and light stayed off.

As I said will speak to the garage again tomorrow but do you think this is connected to the valve still?

I will be returning to work soon after 3 months on furlough the last thing I need is for my car to start playing up.  Garage seems reluctant to change valve but will have to talk to them again.

Car is now booked in to have the valve changed on Wednesday.   I really hope this solves the problem as mechanic thinks it it doesn't then He will have to strip it down.  Fingers crossed.

The loss of power could be car going into limp mode and worth asking the garage to do a scan to see if it has generated other stored fault codes.  Also the car can go into limp mode if the turbo vanes are clogged up with carbon and worth adding some turbo cleaner to the fuel such as archoil turbo cleaner to give the fuel system a good clean out.

 

https://www.powerenhancer.co.uk/archoil-ar6400-d-max-professional-diesel-engine-turbo-dpf-cat-cleaner-concentrate.html

Thank you. It's booked in to the garage  again tomorrow to have the valve replaced.  I will mention the cleaner.  At the moment the engine light is off and car driving ok.  I really hope it's sorted out tomorrow.

The valves been replaced today.  Same codes were on it today as before.  Codes now cleared and new valve fitted.  Light is off. Have driven it this afternoon and it seems ok.  Did approx  16 miles.   Have to see if it solves the problem.  I really hope so as so many things going wrong at moment.

Three weeks with no problem until the light came on again!  Haven't tried the turbo cleaner yet as mechanic was sceptical.

Not gone in to limp mode this time.   Only thing I notice is a bit slow to start when engine is warm. Fine when cold.

mechanic is going to speak to a colleague.

Getting very stressed by this now!

Poor starting when hot is usually caused by a failing battery. How old is yours? The design of the engine requires a fast cranking speed when hot. When cold, this requirement is overridden in software. A tired starter motor will also give a slow cranking speed.

 

 

 

Thanks.   The battery would be at least 3 years old but would that explain the engine light coming on?