"Long live the stutter"

It's official! Skoda customer services have confirmed that the recent fix (ECU adaption and modified EGV gasket) is the end of the line. No further fixes will be issued. They informed me that they will not be reversing the fix. I have no information about whether the fix will continue to be available or will now be withdrawn.

My dealer has also confirmed that Skoda are aware that the fix is not the complete solution to the stutter problem.

I had a good talk to the mechanic at my local dealer and he said what has been mentioned already, that the Skoda engineers have been taking microns off the hole in the Egv valve gasket until the motor failed the emissions then went back a fraction so the hesitation is cured with some cars but other are a lot better but not perfect.

I said I don’t care about perfect emissions I would rather have a smooth engine and he said what you do to the gasket yourself is not our business but Skoda has to meet the Euro 4 standard, the old 1.9 motor has been stretched too far this time and was designed at least 10 years ago so I think Skoda have done their best with what they had to work with.

Why does the stutter problem seem not to affect those Octavia models which are fitted with the same 2006 1.9TDi engine as the troubled Fabias ?

Or Audi's, Seat's or Vw's at least not on the same scale as the poor old Fabia.

And why do some Fabia's Kangaroo off the throttle yet others just have the occasional hiccup? We will probably never know, The Daily Express will probably blame asylum seekers.

I received a call from my dealer to say that the parts were in and have booked my car in for next Thursday. Hope it sorts it out, cos with the colder weather it has been really bad

Got mine booked in with dealer for two weeks time ... they told me their technician was off on a course specifically to do with this issue next week too !

Funny though cold weather seems to have made an improvement lack of stutter at 6am in the morning now !!

Just been on the phone to Skoda as I was fed up with the conflicting reports regarding the fix. I was informed that a fix has been found and that the emissions are within the required levels.

If it's any help, my Fabia has had the ECU adaption and modified EGV gasket fix installed for 12 days, and apart from some initial stutters it now seems to have settled down, no stutters for the past 4 days.

There has been a noticable improvement in accelerator operation, a welcome reduction in the hesitation when first opening the throttle and the cut off when taking the foot off the accelerator is less pronounced. This has resulted in a much smoother cruise control operation.

Fuel consumption is also improved across the range with 61 mpg average for extra urban for the first time although my previous Fabia could better this by a good margin. I doubt whether I shall see anything near the published extra urban consumption.

I am now much happier with the car but sad that it has taken 8 months of hassle to reach this stage.

Suprisingly the sudden change to much cooler weather has smoothed the performance.

Top end performance has never been in question.

I wonder if the cold weather has anything to do with the stutter?

I say this cos my car had the stutter, but for the last few days has been fine. :confused:

The stutter is unpredictable and at times appears to be temperature related, always most likely to show when changing gear up from 1 - 2 or 2- 3 after a cold start. I was never able to demonstrate the stutter to order so my dealer has been able to continue denying the fault existed for the past 8 months.

The related faults such as poor fuel economy, hesitation when gently opening the throttle and speed drop off at constant throttle seem to be present whatever the temperature.

Fortunately things have improved following the fix.

I wonder whether they intend modifying all new Fabias before delivery or will they only install the fix only if the buyer complains ?

Good news at last and congratulations on breaking through the Skoda Denial barrier.

I have exactly the same car as you and likewise I had the same car new in 2001. so like you I could compare EU111 with EU1V

Tomorrow I am off to my local dealer in Penryn and if necessary will show him all of your Posts, to convince him what action he can take to solve our common problem.

It's all a bit wearing isnt it, but OK if the end result is good.

Just a thought -- perhaps the MD of Skoda has a human stutter, in which case he may not recognise what is happening in the Fabia !

Thanks for all of your posts on the problem.

jopo (Cornwall)

Glad my posts have been helpful but sad that it

In some ways its lucky that there are so many fabias with this problem, at least its making Skoda try & do something. Those of us with the faulty Superbs are being swept under the carpet as we are few in numbers but the numbers are growing.

Have had the approved mod carried out,so far so good----fingers crossed

Big thanks to Ashmore Green Skoda

I wonder just how many stuttering Fabias there are out there and now I see that even Superbs are affected.

I have been driving for more years than I care to mention, starting with my first car

I wonder just how many stuttering Fabias there are out there and now I see that even Superbs are affected.

I have been driving for more years than I care to mention, starting with my first car

Well done Skoda UK and my local dealer.

My car went in for ECU update and EGR gasket today.

Done 50 miles and i love it!

Had a French thing for the day supplied by the lease company, Jesus glad i didn`t buy one of those ( a visible 2cm gap between A pillar and dashboard on osf),. The Skoda is well up there build wise let me tell you and it`s a diesel and it`s awesome, and i am now a proud Skoda owner once again.

I'm just as confused as ever..........

was bookin my car in for a 20k service with DM Keith...asked about the fix....'what fix'!!!!!

Rang Skoda CS (spoke to Jenny)...yes there is a tech bulletin out on this

Spoke to DM Keith again...they found the bulletin (released 2 Nov) indicating a change to the EGR gasket...but no ECU update???......

Is the ECU update an urban myth??

After carrying out the latest fix my dealer handed over a document dated

24 October 2006 entitled "Skoda Warranty Repair Customer Confirmation"

detailing the work carried out as follows:

Carry out E.C.U. adaption

Replace E.G.R. valve gasket

.

I was advised that the ECU adaption was a software modification, factory supplied.

Hope this helps.

After carrying out the latest fix my dealer handed over a document dated

24 October 2006 entitled "Skoda Warranty Repair Customer Confirmation"

detailing the work carried out as follows:

Carry out E.C.U. adaption

Replace E.G.R. valve gasket

.

I was advised that the ECU adaption was a software modification, factory supplied.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that...

Just chatted with Skoda CS again....apparently the Tech Bulletin is CSSW3206 which addresses bith ECu updates and EGR Gasket changes - have told the dealer and asked them to advise me if there will be a problem.

Lets see what happens on the 24th!!!

RE Stutter:

Had the fix applied yesterday.

Done 250 miles today and experienced the stutter a few times, not as bad as it sounds as the car now wants to go all the time especially around 2000 rpm, much smoother, as it was holding back before, the stutter recovers quicker, the car runs smoother.The MPG is showing as higher on the trip computer, overall 8 out of 10. Thank You Skoda UK.

Quick question. Do Skoda EU apply this fix? or is it just our good friends here in the UK that are doing this?

Still satisfied. Over and Out Mouse..

Thank You

RE Stutter:

Had the fix applied yesterday.

Done 250 miles today and experienced the stutter a few times, not as bad as it sounds as the car now wants to go all the time especially around 2000 rpm, much smoother, as it was holding back before, the stutter recovers quicker, the car runs smoother.The MPG is showing as higher on the trip computer, overall 8 out of 10. Thank You Skoda UK.

Quick question. Do Skoda EU apply this fix? or is it just our good friends here in the UK that are doing this?

Still satisfied. Over and Out Mouse..

Thank You

I believe SUK had a lot to do with sorting this out

Glad to hear that Mouse is also pleased with the results of the fix, as described my experience is very similar. The stutter and hesitation are not completely cured but much better and tolerable.

My main reason for buying this and the previous Fabia was the excellent fuel economy but unfortunately the stutter and all the other symptoms become much more noticable when the car is driven with a gentle touch on the accelerator. So I was delighted to find the fix has restored the mpg to the figures I have been used to.

I imagine that someone at SUK reads this forum and they should have been well aware of the extent of the bad feeling amongst owners of stuttering Fabias. I like to think the pressure to find a fix came through these posts.

Mine is now booked in for the work to be carried out, I will update the outcome

Had mine done today and so far it seems fine, I have only driven about 10 mile in traffic and duel carriageway but no hesitation and the pick up and throttle response seem smoother so Happy Chappy so far.

The Service guy did say that this was still an interim fix until a permanent solution was found.