Hi, new to this forum and was on the verge of purchasing a new Fabia vRS, now, after reading this thread, speaking to my two local dealers and a reputable remap supplier I am seriously doubting whether or not to go ahead, since the car will be a new order and this issue may not be apparent until I take delivery.:confused: Was also planning a remap, but from what I have been told, this would not cure the stutter if it was apparent.

Sorry if this isn't quite as 'on topic' as it might have been, and also thankyou for all the useful information I have found on this forum generally.

Hi, new to this forum and was on the verge of purchasing a new Fabia vRS, now, after reading this thread, speaking to my two local dealers and a reputable remap supplier I am seriously doubting whether or not to go ahead, since the car will be a new order and this issue may not be apparent until I take delivery.:confused: Was also planning a remap, but from what I have been told, this would not cure the stutter if it was apparent.

Sorry if this isn't quite as 'on topic' as it might have been, and also thankyou for all the useful information I have found on this forum generally.

I believe a re-map cures the fault (nearly) as they would simply turn the EGR off (as low as it will go) and not worry about emmisions! It will invalidate your warrenty if you do this though..

also worth remembering there are many new vRS owners who don't suffer from the problem stated in this thread, mine is an 05, but I will be ordering a new one next year, without any worry

Thanks sharkrider, appreciate the feedback, I would probably go for the AMD One click, which may not make quite as much difference. I understand about the warranty.

I am thinking I just have to take the plunge and go for it, I am quite picky:rolleyes: so will need to hope I get a good one.

I hope you get a good one too, I've met members at meets with 06 vRS's that run fine with no probs

I understand your choice of AMD one-click, but remember skoda UK read this site, and you don't want them connecting you to your car... (they've done it before and voided warrenties!)

I find it strange that some are fine and others not, like I said, fingers crossed!

I will take your advice onboard re the warranty, thankyou

I find it strange that some are fine and others not, like I said, fingers crossed!

I will take your advice onboard re the warranty, thankyou

Skoda UK themselves say they are all the same. How you drive can make a difference - if you do lot's of town work and don't hammer the car you'll notice the fault much more IMO.

I have been asking around here in Denmark, and it doesn`t really seem to be a very known problem, or they won`t admit it.

But will certainly pursue this matter, as its a real pain in the ***. :thumbdwn:

Was driving along today at around 43mph in 4. gear, and it was stuttering quite a bit, so now i have found out how to show the mechanic my problem.

Haven`t heard anything from Skoda Denmark yet.

mine had a fix yesterday. No mention was made of a gasket, just an ECU reflash.

The disk Skoda used wasn't working, so they got the one from the neighbouring VW/Audi dealership.

Throttle response seems smoother, and I couldn't replicate the stutter on a 20 mile drive yesterday, or on my way to and from work last night.

mine had a fix yesterday. No mention was made of a gasket, just an ECU reflash.

Do you think they just disabled the EGR?

The more I read about the experiences of forum members and see the attempts by Skoda to claim the stutter is a "phenomenon" rather than a fault, I wonder when Trading Standards Department will require Skoda dealers to make a declaration of the feature to all prospective customers. Better still, should they not include the stutter as part of the specification in the sales brochure.[/Quote]

I agree. When I picked up my 06 model from Simpsons I asked Anthony (Ants on here) about the stutter. He said none of his customers had ever reported the stutter to him. But as it's now officially a feature of the car - a phenomenon! no less - I think if a dealer is asked about this he should say that they all do it.

I can

This sounds promising, would be nice to see if this is echoed by anyone else with first hand experience of this fix :confused:

Am going for a test drive in an 06 demo car on saturday with sub 5k on the clock, so I will be looking for the 'phenomenon':)

Howdy folks

Ive done 750 miles now and get what feels like a hesitation rather than a stutter when going below 30mph in low gears (second or third)

Thats turbo lag is it not ?

My hesitation has gone completely since I had a different gasket fitted a month ago and I was glad to see the back of it, The engine does seem to have a flat spot low down and I have to wait longer for the turbo to start spinning than on my 05 model vRS which makes it less fun to drive around town.

I have a 56 plate and was done on Wednesday. New gasket but no mention of the ECU update. Done 10,000 from new so it was in for its first service at the same time. The stutter is still there but it appears to be at around 1600 revs.

600-700 miles here and I am on parr with your findings Trotts. I'd also be pushed to even understand a problem with the brand new car.

Put into perspective, I think this is something they must be on top of in one way or another....I'd be surprised also if they were "bodging" cars as badly as some might suggest with earlier fixes. I am very pleased with my car all round.

Frankly, I don't think I'd be looking to do a "higher gear" at a low speed like 30-40mph anyway.

The car does something like 2500rpm @ 90mph in 6th! If the higher gears like 6th are there to cope with such speeds, I am sure that there is no need to push above 3rd either.

I think I can cope with being comfortably in 3rd gear at some ridiculously low revs.

Its quite a "low rev" vehicle...but you wouldn't complain about a petrol cutting out because you were driving it in low revs and it started to judder. I guess I haven't seen the full out-and-out fault which is no doubt very annoying to the earlier owners I can imagine.

Just to report that for a spanking new car, its certainly not presented a "major fault" of this kind to me.

I can sympathise for the earlier owners though and if there is slightly older cars with a more hesistant problem, somebody needs to own up and set it right.

I think my family had ECU problems on a 16v, in the end they traded for another (Fabia) more recent and have been very pleased since. Again its in perspective - not usually ever a problem but apprently one time was quite scary.

I am quite happy investing in the brand - I think it represents excellent quality and value for money generally speaking.

well 300 miles into my Sprint yellow.... and..... yes.. I have the 'stutter' :P However, I have to put it into my perspective. I had to drive the car to 'make it happen' and it simply, for me, is not an issue, which indicates my car is fine and dandy. I half expected to go leaping away like a kangaroo. Not the case. In fact I would not call it a stutter. On mine it is a very slight hesitation at the well reported rev area. Normal driving simply do's not happen. For the record I am aware my car was made early November and reached these shores mid November. Good luck to those who seem to have a bigger problem than mine.

I dont think its a problem you would notice unless you had driven cars without the fault, ive had the EGR fix and its better but not gone... its not a massive thing, its just a hesitant moment when just under 2000 revs. Its only annoying when you want to accelerate off and just before you go you seem to lose power momentarily, ive got a new 2007 (made 2 weeks into when they started making the 2007 model) and it has the problem, some cars may not have it and as i said most drivers probably wont even recognise it or as mentioed herea few times will mistake it for turbo lag, which its a bit similar to... anyway if it doesnt bother you great if it does, then skoda should fix it as my old 04 plate never did it...

Well, just got back from York, a nice weekend away, near a place called seat surgeons ( seperate thread re this) good time to put a few miles on the beast.

Chuffed to bits with it. never once in 580 miles did it hesitate. It confirms with mine that I have to make it happen, but I accept it is there.

The other side of the coin is that compared to my 54 plated it is more frugal, with a tight engine as well. I drove it in a similar way to my last one and it seems, although will know for sure tomorrow, that I am looking at 5 - 10 mpg better ?

A new version of Skoda's Fabia is to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March 2007 and will go on sale in May. The second generation Fabia is 22mm longer and 47mm taller than its predecessor, improving passenger leg and headroom and making it one of the largest cars in an ever growing class. It will sport seven engine choices; four petrol, between 1.2 and 1.6-litre, and three TDI diesels ranging from 1.4 to 1.9-litre. A six-speed Tiptronic 'box will be an option and the 1.6 petrol should be available with automatic transmission. Front and side airbags will come as standard, and there will be plenty of up-to-date toys like Climatronic air-con and an MP3 compatible stereo.

Could this be the reason for the lack of resolve by Skoda to soty out the stutter?

but your list includes the 1.9 tdi...... surely the same problems if they insist on using this engine? wonder why they don't use the 2.0lrt pd140......

It will be one of many reasons.

New version, blame Europe, the fact their parents VW haven't done anything about it.

However I assume the TDI won't be changing dramatically from the current so surely the hesitiation will be in the new 1.9 anyway?

I have a new Black Furby VRS with 400 miles on the clock.

After a week the exhaust emissions light came on so I took it into Skoda and they reset the engine management system. They asked where I was getting the fuel. (Is this a big issue?) It then came on again the next day so Skoda are having it in again to have a look. It does have the stutter issue. So is this related?

By the way does anyone have problem keeping to 30 mph!! In 2nd it's to high revving and 3rd to low when driving in town. Any advice?

Other than this is been amazing driving!!!

By the way does anyone have problem keeping to 30 mph!! In 2nd it's to high revving and 3rd to low when driving in town. Any advice?

Let it rev. Until the engine loosens up, it's definitely better to let it rev. Change up at 30, then at 40, then 50 then 60. It feels a bit revvy, but actually it's very economical. Driving like that I got 65MPH+ during the running in period. I average about 70 on my daily commute now. That's a proper 70, but I have the tyres pumped up to 36/40 front/rear as that seems to make the speedo and fuel consumption meter read fairly true.

I also like the handling this way. It doesn't nose-plough anymore.

I have experienced the stutter again since having the fix. I emailed SUK to let them know and ask them what happens now? Seems like this is the last word on the subject, this was the reply.....

I can confirm that a modified exhaust gas recirculation valve was fitted to reduce the engine hesitation some owners have experienced whilst driving their Fabia vRS vehicles. The modified valve cannot remove the hesitation altogether. You may, however, wish to have your vehicle examined by your Skoda retailer at a convenient date to ensure that your concerns are not caused by difficulties with another component.

I can advise that our Technical Support Team has fully investigated this matter with technicians from the factory. We must conclude that the hesitation is a phenomenon resulting from ever more stringent exhaust legislation and cannot be fully eradicated. It is not a manufacturing defect and has no influence on the durability or usability of the vehicle. I can therefore confirm that in this instance we are unable to assist you further.

Thank you for taking the time to write to us in order that I may clarify the position.

It is not a manufacturing defect and has no influence on the durability or usability of the vehicle.

I guess it depends what they mean by usability! Does this mean that all future Skoda's will come equipped with a stutter too?

Chris

I guess it looks like it. It doesn't bother me that much as I don't think mine was as bad and it has improved but I couldn't help thinking about replying to the email and saying it's a shame but as you feel you can no longer help I will not be recommending a Fabia vrs to any of the people that have been in my car and love it, and I wont be buying another Skoda