My 56 plate vrs now has been in for the Skoda fix - a new EGR gasket with a different size hole in it.

I still have some hesitation (stutter) which is usually at around 1600 to 1800 rpm and occurs after closing the throttle then immediatley reopening it (rolling along in slow traffic is the worst).

I now have a much more pronounced judder and increased noise at tick over. I took it back and have had a revised idle speed set, but it is no better really. Will be going back to the dealer with it at the weekend!!

Apparently the EGR gasket from the ASZ motors cures all problems, but the emissions are no longer in range!!

Apparently a 6-8mm hole is fine and doesn't set off the warning lamp. I believe this was the original 'fix' that the Skoda engineers refused to sign off because it means the car technically isn't EURO IV compliant anymore.

The BLT engine code info on fabia-vrs.com explains in detail (superb site btw) - and I guess the dealer has fitted a gasket with the 14.5 hole in it. If I fit the one with a 9mm hole the car will have problems at the first MOT I guess. This really is not ideal. Anyone driven a BLT engined fabia with a remap? Any better or worse?

Ok, so my car was at the dealer yesterday, where a Danish skoda technician had a look at the stuttering on my PD100 engine, code: AXR.

He also saw it as a problem, and next week he will get a visit from some technicians from Skoda HQ, where he will ask them if they know anything about this.

So I can only be patient atm., and hope that they will resolve the stuttering on my car.

If I fit the one with a 9mm hole the car will have problems at the first MOT I guess.

I'm really sorry to hear you're having the issue. The good news is that the MOT doesn't check for emissions on a diesel (at the moment) - only a particulates test. Skoda are covering themselves legally because the cars are not legal to be sold if they do not meet the EURO IV emissions standard.

What they are saying is; "we couldn't sell if it ran properly - so we've sold you a car that stutters - if you don't like it, complain to your MEP".

I am told that a car with a 4mm gasket drilled out to 6-8mm is a very different beast altogether and doesn't bring the warning light on.

Remapped cars don't stutter because the tuners turn the EGR off (quite often completely) and again, it does not affect the MOT. Your Skoda dealer can also turn the EGR (almost) off for you using the VAG-COM software and some owners have reported a massive improvement in the stutter after this has been done.

Unfortunately (and I do feel a bit for Skoda UK here) there is a known complete resolution to the problem, but it would put them in an illegal position.

What I canot handle with Skoda UK is that they appear to have told the dealers if a customer comes in and asks for a complete fix - don't give it to them and if you do, their warranty is invalid.

Skoda should just authorise a remapper and sell the upgrade so they don't invalidate the warranty. That way they make another few hundred pounds per car and we get more oomph and a smooth drive.

I'm really sorry to hear you're having the issue. The good news is that the MOT doesn't check for emissions on a diesel (at the moment) - only a particulates test. Skoda are covering themselves legally because the cars are not legal to be sold if they do not meet the EURO IV emissions standard.

What they are saying is; "we couldn't sell if it ran properly - so we've sold you a car that stutters - if you don't like it, complain to your MEP".

I am told that a car with a 4mm gasket drilled out to 6-8mm is a very different beast altogether and doesn't bring the warning light on.

Remapped cars don't stutter because the tuners turn the EGR off (quite often completely) and again, it does not affect the MOT. Your Skoda dealer can also turn the EGR (almost) off for you using the VAG-COM software and some owners have reported a massive improvement in the stutter after this has been done.

Unfortunately (and I do feel a bit for Skoda UK here) there is a known complete resolution to the problem, but it would put them in an illegal position.

What I canot handle with Skoda UK is that they appear to have told the dealers if a customer comes in and asks for a complete fix - don't give it to them and if you do, their warranty is invalid.

Skoda should just authorise a remapper and sell the upgrade so they don't invalidate the warranty. That way they make another few hundred pounds per car and we get more oomph and a smooth drive.

I totally agree with your comments re SUK, the aparent attitude of"if you dont like it sue the dealer" dosent come over very well. I know from discusions I have had with people at Skoda whilst discusing the Superb problems that the have put a lot of effort into trying to solve the fabia problem but their hands are tied by the legalities of where they stand but surely they could accept a post sale mod on botyh the fabia & Superb without voiding the warranty.

With Subaru dosent the PPP mod to the Impreza push it beyond the regs it has to comply with when new yet its still carried out by the dealer !

my local dealer has said they would chip the car for me and keep it under warranty.

just got this back from skoda:

just got this back from skoda:

I was sorry to learn of the difficulties that you have experienced with the performance of your new Skoda Fabia vRS. I can advise that there is a modification that has been developed which requires the fitting of a gasket to the EGR valve. This phenomenon you describe is a result of ever more stringent exhaust legislation and your local Skoda retailer has access to all the Skoda technical information in order to affect a resolution of this concern.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Terry Gallagher

Customer Service Specialist

SkodaAuto Customer Services

Thought I should post info from a drive in delivery mileage Fabia Vrs today, the stutter was evident from the first gear change, and was reproduced constantly when letting off in traffic and re applying the throttle at around 1800-2100 rpm. I would quite happily state that this is much more than just a stutter, more like a kangaroo effect, exactly like the effect from fuel starvation. Quite simply, I would not be buying a brand new car with this problem. After witnessing this first hand, I am quite frankly amazed that Skoda can see fit to release a car like this from their production line. On a positive note, the car itself was everything you could hope and expect, good build, great torque where it's needed and excellent value, such a shame that this black cloud hangs over it :(

My 2p's worth, in the hope that it may help others.

Great site, keep up the good work

my local dealer has said they would chip the car for me and keep it under warranty.

For his sake dont Identify him as Skoda will give him a hard time

just got this back from skoda:

I was sorry to learn of the difficulties that you have experienced with the performance of your new Skoda Fabia vRS. I can advise that there is a modification that has been developed which requires the fitting of a gasket to the EGR valve. This phenomenon you describe is a result of ever more stringent exhaust legislation and your local Skoda retailer has access to all the Skoda technical information in order to affect a resolution of this concern.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Terry Gallagher

Customer Service Specialist

SkodaAuto Customer Services

If you look up phenomenon in the dictionary it dosent say a regularly occuring fault due to poor design so I guess they need to find a new word to describe it. They know the legislation before they design the car. Would VAG describe a diesel winning Le Mans as a phenomenon. They can design the greatest diesel race car to date & yet cant make a Diesel drive slowly & smoothly. Dont be fobbed off by fancy words & phrases

If you look up phenomenon in the dictionary it dosent say a regularly occuring fault due to poor design so I guess they need to find a new word to describe it. They know the legislation before they design the car. Would VAG describe a diesel winning Le Mans as a phenomenon. They can design the greatest diesel race car to date & yet cant make a Diesel drive slowly & smoothly. Dont be fobbed off by fancy words & phrases

I am 100% behind you on this one my friend, I have had the mod to remedy this PHENOMENON on my fabia and it HAS NOT WORKED!!!!

Skoda need to pull there thumb out of there backside and get this sorted, anyone who owns a Fabia with this problem needs to start whipping up the hornets nest and get onto Skoda via email etc as I think I can say that no one who purchased this vehicle with this problem is happy.

I for one have started the ball rolling and I am currently in the process of contacting as many motoring magazines as possible to see if they are interested in running a story on this PHENOMENON.

Maybe the new Fabia vrs when it goes on sale will come with another PHENOMENON???

But maybe this PHENOMENON will be that it works correctly!

am i right in saying this is skoda uk's address? or have i got the wrong one?

Skoda Automobile UK Limited, Garamonde Drive, Gt Monks St, Wymbush, Milton Keynes MK8 8NZ

I have not had this problem, but my understanding of the Skoda technical fix is that they replace a gasket on the intake side and ensure the hole in it is larger than the original. PS. mine does not suffer and is for sale!!!

am i right in saying this is skoda uk's address? or have i got the wrong one?

Skoda Automobile UK Limited, Garamonde Drive, Gt Monks St, Wymbush, Milton Keynes MK8 8NZ

I think you need this address:-

Skoda UK Limited

Yeomans Drive

Blakelands

Milton Keynes

MK14 5AN

Cool! cheers.

I am 100% behind you on this one my friend, I have had the mod to remedy this PHENOMENON on my fabia and it HAS NOT WORKED!!!!

Skoda need to pull there thumb out of there backside and get this sorted, anyone who owns a Fabia with this problem needs to start whipping up the hornets nest and get onto Skoda via email etc as I think I can say that no one who purchased this vehicle with this problem is happy.

I for one have started the ball rolling and I am currently in the process of contacting as many motoring magazines as possible to see if they are interested in running a story on this PHENOMENON.

Maybe the new Fabia vrs when it goes on sale will come with another PHENOMENON???

But maybe this PHENOMENON will be that it works correctly!

I've sent you a private message.

Have you concluded your actions yet Kerry?

It would seem to little to late to try and get the motor mags invloved now - perhaps five months ago maybe.

Anyway if they do get involved I hope is is pointed out that there are many happy owners of vRS's for whom the "fix" has worked and do not appreciate the used values being brought down to nil by comments that all cars are affected and are near impossible to drive - is it really that bad at the end of the day ?

If this is an "Im alright jack" type attitude then so be it but I wish to try and keep the used value of my perfectly good car as high as possible as I thought many others would.

Thanks

Have you concluded your actions yet Kerry?

Nah! Round three in court due sometime this year - don't ever think the court process is swift! Skoda maintaining their appalling level of customer service by not budging an inch and wasting thousands of pounds on barristers that would be better spent trying to fix the problems with their products.

On the positive side I've had some good support from Briskoda contributors, which should help at the next hearing - Skoda don't seem very keen to meet their customers, but anybody who wants to come along is welcome.

Nah! Round three in court due sometime this year - don't ever think the court process is swift! Skoda maintaining their appalling level of customer service by not budging an inch and wasting thousands of pounds on barristers that would be better spent trying to fix the problems with their products.

On the positive side I've had some good support from Briskoda contributors, which should help at the next hearing - Skoda don't seem very keen to meet their customers, but anybody who wants to come along is welcome.

Skoda will fight you all the way, if you win which you should it will open the flood gates to loads of claims so they have to try & win at all costs. The fact they are spending thousands on barristers etc probably means that they at present have no way of fixing the fault & its a damage limitation exercise on their part

The world has gone mad! sorry I have to make sure........we are in th UK right not the US?

on another side note after 10k miles my car is sweet as a nut and the engine is wearing in nicely. no stutter at all and yes it the "dreaed stutter engine" so no it does not affect all cars at all, I think the problem can be highlighted by the way certain folk drive. thaqts not a dig at anyone as we all drive differetly.

Kerry...why did you not sell the car on? you may not have lost much if anything and none of this messing about. surely weeks worth of going to court is worth some value to you....you need to value your life time more.

what are you expecting to get out of it?

Kerry...why did you not sell the car on? you may not have lost much if anything and none of this messing about. surely weeks worth of going to court is worth some value to you....you need to value your life time more.

A very fair point!

It

Hi,

New to this - do I take it that the stutter is common to VW, Seat and Audis with the same engine?