SKODA, fabia, 1.4 automatic. VGC. Had  full service two weeks ago inc. test drive by trusted garage. No issues found. Asked them to check out heater as seemed to be behaving erratically. Said No problems found. Probably slow to warm up in extreme cold. On long drive last week, AC not working correctly. Heating but not cooling.  On same drive hit heavy fog at night on bendy  country road so driving slowly when EPC light came on and car stopped. Waited few minutes, turned back on and revved engine. No EPC light came on and drove 15 miles to destination OK. Two short journeys since no problem. No recurrence. Checked brake lights all working OK. Could  slow driving in low gear for long period trigger EPC light on  or even AC fault? . Cannot get car into garage until new year. 

Edited 26 December, 20223 yr by honeyrose
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EPC relates to 'Electronic Power Control', so the likes of the electronic throttle on the car, for example. It would be more worthwhile (and a damn sight cheaper) to have the car connected a diagnostics system to retrieve codes rather than playing a game of parts darts, as there's only so much we can do over the Internet without codes and suchlike to work with.

@honeyrose

Just out of interest, what miles has the car done and what did a 'full service' consist of and what did it cost you?

 

Have they changed the oil and filter, a fuel filter, the air filter and the cabin filter and changed the spark plugs, maybe cleared / serviced the brakes? 

Checked the brake fluid or changed it, tested the antifreeze strength?   

 

34 minutes ago, toot said:

@honeyrose

Just out of interest, what miles has the car done and what did a 'full service' consist of and what did it cost you?

 

Have they changed the oil and filter, a fuel filter, the air filter and the cabin filter and changed the spark plugs, maybe cleared / serviced the brakes? 

Checked the brake fluid or changed it, tested the antifreeze strength?   

 

All of the above. As specified in manual. Assume garage is competent as owner bought same model Fabia, for son's fiance a few years.  Been going there 10 years also local Mot centre. Car in good shape. Done 55,000 miles. I was so surprised when car slowed to stop and EPC light came. Started OK after few minutes stop  and light has not recurred since. Will take into garage ASAP but not possible before end of week. 

11 minutes ago, honeyrose said:

I was so surprised when car slowed to stop and EPC light came.

 

Mine did this and it was a dodgy MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor - with a restart curing it. However, as I suggested worthwhile getting a professional to look at it if you are unsure as to what to do.

13 hours ago, honeyrose said:

On long drive last week, AC not working correctly. Heating but not cooling.

You are aware that the AC will disable if the air temperature drops to 3C or lower? At which point the ventilation system will deliver ambient temperature or heated air, but not cooled or dehumidified.

There is no dehumidification unless the ambient air is already hot and humid and the Aircon is set to chill it, in which case some of the humidity condenses out as it hits the cold evaporator element and drains from the airbox through a pipe onto the road below.

 

EPC light will generally come on if there is an emissions control fault, it's probably not worth worrying about unless it happens again.