After a cold start this morning my yellow ECU light was flashing on my dash for around 5 to 10 seconds during idle, then went off. I've stopped and started my car 4 times since, all good with no light. When I arrived back home I checked my engine with my cheap plug and play code reader, no codes stored. My car is running well.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

I'm hoping it was a one off, spurious fault. Time will tell. 

Hi, I have the 1.5tsi engine,  since I have had the car I get very occasional EPC (I think we are talking about the same light, 'Engine symbol')  light staying on after startup, If I switch the engine off and restart it goes off, I mentioned it to the service department during the last service and they said they could find no fault codes and not to worry.

I personally think that with so many sensors on modern cars and sometimes the software that the ECU/EPC use is a bit flakey, so yes I don't worry.

I've had the Stop/Start warning on startup saying it is not functioning, switch off and back on and there is no problem.

However if the EPC light came on while driving, then I would be concerned and pop into the dealer to check for any fault codes.

By the way some cheap code readers don't always pick up all the codes that are available to specific manufacturers equipment.

On 27/01/2023 at 11:52, DeeDah said:

Hi, I have the 1.5tsi engine,  since I have had the car I get very occasional EPC (I think we are talking about the same light, 'Engine symbol')  light staying on after startup, If I switch the engine off and restart it goes off, I mentioned it to the service department during the last service and they said they could find no fault codes and not to worry.

I personally think that with so many sensors on modern cars and sometimes the software that the ECU/EPC use is a bit flakey, so yes I don't worry.

I've had the Stop/Start warning on startup saying it is not functioning, switch off and back on and there is no problem.

However if the EPC light came on while driving, then I would be concerned and pop into the dealer to check for any fault codes.

By the way some cheap code readers don't always pick up all the codes that are available to specific manufacturers equipment.

Well I've owned my car for around 7 months now & the engine management light had only come on briefly the once on start up, not whilst driving. So I'm putting it down to a spurious fault.

I've not had the s/s light ever eliminate yet. Although it is hit & miss when it works or not, but to be fair I've owned loads of cars within the past with s/s, none have ever worked 100% of the time, on average I'd say around half of the time, if I was lucky. 

You are right about the cheap code reader, just thought I'd give it a go to see if any codes were logged.

The car has been excellent so far, massive boot, it's my first Skoda, too. I can be slightly jerky when driven from a cold start at zero degrees or below. This has vastly improved after using some higher octane rated petrol. To be honest it's not something that massively bothers me now, more a character trait of this engine.

My car is also very good on fuel, partly to do with the two cylinders dropping out when not needed.

I'd certainly consider buying this engine again within the future, possibly within a Scala.

Thanks for your reply.

Yep the 1.5tsi is a cracking engine even in the Superb, the cold start use to be even worse prior to 2019 models, when they first came out in 2017 it was really bad for 'kangarooing' in cold weather,

Mines a 2020 year so already had the software update to fix the problem, I don't really have any problem with jerkyness as I've learn't to apply the gas nice and staedy for the first minute, after that

no hesitancy at all.

My best long journy mpg is around 55-57 shorter journeys 45-50, not bad for a big car with a small engine. bloody E10 petrol dosen't help, tried a  tank of E5 a while back and to be honest didn't improve the mpg that much, and didn't seem any more responsive, so not worth the extra for me,

I would have bought the Octavia, but my Superb came up for sale with 74 miles on the clock @ 1 year old, good old Covid 19, some good came out of it after all.

Cheers Terry

 

I'm averaging 48 mpg long term, mainly on e10. Also mine is an dsg, as I prefer autos now. I've not noticed an improvement within mpg with e5, just slightly more responsive & a little better from a cold start. Mine has not had the ECU update, as far as I know & my local Skoda garage said there was not one available for mine. My car is an early 19 reg, on a 68 plate. It's now covered 25k from new & I'm the second owner, first being mobility. I also like the Superbs. I'm not going to use e5 all year round, only during the very colder months, then it'll be straight back to e10. 

I've owned mainly Vauxhalls from the 80's on, but had a lot of trouble with them, especially over the last 10 years or so, so decided to jump ship & I'm not disappointed. 

Edited 7 February, 20233 yr by Phoenixboy

An exhaust emissions light.  Engine Shape symbol is different from a EPC light / symbol which reads EPC when it shows.  Some issues have one or the other show, some might have both on.  But likely the car then goes into limp mode.     Ps.  The winter spec E5 and E10 is delivered to UK filling station til the end of March and longer if the importers bought up lots from around Europe and globally after it stopped being produced and have it in storage on land or at sea in bulk tankers.     PPS.   Vauxhall / Opal is no longer PSA group but Stallantis so the  5th biggest manufacturing group in the world.  Which means nothing really as far as reliability.   They are not as deaf, dumb or blind as the VW Group management though.  Biggest vehicle manufacturing group in the world again overtaking Toyota.    Says nothing about dealing with snagging faults, even with EV,s including Porsche.  New Skoda CEO came from Porsche.  What did he do wrong,? How long will he last? About the same or less time that a 1.5 TSI ACT timing belt supposedly needs replaced. 

Edited 8 February, 20233 yr by toot

58 minutes ago, toot said:

They are not as deaf, dumb or blind as the VW Group management though.  

I'd have to disagree with you there, I've had many dealings with vauxhall main dealers over many years, there's now still plenty of engine failures which Vauxhall/Stellantis have no interest in resolving, including the infamous 1.4t (150), GDI, self destructing engine due to lspi and end float issues. Stellantis' new 1.2t engine which has also destroyed it's self due to the internal timing belt shredding, causing catastrophic engine failure. These are only the recent engine failures.

So as I've previously stated, their reliability has took a big hit over the last 10 years or so. I've made many previous successful claims over the years under Vauxhalls manufacturers and extended warranties. 

 

Regarding my dash warning light that came on, it was the engine management warning symbol in yellow, was flashing for 5-10 seconds after starting the car, then went off. Not seen it again, since. It only came on briefly whilst my car was static from a cold start. 

Edited 8 February, 20233 yr by Phoenixboy

@Phoenixboy so now we are @ 2023.

Many of those Vauxhall Dealerships are gone. Sadly my local one has and now i have to go to Arnold Clark as the servicing of a Motability Car needs to be with them.

 

Which New Stellantis 1.2 Turbo engine is this you are talking about, from which year? 

 

I do read about issues.

http://astrakforums.co.uk/threads/astra-k-1-2t-110-engine-issues.8008

 

They will look good on the back of a flatbed at least.

Edited 8 February, 20233 yr by toot

58 minutes ago, Phoenixboy said:

So as I've previously stated, their reliability has took a big hit over the last 10 years or so. I've made many previous successful claims over the years under Vauxhalls manufacturers and extended warranties.

It wasn't great back in 1998 when the timing belt tensioner failed on my Corsa 1.6GSi causing 12 of the 16 valves to hit the pistons, fortunately I had paid for the extended warranty and had a new head fitted at no cost to me - it even paid for the hire car while the work was being done.

 

Strangely that engine was a Lotus design which was sold to several other manufacturers who, I understand, had no reliability issues?

1 hour ago, toot said:

@Phoenixboy so now we are @ 2023.

Many of those Vauxhall Dealerships are gone. Sadly my local one has and now i have to go to Arnold Clark as the servicing of a Motability Car needs to be with them.

 

Which New Stellantis 1.2 Turbo engine is this you are talking about, from which year? 

 

I do read about issues.

http://astrakforums.co.uk/threads/astra-k-1-2t-110-engine-issues.8008

 

They will look good on the back of a flatbed at least.

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/cdn-cgi/mirage/307ddf014f117aa4e33506e142ec7d39336a5f4ca9f445aeb3234eba75350592/1280/https://www.briskoda.net/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_02/DSCN2342.JPG.a8d485f44d9212127483e595f57fd9cc.thumb.jpeg.bdb85eaf95fee9ae91678236a38e76f6.jpeg

The 1.2t engine that's within the K was g.m designed. I think the one within the L was different, this one can suffer from the wet belt issues.

I've previously owned a few K's, the quality of paint on them is very poor, too. Easily scratched and chipped, both within metallic and base colours. The 1.6t engine seems to be the most reliable engine fitted to the K's, the 1.0t not bad either if economy was your priority. 

The metallic paint on my Octavia is far more robust.

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

It wasn't great back in 1998 when the timing belt tensioner failed on my Corsa 1.6GSi causing 12 of the 16 valves to hit the pistons, fortunately I had paid for the extended warranty and had a new head fitted at no cost to me - it even paid for the hire car while the work was being done.

 

Strangely that engine was a Lotus design which was sold to several other manufacturers who, I understand, had no reliability issues?

Yes there were a lot of earlier Eco Tec roller and tensioner failures back then. 

@Phoenixboy

Paints is my specialist subject as i was a car sprayer, time served,  then did commercial spraying (oil & gas equipment) and then back to vehicles.

16 hours ago, Phoenixboy said:

I'm averaging 48 mpg long term, mainly on e10. Also mine is an dsg, as I prefer autos now. I've not noticed an improvement within mpg with e5, just slightly more responsive & a little better from a cold start. Mine has not had the ECU update, as far as I know & my local Skoda garage said there was not one available for mine. My car is an early 19 reg, on a 68 plate. It's now covered 25k from new & I'm the second owner, first being mobility. I also like the Superbs. I'm not going to use e5 all year round, only during the very colder months, then it'll be straight back to e10. 

I've owned mainly Vauxhalls from the 80's on, but had a lot of trouble with them, especially over the last 10 years or so, so decided to jump ship & I'm not disappointed. 

Hi Phoenixboy,  my long term is 44mpg but I do a lot of short journeys with a weekly long trip, so not too bad.

As for the Software fix for the 1.5tsi, there definately was one, it was rolled out early  2020 February according to Volkwagen.

Mine is an early 2020 model and when I had the second service under my ownership I aked the dealership if it had had the update (even though had shown no serious kangarooing Thet told me that it had the updated software version when it left the factory.

I think that the dealship are telling you porkies that your car  which has the 1.5tsi,  does not have an updated software available, just look at this:

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/new-cars/2020-03/volkswagen-announces-fix-for-15-tsi-engine-hesitation-issues/

If it had a service at a main dealer it would have been applied automatically.

BTW the Manual cars suffered worse than the DSG models, so if yours is jerky I would say it needs the update. Maybe contact Skoda and ask them to verify the software upate version.

Some dealerships were actually denying there was a problem right uo to the rollout of the update.

7 hours ago, DeeDah said:

Hi Phoenixboy,  my long term is 44mpg but I do a lot of short journeys with a weekly long trip, so not too bad.

As for the Software fix for the 1.5tsi, there definately was one, it was rolled out early  2020 February according to Volkwagen.

Mine is an early 2020 model and when I had the second service under my ownership I aked the dealership if it had had the update (even though had shown no serious kangarooing Thet told me that it had the updated software version when it left the factory.

I think that the dealship are telling you porkies that your car  which has the 1.5tsi,  does not have an updated software available, just look at this:

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/new-cars/2020-03/volkswagen-announces-fix-for-15-tsi-engine-hesitation-issues/

If it had a service at a main dealer it would have been applied automatically.

BTW the Manual cars suffered worse than the DSG models, so if yours is jerky I would say it needs the update. Maybe contact Skoda and ask them to verify the software upate version.

Some dealerships were actually denying there was a problem right uo to the rollout of the update.

It's only a bit jerky at zero degrees & below, until it's warmed up, still driveable & doesn't cut out. 95 ron fuel improved it, too. It had a fssh prior to m buying it. I asked my local Skoda dealer about this update, they said they've checked & there's not one available for my 19 reg car. Although there is another close to me that I could try, but to be honest I'm not too bothered now.