Hi All,

Purchased a 2 litre diesel 2015 Octavia Scout with circa 200,000km from a car dealer last Saturday.

I've noticed that it has been dropping out of gear for a brief second intermittently particularly when taking off at junctions since purchase.

I ran my obdeleven scanner on it and its showing up the codes below on the transmission.

From my research it looks like the mechatronic unit needs replacing.

The dealer, who was very pleasant to buy from so far, deals a lot in these has a good dsg mechanic who is going to take a look at it.

Any other opinions would be greatly appreciated so I'm not fobbed off ect.

 

• Stuck in gear 1 P072C00 (status intermittent)
• Stuck in gear 2 P072D00 (status intermittent)
• Stuck in gear 3 P072E00 (status intermittent)
• Stuck in gear 4 P072F00 (status intermittent)
• Stuck in gear 5 P073A00 (status intermittent)
• Stuck in reverse P072B00 (status intermittent)
• Valve 3 in partial transmission 1 P174A00 electrical error (status intermittent)
• Valve 3 in partial transmission 2 P174E00 electrical error (status intermittent)
• Pressure Control Selenoid C P079700 Stuck On (status intermittent)
• Cooling oil valve P179D00 Electrical error (status intermittent)
• Engine Speed Inp.Circ. Range/Performance (status intermittent)

 

 

Looks like maybe solenoid valve 3 is defective. The only fix would be to get the Mechatronic refurbed which will set you back about £700 ish, or a couple of £ 000 for a new Mech unit which will need coding to your car.

 

TBH, as you've only just bought the car I'd be tempted to return it for a refund, obviously not fit for purpose.

Thanks  @Gammyleg, I might have gone off on a red herring with the gearbox codes as they don't look to have reoccurred but somethings definitely up.

 

Have a suspicion that I scanned it incorrectly the time that these codes showed up. Think I pulled in and the car cut off in stop start mode and not 100% sure if I had the lever in park or not. Should have the car in park and just ignition on to scan properly. Theres only one non specific transmission code coming up the past week (P173400 - starter release from the selector lever sensor system) which keeps showing up even if after clearing.

 

The car has been slightly hard started since purchase but two days ago it took x3 attempts to start it for the first time of the day in 17 degree Celsius heat  Once it started the glow plug lights stayed flashing and it was engine was derated for around 500m-1km up the road. I was only driving up the road to work so parked the car up and when I went back out to head home 6 hours later it started and drove fine.

 

Drove it on friday when the engine was good and hot at 4k revs in manual 3rd for a bit and the engine lost power and blipped back to around 250 revs randomly. Think thats more the issue that Im noticing when driving around.

 

The following error codes showed up when I scanned.

 

I'm hoping some misfiring caused by faulty/worm glow plugs is causing the intermittent loss of power.

 

Dealer has a recommendation for a volkswagen mechanic who's going to take a look.

 

Engine

• P032200 - Ign./Distributor Eng.Speed Inp.Circ
• P071600 - Input turbine/speed sensor "A" circ
• P06E900 - engine starter performance

This showed up somewhere to 

• P072600

 

Gateway

• U140600 Static Current

https://imgur.com/a/8tU7yKc

 

https://i.imgur.com/1tZT1ec.mp4

 

This is it in 2nd gear with me trying to rev it up to 5k revs. Starts cutting back and spluttering. Only happening intermittently. Seems fine the rest of the time.

 

Hopefully the link works. I’ll try on the laptop if not.

 

I’ve it booked in with the mechanic for the 11th. I’m thinking blocked dpf or egr trouble but maybe someone here will know better.

Any thoughts appreciated 
 

Edited 3 November, 20241 yr by feirmeoir

Was the transmission in manual or drive when the video was shot? I'm guessing manual as the transmission would normally shift up to 3rd well before 5k rpm if in drive. In manual it will still upshift to 3rd when it gets close to the red line revs. 

Either way, something is seriously wrong, and I'm not sure why you haven't returned it for a refund. Of course you may have got an exceptionally good deal on the purchase price. 

3 hours ago, Gammyleg said:

Was the transmission in manual or drive when the video was shot? I'm guessing manual as the transmission would normally shift up to 3rd well before 5k rpm if in drive. In manual it will still upshift to 3rd when it gets close to the red line revs. 

Either way, something is seriously wrong, and I'm not sure why you haven't returned it for a refund. Of course you may have got an exceptionally good deal on the purchase price. 

Manual @Gammyleg

Correct shifts up once the revs touch 5k. I was purposefully keeping it below 5k so it didn’t shift up to show the issue.

I was driving with the revs up in manual to try clear out the egr/dpf in case that was the root cause when I really noticed it.

The issue is especially noticeable when holding it as close to the 5k revs as possible. Takes into a fit of spluttering and in this instance engine died back to 3k revs despite my foot on the throttle.. 
If you leave it in auto you’d hardly notice the issue. Just occasionally blips and less often throttle is unresponsive.

 

Paid about market rate for it for aus with 220km and one owner. (£5600/€6700)

Pretty comprehensive main dealer service history too.
 

Your suggestion is to send it back is fairly sensible but I’m hoping it’s a relatively simple fix. Car would suit me down to the ground out here for traveling around Australia otherwise.

Most the other Octavia scouts are 1.8 petrol.

5,000 rpm?     Really you are revving to 5,000 rpm before you shifted!        It is not an Automatic, it is an Automated Manual.      This is about a TDI and the DSG not a TSI..   the DSG is gubbed at present. 

Edited 4 November, 20241 yr by Ootohere

Has the comprehensive service history got DSG oil changed every 64,000 km or sooner.   At 200,000 km when was the last DSG service?

Edited 4 November, 20241 yr by Ootohere

1 minute ago, Ootohere said:

5,000 rpm?     Really you are revving to 5,000 rpm before it shifts.!        It is not an Automatic, it is an Automated Manual.      This is about a TDI and the DSG not a TSI..   the DSG is gubbed at present. 

 

Naturally not driving it to 5k revs ordinarily.

Revving it intentionally to demonstrate the issue with the blip/splutter/ engine dieback that is fair less noticeable during normal driving, much more noticeable in sport mode and the video above speaks for itself when revs up above 4k revs.

2 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Has the comprehensive service history got DSG oil changed every 64,000 km or sooner.   At 200,000 km when was the last DSG service?

 

Yes comprehensive main dealer service history which I double checked with the dealer. Last service less than 5000km ago

Was that the DQ250 DSG getting an oil and filter change?       No way should you be manually holding it in gear and taking a TDI to 5,000 rpm.     There are DSG, that ignore commands or driving behaviours that would damage them.  Hold to too high revs, or dropping 2 or 3 gears ., but there are DQ250,s that do not.   My 2016 Alhambra would drop 2 gears if I selected and near stand in its nose. 

Edited 4 November, 20241 yr by Ootohere

Just now, feirmeoir said:

 

Yes comprehensive main dealer service history which I double checked with the dealer. Last service less than 5000km ago

 

I'll add to this that I'm almost certain it's not a gearbox issue which was my initial suspicion. Gear changes are fine. It's the blip/splutter/ engine dieback that is the problem.

That might be.  Why rev the nuts off it? 

6 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Was that the DQ250 DSG getting an oil and filter change?

I'd have to double check that one with the dealer when they open up again wednesday.

Edited 4 November, 20241 yr by feirmeoir
spellcheck

If someone says a full service history that really means a history of everything done.    So just a history they had the car in means nothing.    When was the air filter changed or inspected, the fuel filter changed.    That should be in the service history. 

1 minute ago, Ootohere said:

That might be.  Why rev the nuts off it? 

Initially I was driving in a lower gear at higher revs to "burn off any soot"... but became the issue became much more apparent the higher the revs.

Was just revving hard to demonstrate the problem and capture it on video. It is easy to demonstrate the higher the revs.

Maybe you're right but the car has no issues going through the gears and the issue is showing up when in manual in a fixed gear.

Not sure on your car but i thought the rev limited was at around 4,700 rpm. 

 

As it is since you say the dealership has a good DSG mechanic, they should keep you right. 

Be sure that all is well or maybe just be full of BS. 

 

They will be able to explain the fault codes you have, and if you have not cleared them they can and try the car again. 

What's the history on this vehicle?  Agree with others - sounds like the Mechatronic unit has got a dodgy solenoid.  If there is a good DSG mechanic available, he might be able to resuscitate it. Fluid levels / pressure levels on DQ250/381/500 series boxes is EVERYTHING and if they don't have the correct pressure internally, you will have all kinds of problems.

Worth trying a fluid and filter change.  On the DQ250-A (all wheel drive on the Scout), the recommended fluid change is every 40,000 miles, but I personally think that is waaayyy to long.  Probably get it done at 30,000 miles is more appropriate.  For the DQ381 box, Skoda recommend service every 80,000 miles, but honestly, the oil is trashed at 35000 miles (I know this, because I had an intermediate service done at that mileage, when the gearboxes were new and the Skoda tech said that the [factory] oil was rank and smelt terrible at 35k, so honestly don't leave it to the service schedule.

When I had an automatic dual clutch transmission in which the gearbox and mechatronic unit shared the same oil Oil changes where essential. i would be changing it more often than every 64,000km. I would also add a caveat to that of time and use too. Mainly urban journeys or towing (extra load)  mean more gear changes with possible lower miles so at least every three years

 

Gearbox swaff ,small metal filings, will build up on the solenoids making them stick or sluggish and  eventually render them useless. (They are magnetic)

 

Thanks, I should probably have created

17 minutes ago, varaderoguy said:

What's the history on this vehicle?  Agree with others - sounds like the Mechatronic unit has got a dodgy solenoid.  If there is a good DSG mechanic available, he might be able to resuscitate it. Fluid levels / pressure levels on DQ250/381/500 series boxes is EVERYTHING and if they don't have the correct pressure internally, you will have all kinds of problems.

Worth trying a fluid and filter change.  On the DQ250-A (all wheel drive on the Scout), the recommended fluid change is every 40,000 miles, but I personally think that is waaayyy to long.  Probably get it done at 30,000 miles is more appropriate.  For the DQ381 box, Skoda recommend service every 80,000 miles, but honestly, the oil is trashed at 35000 miles (I know this, because I had an intermediate service done at that mileage, when the gearboxes were new and the Skoda tech said that the [factory] oil was rank and smelt terrible at 35k, so honestly don't leave it to the service schedule.

Thanks, I should probably have created a new thread because the first post was a read herring which is due to the way I read the codes.

My own fault and probably derailing the thread a bit now!

Gearbox is running fine and only throwing up the one non specific code than now that I'm reading it just turning on the ignition and in park. 

Engine speed inp.circ P072600 

 

Reckon I have the problem figured out which the main code is P032200 - Ign./distributor Eng.Speed Inp.circ to do with speed/ crankshaft sensor which seems to be a common sensor to fail

I'm taking it to a garage next Monday anyway so should get to the bottom of it then.

Just to update this thread.

 

Mechanic changed the crankshaft position sensor - was a lot of dirt/debris on the end of it

Haven't noticed the issue for the past 2000km + since changing so hopefully out of the woods on that issue.

 

Unfortunately got it stuck offroad today.... and the awd system didn't seem to be doing much to help but that's for another thread...

Re the Haldex.

Is it serviced properly.

Was the car spinning a front wheel and a back wheel and is there tyres fitted good enough that could get grip/ traction if there was drive to the wheel?

24 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Re the Haldex.

Is it serviced properly.

Was the car spinning a front wheel and a back wheel and is there tyres fitted good enough that could get grip/ traction if there was drive to the wheel?

Hi @Ootohere, created a new thread and replied to you on that for simplicity. Thanks! 

On 04/11/2024 at 12:59, feirmeoir said:

 

Thanks, I should probably have created

Thanks, I should probably have created a new thread because the first post was a read herring which is due to the way I read the codes.

My own fault and probably derailing the thread a bit now!

Gearbox is running fine and only throwing up the one non specific code than now that I'm reading it just turning on the ignition and in park. 

Engine speed inp.circ P072600 

 

Reckon I have the problem figured out which the main code is P032200 - Ign./distributor Eng.Speed Inp.circ to do with speed/ crankshaft sensor which seems to be a common sensor to fail

I'm taking it to a garage next Monday anyway so should get to the bottom of it then.

Any updates mate?

Just now, jezus27 said:

Any updates mate?

Crankshaft position sensor sorted the issue, easy enough fix covered by dealer I bought the car off thankfully.