Hello,

I have had my (Australian) MY10 Scout 4x4 Manual Diesel 2.0 for about 3 months now. I would love this car if it behaved well.

I need help diagnosing an issue please.

Symptoms started 10 days ago, I have driven it very little in this time.

1. Sometimes when starting after idling for a few seconds the motor goes KUNK KUNK and stops.

2. Engine runs a bit rough and has a vibration.

3. Dash warning lights - Engine Light came on and stayed on for a few days and then went away. Glow Plug light was flashing at same time, but went away and stayed off after ignition turned off.

4. Under heavy acceleration the exhaust blows a bit of black smoke.

Car previously had DPF Delete and EGR blank plate and relevant tune, so I doubt it's DPF.

I have taken it to 2 mechanics who want between $150 to $200 just to diagnose it, I want a clearer understanding what the problem could be before I start spending money.

Previous owner personally (no mechanic) replaced glow plugs 12 months ago.

Car doesn't leak or burn oil.

I will try to get some scan data to add to this post.

Any help or Jedi mind tricks appreciated.

Could be as simple as a crank sensor. Get it scanned for fault codes as I am sure there will be some stored if the EML light was on and post them here.

Alasdair

Thanks for this.

I got hold of a cheap OBD2 scanner and downloaded android Car Scanner app. The list of Skoda cars in the profile was HIGHLY confusing so I picked the closest one.

Scan Results:

01314 - ABS Control Unit (engine control unit) - note: I think my front right wheel speed sensor is starting to fail.

01618 - Sensor Reference B Voltage too low - Intake Manifold Pressure Sensor OR ECU - note: there is a strong smell (diesel-ish) coming from the engine area especially after the engine heats up.

01166 - Engine Torque Signal - note: wheel speed sensor???

Other info:

Car has an audible flutter only when driving above 3500 rpm, leaking gasket on exhaust manifold was replaced but did not fix, suspected problem with vanes on turbo not opening properly at higher rpm. Uncertain if this has anything to do with current problem.

Car has an additional Problem when driving at speeds higher than 90km/hr and at random intervals, the glow plug warning light flashes and the car goes into limp mode. Turning car off then restarting clears this problem until next time. This does not happen when driving around town at speeds less than 90km/hr. Uncertain if this is linked to current problem.

Edited 23 July, 202523 Jul by AusAds
added more info about 90km/hr problem

01618 can mean wiring to (intake manifold pressure sensor)MAP sensor is faulty or sensor itself. If its the problem it would explain rough idle plus black smoke and smell of diesel. I would check wiring back to ECU and change MAP sensor. Not sure cause of 01166 but may be related.

My old ocatvia used to randomly go into limp mode at higher revs. I suspected turbo veins but in my case the actuator was sticking. I sprayed it with penetrating oil and manually operated it until it was smooth and free. Problem was cured.

Alasdair

This is a good page to decode fault codes:

https://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Fault_Codes

It might help some members on here if you post the engine code. You can find it on a sticker around the spare wheel area

Thanks Alasdair your info is really helpful. I will find and change the broken wheel speed sensor, and change the map sensor and check it's wiring. And also spray the turbo actuator.

Thanks Pikpilot, I will post engine code later, car scanner app takes to google search and wiki.ross is normally high up in results.

Now to order parts.

I got away with just lubricating the actuator as it was sticking at a certain point and causing overboost. I hope yours is the same and its not the turbo fins that are stuck. I had to manually operate actuator for a good while before it became free again. Hope the new sensor curres the problem.

Alasdair

UPDATE:

I took it to a local mechanic as I didn't want to drive the car 5kms to a vw mech. As I originally refused the $150 for diagnosis, I gave instruction to the mechanic what to do.

I got a new Map Sensor and had mechanic replace the old one. It made no difference to the vibration but car doesn't blow black smoke any more under acceleration.

Mechanic discovered oil leaks around engine and hoses, surprisingly car does not drip oil, I have often checked underneath on road after car parked at night. These leaks have not been fixed and are probably the reason for the smell.

Mechanic Discovered a broken wire to one glow plug, his scan tool showed an open circuit error, he fixed wire and CLEARED CODES.

Mechanic was not able to lubricate turbo actuator, he said he wasn't able to get to it. (I could not find any of this specific model's DIYs on youtube they were only VW cars not skoda)

This all up cost $300 ($70 map sensor and $230 labour), and has not fixed the vibration or smell problem, the mechanic is not a fault as he did as I requested. In that price he also checked wheels and brakes and lubricated the hood release cable.

If I had a place to work on it, not by the side of the road, I would have done this myself.

Anyone have a clue on what the vibration could be? it's only moderate when warmed up and only minor when cold. It's there both at idle and when driving, seems to be a little worse between 2000-2500 rpm. Thanks

You refused to pay $150 for a diagnosis but paid twice as much for guesswork that didn't fix it?

I would take it the 5k to the specialist and get it diagnosed properly.

I would have the fuel injectors checked; if one is failing the ECU might cut it out and this could cause vibrations if you're on three cylinders.

You don't know the full story, Australia has a MASSIVE problem with incompetent mechanics ripping people off. $150 to diagnose then $5000 to fix something that may only cost a tiny fraction of that irl.

Also Australian mechanics diagnose by hooking the car up to a computer, most of them have little skill beyond reading the scan tool, and if YOU have any clue you know that scan tools are NOT a 100% solution.

Also YOU did not read my entire post, the sensor replacement appears to have fixed blowing black smoke, which is something that needed fixing, plus the other things.

ACTUALLY the next thing I will check is engine mounts.

Well you've come here for advice; if you're worried about the quality of local mechanics (but are happy to give them money) and have a VW specialist nearby, then the advice I would give is to take it to the specialist. They may well perform manual and other physical inspections rather than rely on a scanner.

I know this as I had an issue last year with rough idling, engine vibrations and black smoke the local mechanics with their scanners were a black hole of cash but I took it to a local VW specialist who confirmed it was a fuel injector (swapping the suspect injector to another position and vice versa, the problem followed the injector) and since replacing it, no issues.

But if YOU are happy to go to local mechanics and check things that way then it is YOUR car.

Final Update: I didn't do anything further to the car and I noticed last Sat morn (and since then), after about driving 90km over 4 days, that problem vibration has gone. I am guessing that with the new sensor it took the ecu a while to re-program itself. Car still has it's old vibrations/rattles/squeaks, car has 200K km on it, so as long as they don't get worse I am happy.

Thanks to all who helped.

Edited 5 August, 20255 Aug by AusAds
added rattles and squeaks