Hello all,

I’ve recently acquired a 2011 1.6TDI estate as my daily run around. This is my first Skoda, substituting for the 1996 (C4) Audi A6 Avant 2.5TDI I’ve had 22 years which needs a bit of love. My son has previously owned an Octavia 2 in 1.9TDI PD form, which was a tatty example with many issues but always drove well when working; now moved on.

Mine is a rather basic spec in boring silver, but does seem to be unmolested and well cared for, with a mere 113k on the clock (A6 currently at 372k!). It drives well. In fact I’m astonished how well it goes and I reckon it would give the A6 (and my other sons ‘04 A4 TDI 130) a run go their money. I’ve not driven a 1.6TDI before, but this has real urgency in 2nd & third especially and I’m suspicious that it may have a “tune” in it. Not sure how I tell though and there are no other signs of fiddling. Economy is good though, or rather it’s sometimes good. I’ve not quite done 500 miles yet and I’m seeing variations over my regular 18 mile “mixed” commute between a best of almost 70mpg and a worst of under 50mpg without any obvious traffic difference. Possibly it’s something to do with DPF regens as it’s definitely done at least one (funny smells, raised idle).

It’s also (disappointingly) just put the check engine light on. Something to do with a glow plug fault and also implausible MAF values, but I’m clearly going to invest in a better scan tool (recommendations welcome) as my current cheap old thing won’t give any details or even clear the codes. It still drives perfectly well.

Other jobs include finding a full size spare wheel, getting the AC re-gassed and hopefully adding Bluetooth to the Bolero stereo somehow. Doesn’t appear to have any external USB/media socket though? Have done some digging on this excellent site but still lots to learn

Cheers

Nick

Easiest option for Bluetooth is an adapter that goes in the fag lighter. It picks up your Bluetooth (from a phone say) and broadcasts it via radio, so you just tune the radio to the right frequency.

Welcome to the forum.

I have had my 1.6 for over 10 years. There was a "fix" for the dieselgate issue which I (and many others) chose to ignore. Those who did have the fix found the engine to be less torquey and plagued by multiple failures of the EGR - an expensive unit to change (in labour cost). It is easy to tell if yours has the fix as one of the changes was to insert an air straightener inside the input air pipe near the air cleaner.

It sounds like your car was not changed as you mentioned the good performance in second and third. As mentioned in the user manual, the trick is to get out of first within three car lengths and use the power you get in 2nd and 3rd. Mine is even better since I changed the injectors.

The glowplug light is used as a general indicator there is a problem warning stored in the ECU.

MPG depends on the temperature and the short/long journeys. In winter and only short journeys I get around 54 and in summer well over 60 as long as I don't get too enthusiastic on the motorways. I have also had over 70mpg over long country roads in Norfolk.

I use my phone with a bluetooth receiver plugged into the AUX socket in the central armrest cubby hole. I don't use the phone as a phone while driving, just for listening to music stored on it.

21 hours ago, JamieH86 said:

Easiest option for Bluetooth is an adapter that goes in the fag lighter

Thanks. I do have one of these and it works well for streaming music and much less well for phone. I don’t use the phone a lot so no massive urgency.

6 hours ago, pikpilot said:

It is easy to tell if yours has the fix as one of the changes was to insert an air straightener inside the input air pipe near the air cleaner.

Thanks. I’ll have a look for that.

6 hours ago, pikpilot said:

It sounds like your car was not changed as you mentioned the good performance in second and third.

That’s interesting. Feel it could be a bit more than that, but either way I’m content with it as it’s better than expected 🙂

6 hours ago, pikpilot said:

plugged into the AUX socket in the central armrest cubby hole

Hmm, I’ve read of this aux socket before, but either I’m blind/daft or mine is too low spec to have it…..

Filled up this evening having done 500 miles. Maths on that says 55mpg vs the trip computer 57.2. Close enough. It’s a bit better than the old A6 which managed just over 50 on the last tankful.

If you go into media on the Bolero radio you will see a choice of CD, SD card or AUX as sources. Cheaper versions do not have Aux so looking there will confirm if AUX is present or not.

Manuals for your car and radio for all years are available from the sticky thread at the top.

The check engine light kept coming back with the glowplug #4 error so I invested in a set of new Bosch plugs. Fitted without incident on Saturday (done hot) and the light has stayed off since. Smoother when cold too. Old plugs measured from 1 - 4 @ 2.6, 1.2, 1.4 & 16 ohms respectively. So 4 was indeed shot and the others getting weary also. Original Beru /VAG came out and I guess 114k is a decent innings.

Also discovered that the reason for an increasing pull to the left under harder braking was caused by this….

….incorrectly located pad…..😳

Resulting in the need for new pads 🙁

Disappointing as

• they were almost new. (Disc will go again though).

• Shows a disturbing lack of competence at the garage where the work was done.

• Appears to have been MoT’d like this.

Also Bluetooth module acquired and cable & microphone ordered.

Done about 1400 miles in it now and generally pretty pleased with it.

Son has just got himself a 2014 Mk3 estate, also 1.6TDI on 140k.

If its the same as my 1.6tdi octavia its a great car. Previous was the 1.9tdiPD which I cant fault. Have noticed I have to keep revs a bit higher on the 1.6tdi to really get it going compared to the 1.9 probably as its a smaller engine with perhaps less torque. I try to give it a few long runs every couple of weeks to keep dpf clean and also with a good burn out down a motorway from time to time. Apart from the usual wear and tear its so far been excellent. Sitting at 120k and hopefully will keep going for another 100k

Alasdair

ASR….. traction control as I understand it.

Doesn’t work very well. If at all. This car has no trouble achieving wheel spin in first or second gears. No warning lights and the ABS works fine.

Is this normal?

On my octavia and my sons fabia the ASR light comes on if you spin the wheels even slightly. I assume yours should be the same. Does the symbol (yellow car with skidmarks on mine) come on at ignition? Just wondering if its been disabled as its useless in the snow as it cuts power to wheels when they start spinning. Had major problems going up a hill last year. Car revs dropped and I lost complete traction and it slid backwards. Luckily managed to steer backwards to hit kerb before hitting car behind. There is a button on mine to disable it but you have to press it everytime you start car.

Alasdair

Thanks Alasdair, Don’t recall seeing seeing the ASR/skid mark sign flash up while moving. Think it does come before starting but will look properly next time I’m in it. There is an “ASR defeat” button which I’ve not touched.

It can certainly manage wheelspin though. Plenty of steep, narrow, muddy, leaf covered lanes around here. Nearly new Goodyear all-season tyres too.

My old A6 is similar but no traction control on that.

The ASR button I found out is if you get properly stuck with no traction. As said car cuts power to spinning wheel but if both are spinning then you go nowhere. It might be worth getting it scanned to see if all the ABS sensors are ok if the light doesnt come on. It may be a failing/dirty sensor.

Alasdair

On 02/12/2025 at 17:56, Alasdair1 said:

If its the same as my 1.6tdi octavia its a great car. Previous was the 1.9tdiPD which I cant fault. Have noticed I have to keep revs a bit higher on the 1.6tdi to really get it going compared to the 1.9 probably as its a smaller engine with perhaps less torque. I try to give it a few long runs every couple of weeks to keep dpf clean and also with a good burn out down a motorway from time to time. Apart from the usual wear and tear its so far been excellent. Sitting at 120k and hopefully will keep going for another 100k

Alasdair

Yeah wear and tear aside, great car. My 1.9 TDI from 2005 just passed the MOT with just a rusty coil spring and drives like new.

On 18/11/2025 at 20:31, VitesseEFI said:

t’s also (disappointingly) just put the check engine light on. Something to do with a glow plug fault and also implausible MAF values, but I’m clearly going to invest in a better scan tool (recommendations welcome) as my current cheap old thing won’t give any details or even clear the codes. It still drives perfectly well.

If it’s giving you a flashing glow plug light but no drop in power , It’s the egr starting to fail…

It will get progressively more symptomatic. I did a detailed descriptor in the guides section for diagnosing.

An elm327 bt dongle with torquepro app

Or a carista dongle and app would be my recommendation.

10 hours ago, mac11irl said:

If it’s giving you a flashing glow plug light but no drop in power , It’s the egr starting to fail…

No flashing glowplug light.

Problem appears sorted with new glowplugs. Have reset the light and it’s stayed off. Runs smoother when cold too.

Thanks for dongle/app suggestions.

31 minutes ago, VitesseEFI said:

No flashing glowplug light.

Problem appears sorted with new glowplugs. Have reset the light and it’s stayed off. Runs smoother when cold too.

Thanks for dongle/app suggestions.

Fingers crossed, but keep an eye on it. Esp with those implausible maf readings. That’s stage one of a sticking egr too, which is incredibly common on the 1.6 cayc engine.. had mine deleted (blanked and mapped out) last January

The implausible MAF reading was historical I think and only seen the first time I scanned it after getting the car. Cleared it and it’s stayed away over the last 1,500 plus miles of mixed driving. Fingers crossed it stays away.

That said, I’m no fan of EGR on diesels, so curious to know about your EGR delete. Disabled in software but physically present, present but blanked off (gaskets with no hole) or completely removed and blanked off?

I blanked off the one on my A6 years ago, which was very easy as it’s old enough that no software changes were needed. With that done and all of the soot accumulation cleared from the intake it picked up 5mpg average….

I realise software changes are 100% needed for this car. Even the ‘05 1.9TDI Octavia and 04 Audi A4 1.9TDI my sons have can detect blanked off EGR….

Mine is Present but blanked out and ECU coded to not look for it.

You may be alright if the maf was historical. Hopefully it was and stays like that..