Hello All,

I have just joined the site principally to tap in to the experience and knowledge of other Skoda owners.

I bought my 2012 Superb in 2013 with 4k miles on the clock. Other than needing to replace the AirCon pump & condenser this year it has been very reliable. It has now covered 149k miles. I bought the 4x4 variant as I lived in Aberdeenshire until 2022. Its 4x4 capability with snow tires is fantastic for an estate car.

I now need some diagnostic advice please as my car has just developed what I hope is a common fault.
Re: 2012, Superb Elegance DSG 4x4 140ps 2 litres TDi estate.
ALL of the orange instrument warning lamps come on when I start the engine and then some don't extinguish once is running. That is, the Anti-lock Brakihg System, Adaptive Stability Control, Power Steering Warning, Tire Pressure Monitoring, Brake Pad Wear remain lit.

I need to turn off the engine and restart it three times to clear them all as they extinguish in stages. Often the Power Steering Warning lamp remains on.

Once cleared and the car is driven they typically remain off for a few miles but often they can come back on randomly.

If I don't initially restart the engine three times and drive it, regardless of the warning lamps being lit, a number of the lamps will eventually extinguish except the Power Steering Warning lamp. Then after only a couple more miles further that lamp often then extinguishes too.

Once I turn off the engine and restart it the problem repeats itself.

The car drives normally so I think the actual systems are working normally irrespective of their warning lamps being lit.

I have sent off for a cheap OBD2 BlueTooth Dongle to check the Error Codes but that cannot conduct a fault warning lamp reset.

Any recommendations, suggestions, feedback would be much appreciated.

A generic OBD dongle unfortunately won't even be able to read all the car's control modules. Needs something more VAG specific, e.g. VCDS, Obdeleven or Carista, to be able to read fault codes in all modules and also report them in in a format you can understand (text description rather than just code number). I use Carista dongle but rather than pay for Carista subscription, I use Car Scanner Pro app which was from recollection less than a tenner to buy with no on-going costs. Or there are Briskoda members with VCDS who can help, worst case in exchange for a beer token or two. There may be one local to you -

Until you can scan all modules you are in the dark. But based on the symptoms it sounds like this could be down to issue with a wheel speed ABS sensor, so many seemingly unrelated systems use data from these sensors e.g. traction control, headlamp AFS, steering. When I had an ABS sensor fail, dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and also generated multiple warning messages in the Maxidot screen.

The good news is that if this is the root cause here then it's a relatively quick and cheap fix with replacement sensors common to many VAG cars (so plenty of copy parts available if you want to go down that route).

Thanks very much for your response and guidance.

I'll take a look...

My 2012 Superb (3.6l V6) exhibited this exact behaviour when I changed the battery - I turned the ignition on and felt sick, I thought I'd fried something. But it was just everything sorting itself out after a complete power loss, it only did it on the first start and everything was fine after a minute of driving. So might this be pointing to a battery or alternator problem of some sort?

Thanks for your feedback.

I have fitted a new battery recently and did try a disconnect reboot. It says Stability Control Error! Plus all the warning lights. The consensus from a few sources it is very likely a rear wheel speed sensor fault.

I'm going to try to borrow a proper VW/Skoda OBD-II scanner to confirm there is a fried sensor 🤞🏻

Do let us know how you fix this. Thanks.

Is the alternator charging when you start it?

Check with multi meter. Should be 14V or so after starting.

In Aus, all our cars have/had a bulb check relay that turned on all warning lights upon key on, and only turned them on once the alternator was outputting a current.

Often, multiple warning lights = alternator or wiring failure in charge circuit

Thanks for replying.

The general consensus is that one of the rear ABS / Stability Control, wheel speed sensors is faulty or the timing ring within the wheel bearing assembly is corroded.

Ideally I need to borrow an OBD-2 Error/Fault Code Scanner to confirm that diagnosis is correct.

There is a nearly new battery. The Alternator is outputting 14.4V, and with the engine off, the battery is showing 12.2V.

I've checked the continuity and the connections look okay.