Help. Am new to this web site but hoping some of you experts can help. We have a W reg Skoda Felicia Classic 1289cc. About 2 months ago I noticed the engine temperature gauge on the dashboard wasn't working. Took it to our local garage who ordered a new Temperature Gauge Sensor from a Skoda Dealer. Since then, the car has been back 4 times because the garage say that the Sensors which have been been sent down are wrong. The Skoda garage say they contacted Skoda for the correct part number and have no other advice to give. My problem is that before the car went into the garage it was running OK apart from the temperature gauge. Now, even though the original non-working sensor has been put back in, 5 minutes into every journey the car stalls everytime I slow down and then usually refuses to start until another 5 minutes has elapsed. It's so dangerous because of PAS. I am at my wits end. Why would a temperature gauage sensor have this effect on the engine. Would a diagnostic test help. Any advice greatly appreciated from a worried Mum with a frustrated newly passed teenage driver!

Rite ok, am having SIMILAR problems myself, firstly with the temp sensor there are apparently two types a green and a yellow (according to motorfacotr o

I bought mine from) I believe you can tell by looking at the ring that secures the sensor into place. Try buying and changing that yourself (assuming yours is injection if not i appologise for wasting your time!)

Also try taking off the throttle body cover and spraying some carb cleaner into the throttle body whilst reving the engine to clean it and see if makes a blind bit of difference?

If none of that applies or works am sorry but tried using a little 'knowledge' which i hear is dangerous! - perhaps not as dangerous as your car however

try checking the accelerator cable, the spring clip on mine was through the rubber, and all it needed was a washer to hold it back

best of luck

George

Now, even though the original non-working sensor has been put back in, 5 minutes into every journey the car stalls everytime I slow down and then usually refuses to start until another 5 minutes has elapsed. It's so dangerous because of PAS. I am at my wits end. Why would a temperature gauage sensor have this effect on the engine.

The cars brain (ECU) requires an input signal from each sensor in order to output the correct signals for fuel, etc.

I'm not 100% certain but I think that what is probably happening is that the faulty temperature sensor is breaking down when the temperature increases...i.e after 5 minutes the temperature is such that the sensor will not output a signal (car stalls) and requires another 5 minutes of cooling before it will output a signal (car starts).

You could try purchasing the sensor yourself from elsewhere and asking the garage to fit it (e.g. Butts of Bawtry)

I've never had that prob, but does sound (as already said) once the car heats up, the control unit is not automatically switching the choke off, thus stalls and flooded, hence the wait etc. I'd be quite sharp with the garage to get it looked into. Sounds like they replaced your previous part with another faulty one.

The original temp sensor would have had a yellow collar, the new one should be blue unless it was bought complete with a thermostat . If yours is green then thats a 1.9 diesel sensor.

It does sound like corner shop syndrome which is mainly down to the temp sensor.

One other suggestion, check the flywheel sensor sitting on top of the bell housing.

What a lovely bunch you all are! Sincere thanks for all your tips and advice. As I am completely clueless when it comes to cars (fixing them, not driving them I hasten to add!), I have printed off all your recommendations for my brother. He's offered to have a look at it for me. Thank you one and all. Sue )

any updates Sue?

Hi. Thanks for asking. Not good news I'm afraid. Brother decided he wasn't up to the job so car went into our local Skoda Dealer for a diagnostic test today. To cut a short story long!, it cost me £196 for the diagnostic testing and repairs to the coolant temperature sender and thermostat housing. BUT... although the temperature gauge in the engine now works the car is now stalling EVERY single time you take your foot off the accelerator. The only good thing is that at least the car does seem to start everytime it stalls. What Skoda now want is to do is for us to spend £452.37 on a throttle valve control unit which they say is what is actually causing the problem. I've now paid the 1st bill and hubby and I are now in a quandry - do we spend that sort of money on a W ref 1.3 Felicia or do we spend money we haven't got a new car - either used or new. I can't see the point of spending that sort of money when the car isn't even worth that much!! What would you clever people do - probably fix it yourselves! Any advice gladly appreciated. Thanks Sue )

you might be able to pick up a throttle body/control unit from a breakers yard for a few quid, last time i got one from a breakers yardi payed £10 for it

Still an odd coincidence that the stalling started only after the first garage had had it in. Maybe someone could have a look to check nothing's dislodged or disconnected before you spend your cash despite the diagnostic test.

I preferred it when the throttle valve control unit was a length of wire fastened to the pedal at one end and the throttle valve at the other.

Hope you get it sorted.

I've also possibly started to have problems with my throttle valve and dreading the cost of any repairs..even if I attempt it myself.

I can't believe these prices...Sounds like the hourly rate of a solicitor or a dentist!

Does seem a coincidence that both problems have happened together..however common they may be.

I'm tempted to take the cover off my throttle valve to see if there's just something sticking...but will probably end up making things worse.

I'm only guessing...but I reckon when these throttle valves 'fail'...90% of the unit is probably still OK.

Not sure about the 1.3....but I have seen reconditioned units for the 1.6 advertised on e-bay for about £90 with a 2 year guarantee.

Hope you manage to find a cheaper solution.

If you have problems stalling when cold, you could try a simple wiring modification:

Get a heavy duty earth cable and connect to the battery -ve and a good point on the body (suspension strut mount).

At the temperature sensor remove some of the insulation from the brown/white wire (do not break the wire) and solder another wire to this, and insulate.

At the other end of this additional wire crimp on a suitable connector and attach to the battery -ve terminal.

Hi. Thanks for asking. Not good news I'm afraid. Brother decided he wasn't up to the job so car went into our local Skoda Dealer for a diagnostic test today. To cut a short story long!, it cost me

The stalling problem could just be the throttle plate needing a clean.

Here's the link to my follow up for this....

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/felicia-fun-forman/throttle-body/60867/

It's possible that this problem may have gone unnoticed before if the faulty coolant sensor was keeping the throttle plate open on fast idle.

Hope this helps save some money.

Just thought I'd update all you kind people on my little problem. Really thought we'd have to scrap the Skoda for something new (but used!) because we couldn't se the sense of spending another

Sounds like he shorted something out, maybe the coolant temp sensor.

Doesnt sound like its 'fixed'

I hope it doesnt lead to problems further down the line.

i once saw a paper clip soldered to the trottle plate on a vauxhall which prevented the throttle plate from closing which gave a faster idle speed.

It would be interesting to know where the E-Clip has been fitted.....

If it has been used to hold open the throttle plate then it sounds to me like the same problem I had, where a simple clean of the throttle plate seemed to cure the idling problems.

Good to hear the car's running well again at low cost, but I do agree that using some form of blocker is never going to be the ideal solution and should be avoided if possible (e.g fuel consumption may increase).

Just my current opinion....but I do think that there must be some issues that need addressing within the motor industry in that a main dealer cannot guarantee to fix such a problem for a cost of £650........I guess that's one of the driving forces for DIY mechanics!!

A lot of modern car engineering seems deliberately designed to be inaccessible to DIY mechanics though. There's a lot of cars scrapped for the sake of really small problems that are too costly to fix on a modern car. All for the good of the environment supposedly by getting them running more efficiently but creating a more throw away car like this can't be good either.

What I'll get when the Felicia goes I don't know. It was the simplest car I could get and they're getting far too complicated now...

The automobile's never going to be particularly efficient/ environmentally friendly while it still has an internal combustion engine for it's lump! Something like 30% efficient I think.

Clip on the throttle outer cable at the throttle body?