Warning Light

[KentStu]

This morning, an orange warning light (looks like an engine) came on the Octy and wouldn't go out, even when the car was restarted. Any ideas what the warning light signifies since I didn't have my handbook in the car ... also any idea what might cause it to come on? Will probably have to take it in to the dealer for a diagnosis as I don't have Vag-com - will be the first test of how expensive everything is now that the car is out of warranty

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by KentStu

This morning, an orange warning light (looks like an engine) came on the Octy and wouldn't go out, even when the car was restarted. Any ideas what the warning light signifies since I didn't have my handbook in the car ... also any idea what might cause it to come on? Will probably have to take it in to the dealer for a diagnosis as I don't have Vag-com - will be the first test of how expensive everything is now that the car is out of warranty

It's just the engine management light telling you there is a fault. It may or may not be serious - you won't know until you plug a VAG-COM/diagnostic equipment on it Was the car running ok at the time?

Chris

[KentStu]

Originally Posted by ScoobyChris

Was the car running ok at the time?

Yep - no problems at all that I could hear or feel (and believe me I starting getting very paranoid!). Oh well, visit to the dealer it is then.

[pdhealy]

Sounds exceedingly familiar..... see attached link

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/t20236-dtc-error-code-17704-p1296.html

[robmawer]

Originally Posted by KentStu

Yep - no problems at all that I could hear or feel (and believe me I starting getting very paranoid!). Oh well, visit to the dealer it is then.

If the car's running fine, it's probably just one of the sensor's which has gone. My temperature sender has gone, and displays the same warning light.

Best to get it checked out, though if the car is running fine chances are there's nothing wrong - how did we cope in the days before flashing warning lights, eh?


Rob.

[Stuart_J]

Even if it was an intermediate fault the light will stay on.
One quick check to see if its intermittent is to disconect the battery for about 15 mins, this will put the light out, if it dosent come on again its nothing serious.
My car occasionally does it & its an emissions problem due to the aftermarket exhaust, when you drive too slowly for mile after mile, the exhaust cools & the light comes on.

[ginandtonic]

I had the exact same thing happen to me this morning on my Octavia RS -- the "check engine" light came on (and stayed on) as I was driving into work, but the engine seems to be running fine.

When I phoned the garage the guy I spoke to said it should be OK to drive if the light is on constantly. If it was flashing that indicates a more serious problem, and you shouldn't drive it in that case. It's booked in to be checked, anyway.

Also, he said that sometimes the indicator gets lit, but the on-board computer doesn't log a fault. To quote what he said: "sometimes it can go on up to 10 times before a fault is logged". Does that sound right to any of the Skoda techs on here? I would have thought that if the computer had decided to light up the "check engine" indicator it would always log a fault for diagnosis... Otherwise how would you find intermittent problems?

David.

[cmcm789]

Originally Posted by ginandtonic

I had the exact same thing happen to me this morning -- the "check engine" light came on (and stayed on) as I was driving into work, but the engine seems to be running fine.

When I phoned the garage the guy I spoke to said it should be OK to drive if the light is on constantly. If it was flashing that indicates a more serious problem, and you shouldn't drive it in that case. It's booked in to be checked, anyway.

Also, he said that sometimes the indicator gets lit, but the on-board computer doesn't log a fault. To quote: "sometimes it can go on up to 10 times before a fault is logged". Does that sound right to any of the Skoda techs on here? I would have thought that if the computer had decided to light up the "check engine" indicator it would always log a fault for diagnosis... Otherwise how would you find intermittent problems?

David.

David, I have been told the opposite. I was told not to drive if the light comes on constant. From experience (my Octy), intermitent fault light highlights a minor problem. In my case it was a faulty brake light switch (maybe this is considered serious).

Can anyone clarify what a minor fault is, if a brake light switch is major????

JD

[ginandtonic]

Hmm. A quick Google turned up these opinions:

http://garagepartner.com/rialtaboard.../msgs6188.html
http://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/102521.phtml

Which both suggest that steady light = minor problem and blinking light = major problem (ie, don't drive). But they are US sites, so maybe they do things differently over there...

I'll dig out the owners manual when I get home and check what it says in there.

To anyone reading who has had a coil pack fail on them: did you notice whether the "check engine" light lit up steady, or flashing?

David.

[robmawer]

Originally Posted by cmcm789

Can anyone clarify what a minor fault is, if a brake light switch is major????

Ah, but a brake light switch would stop the brake lights working, which an officer of the law will take a dim view of...


Rob.

[cmcm789]

Originally Posted by robmawer

Ah, but a brake light switch would stop the brake lights working, which an officer of the law will take a dim view of...


Rob.

As would anyone driving behind.....

[KentStu]

Update .... wife took the car in and they diagnosed a fault in the coolant sensor - replaced etc for the princely sum of £85, Not sure whether thats cheap for the job or not but its certainly more expensive than wheen it was under warranty

[robmawer]

Originally Posted by KentStu

Update .... wife took the car in and they diagnosed a fault in the coolant sensor - replaced etc for the princely sum of £85, Not sure whether thats cheap for the job or not but its certainly more expensive than wheen it was under warranty

Same thing as what's gone on my car by the sound of it. Had one swapped under warranty, which didn't fix it. Think the part costs about £16, and they've revised it which kind of indicates the original wasn't up to the job...


Rob.

[KentStu]

The new sensor was £26 inc VAT ... but then there were charges for a 1552 Test (or something like that ) at £20, 0.5 hours of labour which came to £22.50p and new coolant and a seal.

Anyone know whether that sounds reasonable? In particular:

(1) is the 1552 Test a VAG-com type test and is this normally charged for in addition to labour?;
(2) What do most dealers charge as an hourly labour charge - this was £45 per hour.

BTW - this wasn't my normal dealer but a local independent VAG specialist.

[robmawer]

Yeah, think 1552 is a VAG-COM type test - the dealerships I've been in have certificates for people who have been trained on this. Not sure if this is something they charge for - on the one hand it can't take that long to plug something in and run a diagnostic, but on the other hand I doubt the machines for doing it are that cheap...

£45p/h seems pretty reasonable!


Rob.

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by robmawer

Yeah, think 1552 is a VAG-COM type test

Yep, it's a handheld VAG diagnostic tool which does the same job as VAG-COM, but without the need for a laptop. Personally, I'd expect the use of it to be swallowed up in the labour charge, but your labour rate does seem a bit low so maybe they were just showing it as a break-down.

I think it's down to the dealer how much they charge for sticking it on the 1552 as I know some will do it for free, but maybe those that do, swallow the labour price in the cost for actually fixing the problem?

Chris