Hello and EMS warning light -aargh - is there any info on how many cars suffer?

[BlackDog]

Hi

I bought a 2001 Fabia 1.4 Comfort 16v in August and have had non-stop problems with the engine management system warning light. It came on within 24 hours of buying it and the independent small dealer had given me 30 day warranty so it went back for diagnosis. EGR valve was replaced and I got it back. Few weeks later, light came on again - car went back again and up to skoda dealership, conclusion was piston rings, so dealer had his local garage do this - who didn't really think they needed replacing and said everything was clean inside but they did it anyway, so the dealer has now spent £1000 trying to put my car right. The light of course came on again with 20 miles, then I had some gear trouble (popping out of third gear), so this time I took it straight back to the dealers local garage and they said that perhaps the light was back on because they'd cleaned out the whole engine (new cam belt etc too while they were at it) and so they reset it. Made it about 100miles before light came back on again. Was going to just leave it but my own garage said that I should insist on repair or refund as it is not satisfactory and the light being on could mask a genuine problem later, plus the car is no longer worth what I paid. The dealer has spoken to skoda and they want to see it again tomorrow and think it may be a MAP sensor - I have my doubts. Any feedback/advice welcome. I'm not that knowledgeable on mechanics, but I'm learning fast! Surely if so many cars suffer the same problem, there ought to be an owners group complaining to skoda?!?

[VRStu]

Welcome -

It's a 6 year old car - things will go wrong I'm afraid, it's a fact of life.

There are some common problems which you may well turn up if you search for them.

Sounds to me like the dealers are trying to help.

[BlackDog]

I realise that it's six years old, but then I sold an 11 year old Corsa to buy it and that had less issues, but I'd decided it was time for a bit more comfort - kind of wish I hadn't now. It just seems from reading other posts that there seems to be a serious issue with the engine management systems in these cars - or is it just all modern cars with computers given that this is the first car I've owned that thinks it knows better than me?

[Psyzygy]

You want an Octavia that idles lumpy & doesn't pull up to 2000rpm! And they're 3 years old...
I think it's a shame that VAG doesn't acknowledge these faults and find fixes that all garages can know about & do - or that diy users can do themselves.
It's "Try this and try that" until someone or two do stumble upon a definitive fix, but that's drowned out in the noise of people wanting answers.

Have a look in the Tech threads & you may find your answer

[fordfan]

We've had this, a new owner of a 16V brings her car in for us to read the codes, EGR code showing, she contacts the seller who insists the car go to another garage for repair and they replace the EGR valve. A week later the light is on again, comes into us I read the codes and there are none, clear the non existent codes and the light goes out. We spend an hour cleaning the throttle body and EGR system (as we would have done originally, without replacing the valve) and a few weeks later, all is still well.

Get them to remove the throttle body, clean it and the EGR pipe in the manifold, and work the EGR valve through the diagnostic equipment to make sure it is free.

[oilburninnut]

welcome to briskoda