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I've got a leased Octavia diesel - the orange engine management light has just come on. A bit of light googling suggests there are a variety of things that can cause it, some pretty trivial, some which would need repairing.
Car is nearly 3 years old, and due to go back to the lease company in about a month and a half...it is running fine, normal power levels, and has been given ample opportunity to do a dpf regen.
Obviously I could ring up the main dealer and get the code read, but I'm guessing that unless it requires something like an EGR valve replacement on warranty, I'm not seeing the ninety+ quid for the code read again.
So, what would folks do to get it out of my hair with as little expense/hassle as possible? Pay a cheaper guy less to check the code and potentially reset it if it's something minor?
If it's "nearly three years old" it's still under warranty.
Go on briskoda and find your nearest friendly VCDS owner. Ply with beer and blag a code read/reset of the light? edit: ^yep run it through warranty^^
If it’s “nearly three years old” it’s still under warranty.
Even for just a code read, if it turns out to be not having the fuel filler cap done up properly?
You can buy an ODB2 code reader for under a fiver on eBay. At that price, it would be generic - but it'll allow you to see what code is being recorded (and to clear it, not that I would recommend that).
Ben_H is right. I got the same thing on my Octavia - much older model, and petrol but it said the engine was running lean when I plugged the reader in. Various opinions were that a split or leaking hose was the most likely culprit but there are about a million of them. A garage found the cause (split hose) and all good. I did use it for quite a while with the light on (months).
When I had a warning light on during warranty, Ford were quite devious. They said "It's £80 to check the code - if it's a faulty component, it's covered on the warranty, but if it's a spurious signal due to a loose connection you'll have to pay the £80."
I guess I've got no problem popping it into the main dealer if there's an actual fault present - all costs will be covered, in theory, I'm just not so keen on getting charged vast sums for plugging it into the reader if it turns out not to be a warranty issue.
Ebay reader might be the best bet just to give me a heads up. Cheers.
It is under warranty. Get it in to Skoda dealer.
I bet your lease company has a 'no warning lights' clause on the fair wear and tear policy.
Where about are you Martin ?
I'm Worcester based and have an obd reader we could plug in on my drive if local.
As expected, a chat with the dealer suggests they'll deal with it under warranty if an actual fault is diagnosed. If it just needs resetting, that'll be 85 quid please.
Cheers Renton, but I'm up in N Yorks.
This kind of thing, or should I go for the ones with the full handset?
As expected, a chat with the dealer suggests they’ll deal with it under warranty if an actual fault is diagnosed. If it just needs resetting, that’ll be 85 quid please.
I'm genuinely curious about what could lead to the engine management light coming on that isn't a fault that should be covered by warranty (setting aside obvious misuse such as failure to service or misfueling).
If a wire has come loose, the wire is at fault. Wires are not consumables so covered under warranty. Don't take nonsense.
Rachel
This kind of thing, or should I go for the ones with the full handset?....
Yes, but it is cheaper on ebay, make sure you get a UK seller, as there are loads of Chinese selling, the giveaway is time for delivery, get one who will have it with you in 3 days or less.
Get 'Torque Pro' app to make it work on your phone, £3 but well worth it.
It works well on my Renault, which are not known for being user friendly for code reading.
I had a fault 2 weeks ago. General engine fault, related to fuel. A google showed fuel injection was the cause. Advice on the web was to start at the fuel filter, and lo and behold, one of the fuel unions on the fuel filter was loose, so it was sucking air in when accelerating.
I’m genuinely curious about what could lead to the engine management light coming on that isn’t a fault that should be covered by warranty
I don't know. You're right, but arguing with main dealers ain't a sport I'm very good at, TBH. Essentially if it isn't something that Skoda Warranty will pay them for in terms of workshop time, they will try to pass it on to me.
Google suggests that it could be tripped by something as trivial as the filler cap not being put on properly, or filling the tank past the first click so there is diesel in some charcoal filter (IANA mechanic!). As I say, there is no issue with engine performance, economy, power, at least none that I can detect...
Cheers Alan - I'll plump for something with next day Amazon delivery, check to see what the issue is, and if it's some trivial thing, I'll reset it and carry on. If something needs fixing, I'll leave the light on and get the dealer involved.
Do these odb2 readers work with vag?
Ive got a bluetooth odb2 reader that i use with Torque on my smartphone for my Suzuki but Skoda is VAG so didn't think thatd work? My brother uses VAG specific lead to his laptop for his
I bought a reader, and it came with Torque Pro App - cost about £12. Handy to have.
If it's a lease vehicle, isn't it the lease company's problem? It's not your car, it's theirs. Tell them to take it away and give you something that works.
Ive got a bluetooth odb2 reader that i use with Torque on my smartphone for my Suzuki but Skoda is VAG so didn’t think thatd work? My brother uses VAG specific lead to his laptop for his
I read and cleared codes on my sons A6 with this set up
If it’s a lease vehicle, isn’t it the lease company’s problem? It’s not your car, it’s theirs.
They normally have clauses about this sort of stuff so they don't get broken vehicles handed back.
If it’s a lease vehicle, isn’t it the lease company’s problem? It’s not your car, it’s theirs. Tell them to take it away and give you something that works.
Works fine...and I'm responsible for maintenance/servicing during the lease period.
🙂 at bikebuoy - sadly I can't get at that bit of the dash!
🤩
Or..
Report it stolen and burn it out.
Actually.... report it stolen, drive to some waste ground and burn it out.
If it goes back with the light lit I'll bet you get charged more than £90 and if it's out of warranty and you've ignored it at that point they might conceivably try and bill you for the repair cost if you caused them to miss out on the warranty fix.
I'd disconnect the battery and then reconnect the battery.
Managed to get the old Corolla that won't die through the MOT for the past 5 years by doing this the night before.
EML stays unlit for a couple of days and is then on for the rest of the year. ODB code reckons is a sensor on the exhaust. Emissions are fine and drives fine.
Might be enough to get you passed the drop off when the time is due.
If it goes back with the light lit I’ll bet you get charged more than £90 and if it’s out of warranty and you’ve ignored it at that point they might conceivably try and bill you for the repair cost if you caused them to miss out on the warranty fix.
^^This^^
I'm guessing you've probably paid for main dealer servicing for the last 3 years to meet the lease/warranty conditions, so why chance it now and potentially end up with an even more significant bill as a result?
Worst case £85 "wasted" for an easy fix, best case a far bigger bill avoided when you hand it back with a fault that could have been fixed under warranty...
a chat with the dealer suggests they’ll deal with it under warranty if an actual fault is diagnosed. If it just needs resetting, that’ll be 85 quid please.
You might argue that if a diagnostic light is on for no reason then the light itself is faulty!
Have a look at the rosstech website. I downloaded their free version of vcds lite and bought a cheap kkl cable off eBay, £4 ish to read and reset the fault codes on my A3.
The type of cable may vary depending on vehicle age. A generic obd reader might not pick up manufacturer specific codes.
If it goes back with the light lit I’ll bet you get charged more than £90 and if it’s out of warranty and you’ve ignored it at that point they might conceivably try and bill you for the repair cost if you caused them to miss out on the warranty fix.
It's not going back with the light on. That would be madness. Anything which actually needs fixing will get fixed under warranty. The bit I'm trying to avoid is the situation where the light just needs five minutes worth of code-reading and resetting, and I spend half a day of my time and more than 100 quid for the privilege.
If a home code-read detects an actual persistent fault (as opposed to 'filler cap not closed'), or can't deliver a meaningful code, I'll leave the light showing and take it into the dealership.
The code reader should arrive today. Worst case is that it doesn't find anything, I have to take it into the dealer, and I have to pay them for a reset, in which case I'm another tenner down.
ve got a bluetooth odb2 reader that i use with Torque on my smartphone for my Suzuki but Skoda is VAG so didn’t think thatd work? My brother uses VAG specific lead to his laptop for his
Most of them will spit out the mandatory emissions related fault codes on all EOBD complaint vehicles regardless of who assembled the vehicle. Some (Carly springs to mind) you can upgrade to be manufacturer specific.
I blame the EU for demanding that any garage or individual can access planet killing fault codes. Vote leave*
*This is a joke.
The big difference with brand-specific diagnostics Utilities like VCDS or multiecuscan is that they can talk to the downstream controllers beyond the main body computer, Abs and engine ECUs. My caravelle for instance has sub controllers for the four wheel drive system, rear HVAC and sliding doors. A standard diagnostic lead would never be able to see these devices. For your needs I suspect a standard lead and something like torque will suffice.
Well, it's arrived. Let's see what the bugger says.
#prayformartin
Soo..
PO674 Cylinder 4 Glow Plug circuit open.
Should last a bit longer than 30K, but hey ho. Engine has been starting OK, but perhaps a little slower than normal in the cold, now I think about it.
Any pitfalls to avoid on this one?
New Beru glow plug from gsf?
the wire hasn't simply fallen off the plug?
It's possible, haven't had a look yet. Is it a home spannering job?
Is it covered by the warranty?
@martinhutch (or anyone with VAG adapter experience)
Would you mind posting up what app and connector you used if it worked well?
I have a slightly older VAG diesel that's not been super reliable and if there's a cheapish route that works on codes it'd be handy.
I'm looking at Carly so far but saw a ref to. VCDS and to Torque above also.
I use a full copy of VCDS which comes with its own lead. Amazeballs but Bloomin expensive mind.
On the Fiats I just have a standard ELMii adapter and mumtiecuscan. €50 for the software is a fraction of what VCDS costs.
@martinhutch they’re usually a single wire to the top of the plug, though VWG are notorious for hiding stuff away. I’d warranty it. Shouldn’t have failed in that time. I bet the plugs themselves are excluded.
PO674 Cylinder 4 Glow Plug circuit open.
I would check connection, glowplug and wiring.
Thanks hot fiat.
Not going to spend vcds money - I need that for all the bloody parts it seems to chew!
With you there. Ahh the “reliability” of Volkswagen. The velle is by far the least reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned. It emptied my wallet of £750 for a leaky rear diff and failed diff lock today. In 7 months I’ve had to deal with: crumbling arb bushes, rattling drop links, SLD lock that refused to unlock, wheelbolt threads that disappear, a heater that caught fire, the diff, the constant monitoring and worry over the BITDI lump possibly wanting to destroy itself...
Would you mind posting up what app and connector you used if it worked well?
Calista bluetooth - plug in, link to phone (with downloaded app), use the phone as a handset. Delivers the OBD2 codes in full and VAG codes just a number for you to look up.
Cheers for the advice on the glowplug. I imagine that's not a warranty item. Which would mean I'd be paying for the diagnostic fee as well, so I might take it to a local indy if there's no obvious fix like a loose wire.
I'd not get involved - just give it back to the lease company.
You could be in for a whole bucket load of pain here. It might not happen, but a glow plug that snaps off in the cylinder head can cost ££££ to fix.
I thought the whole point of a lease car was that this sort of thing was not your problem?
And whoever was asking about about VCDS I have the full kit here in the Wye Valley if that is of any use.
Hth
I thought the whole point of a lease car was that this sort of thing was not your problem?
I'm responsible for maintenance/servicing on this particular plan. Will query whether glow plugs are covered by Skoda three year warranty.
If you cancel the code, how long does the light on the dash stay out for?
On return day drive car to near drop off point, pull over round the corner. Reset the light. Roll up to drop off point. Hand keys over. Jobs a goodun.
bensongd
Member
Have a look at the rosstech website. I downloaded their free version of vcds lite and bought a cheap kkl cable off eBay, £4 ish to read and reset the fault codes on my A3.
The type of cable may vary depending on vehicle age. A generic obd reader might not pick up manufacturer specific codes.
Lite is only for older cars innit?
Anyway I was able to reset a CEL on my 2012 Octavia using Torque Pro and an Ebay bluetooth OBD2 thiny.
On return day drive car to near drop off point, pull over round the corner. Reset the light. Roll up to drop off point. Hand keys over. Jobs a goodun.
I had considered this. Knowing my luck, it would come back on immediately (it is a start engine type fault, after all), then I would be in trouble with the lease company for 'ignoring' it.
Skoda warranty said it wouldn't normally be a service item, so could well be warrantiable unless there was evidence I'd caused the fault. Booked in with main dealer, charm offensive prepared. 🙂 Thanks for all your help.
Now to plug the reader into the Fiesta...