I'd be taking it back and demanding they mend it this time, not break it. Arrive at service reception at a busy time, lots of other customers there. Talk slightly louder than usual, but just persistent, not rude or angry. Gets their attention.
Technical Euro 6 engine software update letter?
Currently reading:
Technical Euro 6 engine software update letter?
It's quite likely making increased use of EGR, which will also wear the engine out faster and lead to more maintenance issues further on down the line
. For liability reasons, I'd expect that Fiat have designed this so that it can't be rolled back
.Wonder what it will do to fuel economy?
Me too. Which may be why those VW owners are considering a class action lawsuit to get compensation from the manufacturer.
IMO diesel passenger cars are dead in the water now. It likely won't be long before we see both central and local governments implementing targeted fiscal policies to remove any perceived cost advantages to owning one.
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I've heard of driveability issues with VW that have been "reprogrammed" the neighbours sons Golf with the 1.6 diesel engine has been a nightmare since.
Russandgizzie
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Our Trekking MJ Euro 6 had the 6026 update letter and after a bit of trawling I couldn't see any real negative experience here and on the web so organised it to be done. My basic thinking was that if it improves emissions then that is 'a good thing'.
I just about felt I could detect a slight change in the fly by wire throttle feeling but that was all. It still pulls well when we ask it to Go! and now it just feels like it the new normal. I missed the first fuel fill after the change so cannot check Fuelly figures yet but I will post when I next fill her up. So far there does not seem to be an obvious issue associated with the software change.
I just about felt I could detect a slight change in the fly by wire throttle feeling but that was all. It still pulls well when we ask it to Go! and now it just feels like it the new normal. I missed the first fuel fill after the change so cannot check Fuelly figures yet but I will post when I next fill her up. So far there does not seem to be an obvious issue associated with the software change.
MikeySkiBoy
New member
I would say that the update has certainly changed the charactersitics of the throttle and engine response. I'm now trying to figure out if it just means that I have to adapt to suit it, or if the ECU is still doing some sort of learning procedure, or if there is a problem.
If I keep the revs up a bit higher than I would normally do, and change up a bit later, it doesn't seem too bad. However, driving like that that will surely have a negative effect on the emissions that the update was supposed to reduce!
I'll run it for a few more days and will then see if we have bonded again, or if I need to go back to the dealer.
If I keep the revs up a bit higher than I would normally do, and change up a bit later, it doesn't seem too bad. However, driving like that that will surely have a negative effect on the emissions that the update was supposed to reduce!
I'll run it for a few more days and will then see if we have bonded again, or if I need to go back to the dealer.
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He's not the only one who has experienced that it seems https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...skoda-seat-emissions-fix-left-car-undriveable
Sorry to hear the update's made things worse for you mate, but I'm so glad I came across your post.
I've refused the update so far as I figured less emissions probably equals less power. However, my 4x4 has had flat spots and hesitations pretty much since new, and in recent months they seem to have gotten worse. In the last 3 months, it's spent around 4 weeks at the dealers, and they still can't track down the fault, and in actual fact, they've concluded that there's nothing wrong with it.
As they can't find fault with it, but I'm still insisting there's an issue, they've suggested that the software update could be worth a try, but after reading your post, there's no chance I'll be letting them apply it.
Also, after reading that you've always had flat spots, I'm kind of wondering if it's just a characteristic of the car that maybe bothers some people more than others.
MikeySkiBoy
New member
Well...........
My Panda went back to the dealer and we went out for a very pleasant drive with a senior mechanic at the wheel and me as a passenger. Of course, she was on her very best behaviour and the intermittent issue was not showing and no progress was made.
There was a glow plug error noted a day or two before the visit and they hooked her up to their ECU reader and it was noted that there was an issue with cylinder 3 glow plug. As I think these plugs are only used to heat the cylinders prior to ignition, I doubted that would cause the issue.
She went back in to get the plug replaced and I asked them to have another look - which they did and found nothing again. It sounds like they are not willing to do anything unless they can find something to poke.
Since the plug was replaced she has been much better, which seems strange, but there is definitely still an intermittent issue. You can tell as soon as you start her up whether she is going to play along, or not. The engine is far more eager to rev, sounds healthier and just feels right underfoot. Unfortunately I have not been able to identify any logic to why she is absolutely fine sometimes and then not at others, to varying degrees.
Whether the software update made the issue worse, I am not at all sure. It may well be the case that the failing glow plug was indeed causing confusion in the ECU and that it was making things worse - it all happened around the same time. As for the update reducing the power, I really can't say that I've noticed that at all and, for the majority of the time, she rattles along as nicely as before.
So things are better, and maybe back to as they were before the update, but there is definitely still an issue and, as you say, it may just be a “characteristic” that I'll have to live with - until the fault comes on and stays on until I can get her to the dealer..
My Panda went back to the dealer and we went out for a very pleasant drive with a senior mechanic at the wheel and me as a passenger. Of course, she was on her very best behaviour and the intermittent issue was not showing and no progress was made.
There was a glow plug error noted a day or two before the visit and they hooked her up to their ECU reader and it was noted that there was an issue with cylinder 3 glow plug. As I think these plugs are only used to heat the cylinders prior to ignition, I doubted that would cause the issue.
She went back in to get the plug replaced and I asked them to have another look - which they did and found nothing again. It sounds like they are not willing to do anything unless they can find something to poke.
Since the plug was replaced she has been much better, which seems strange, but there is definitely still an intermittent issue. You can tell as soon as you start her up whether she is going to play along, or not. The engine is far more eager to rev, sounds healthier and just feels right underfoot. Unfortunately I have not been able to identify any logic to why she is absolutely fine sometimes and then not at others, to varying degrees.
Whether the software update made the issue worse, I am not at all sure. It may well be the case that the failing glow plug was indeed causing confusion in the ECU and that it was making things worse - it all happened around the same time. As for the update reducing the power, I really can't say that I've noticed that at all and, for the majority of the time, she rattles along as nicely as before.
So things are better, and maybe back to as they were before the update, but there is definitely still an issue and, as you say, it may just be a “characteristic” that I'll have to live with - until the fault comes on and stays on until I can get her to the dealer..
In 1993 I bought a new Skoda Favorit GLXIE. It was terribly hesitant. As a SOC member and past Scottish Technical Secretary I knew the car was far from right. David Bland was Skoda UK's sales regional manager for Scotland and he came to access the car. He didn't know a spark plug from a tyre. It was a pointless exercise. After a lot of letters and complaints I got no joy. Skoda were worse under VW at the time than they were under the communists.
The problem was the 136 engine was always difficult to time and adding fuel injection and a knock sensor would cause awful hesitation as t h e system tried to retard the timing on full throttle. I eventually managed to fit a standard coil, distributor and electronic control box. Although the car pinked slightly it did 0-60 in under 10secs. Skoda drove my car and admitted it was far more tractable.
Personally I believe electronics are not always the best way to go.
A few weeks ago I drove a 120LS Estelle with motorbike carbs and turbo, it was checked on a rolling road at 190Bhp @ 7200 Rpm..... It wasssss quick, sub 7 secs to 60. No electronics.
Glad to hear things are going a little better for you now.
I have exactly the same thing where I can tell on morning if it's going to misbehave or not. As you say, it just revs much more freely.
I have a few issues which I won't hijack the thread with too much, but if the car has been left for a good 6 hours or so, if I'm just taking it very easy, it'll often feel like the engine has no power at all and is bogging down, then after a few seconds, I'll suddenly get a burst of power.
I also have a strange blip at around 1450 revs where i get a split second drop in power......it feels like the car just hiccupped. This one happens every time if I'm just accelerating gently.
I'm also getting some issues on the motorway where it'll suddenly feel like I get a spit second surge in power.
Will probably end up opening a new thread on this, as the dealer has basically said they can't find anything wrong with it. Basically, if there aren't any codes, they're satisfied that there's nothing wrong. They have just put a donor accelerator pedal on at my request (actually, I asked them to take it off and test it as I suspected a throttle position sensor issue but a new pedal to test works too), but that seems to have made no difference whatsoever.
MikeySkiBoy
New member
It does sound like very similar issues and it may well be worth starting a new thread, especially as they may not be related to the software update.
The pedal was one of the possible culprits, but it looks like your dealer swapping that out has made that less likely. It's probably the same pedal gubbins as in all the other current Panda models, and likely in many other cars. That being the case, it would probably be happening elsewhere - which brings us back to the MTJ engine, the fuel input or the ECU.
I notice no difference from the car being cold, or warm, or having sat for a while. Whilst the engine is under load, and having to work to keep a steady speed or accelerate, it seems to be fine. It's only really noticeable when going along flat, or slightly downhill bits, or when coming out of junctions. If the engine isn’t under load and the pedal position hasn’t moved, or has been up and is then going down again, there are times when engine doesn't seem to be able to quickly decide what to do. The revs then seem to monetarily drop and you can feel the power surge off/on if moving, or it will stutter if coming out of a junction. Once she has made her mind up, then off she goes, albeit maybe not quite as strongly and smoothly as she normally would when she’s working well. All very frustrating.
The pedal was one of the possible culprits, but it looks like your dealer swapping that out has made that less likely. It's probably the same pedal gubbins as in all the other current Panda models, and likely in many other cars. That being the case, it would probably be happening elsewhere - which brings us back to the MTJ engine, the fuel input or the ECU.
I notice no difference from the car being cold, or warm, or having sat for a while. Whilst the engine is under load, and having to work to keep a steady speed or accelerate, it seems to be fine. It's only really noticeable when going along flat, or slightly downhill bits, or when coming out of junctions. If the engine isn’t under load and the pedal position hasn’t moved, or has been up and is then going down again, there are times when engine doesn't seem to be able to quickly decide what to do. The revs then seem to monetarily drop and you can feel the power surge off/on if moving, or it will stutter if coming out of a junction. Once she has made her mind up, then off she goes, albeit maybe not quite as strongly and smoothly as she normally would when she’s working well. All very frustrating.
Sounds like old fashioned weak mixture. Make sure the plugs are properly gapped and not wide. I fitted Denso iridium plugs in my 1.2 and the difference was astounding. Certainly in the first instance it may even be an idea to reduce the existing gap by a couple of thou. Used to help cars with a slightly weak mixture.
Sorry. My last post refers to petrol engines, I forgot we were discussing diesels.
Thanks for all of your input mate...it's very much appreciated.
I'll start a new thread over the next few days when I get a chance to sit down at a real computer, then I'll shoot you a PM, or drop a link in here if there's a minimum post limit for PM's.
Lol...no problem mate!
