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Skoda Praktik Engine Issues

My 2010 Skoda Praktik with a gasoline engine is playing up. It has 123365 km on the clock. The engine power is down, there's a warning light glaring at me, and it's starting poorly. Also, the lights are flickering like crazy. I reckon it's the generator, but what do you think?

4 comment(s)

Sounds like a dodgy alternator. Have you checked the voltage drop across the battery terminals while the engine is running? What error code is stored in the error memory? A faulty charging system can cause all sorts of weirdness with car electronics, even engine misfires sometimes.

Voltage drop? How would I even check that? And where do I find the error code? Never done anything like that before...

You'd need a multimeter to check the voltage drop, but if you're not familiar, it's probably best left to a professional. Given the symptoms – weak lights, starting issues, error codes – a defective generator is the most likely culprit. Alternator replacement is probably on the cards. Is it worth messing with if you're not sure what you're doing? Might be time to visit a workshop.

Thanks for the help. I took it to a local garage and they confirmed it was the alternator. The alternator replacement ended up costing 960€, but at least it's sorted now.

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