Fabia 1.4 Comfort

[Chickenleg]

Hey guys, I've just bought a Fabia Comfort 1.4 8v (2000), I went up and looked at it, It was in decent nick, very well kept. The previous owner was a university professor so I dont think its been used that much. I'm just wondering if theres anything at all I should be specially vigilent for? Theres nothing more I can say about it, it had the obvious scratches on paintwork from being 8 years old, its just turned 60,000 Miles, last service was 55,000 with full service history. It had its belts(Chain? I think its chain driven) changed on the last service. All I can say is the tyres need replacing and I think theres a tracking problem with the steering wheel. Other than that the car is perfect.

Thanks!

[ap0gee]

The MPi engine isn't at the cutting edge of performance, but it's pretty sturdy as long as the head gasket's been replaced (warranty issue; should have been done years ago). There are some other niggling faults that affect all Fabias that you can find as you search through the forum, but all-in-all it sounds like you've got yourself a nice little car!

[colkai]

I'm sure that's a camchain engine like mine.

To be honest, all the problems I've had with my Fabia have been electrical (sensors / switches). Engine wise, it's nice, much like my old Felicia.

Not uber-quick by any means, but I do about 16K a year in mine and it's a nice little driver and providing you keep around 70-ish, not too thirsty on long motorway runs either. Once you get upto faster speeds, the MPg takes a kicking. Driven sensibly-ish (ahem) I get around 50mpg, around 36-42 in busier stop-start traffic.

I'd get that tracking checked first, just in case it's more than just the tracking. Though mine did pull slightly to the left, I think that ended up being brake sor summat.

[Chickenleg]

Yeah I mean I dare say it could be to do with the tyres, they were absoloutely ILLEGAL, So I made him agree to change the tyres and MOT it which he is doing right now so... if that doesn't fix it... It could possibly need the brakes replacing or the tracking set right. I've read alot about the head gasket going and signs of it being the rev counter clocking 750rpm and below idle. I took it for a test drive and it was a very nice stable drive. I also sat with the engine ticking for a good 5 minutes but it was a steady 1000rpm. All in all it seems very good condition but I guess only time will tell. Thanks for the help guys

[ap0gee]

Re. tracking / pulling, my wife's tracking was well out when we got it (straightahead needed about an 11 o'clock steer!), but all Fabias will seem to pull to the left to an extent. If you're on a contraflow where the cambers reversed, it'll pull to the right. It seems they're just very sensitive to camber!

There are various guides for replacing sensors, both here and on one of our member's websites (Fabia-vrs.com - Home Page). Some are - shall we say - more tricky than others!

Having just had to replace three bulbs in the offside front cluster of my vRS, I can definitely say that a big advantage of the MPi is the amount of space in the engine bay when you're fixing stuff:

[colkai]

Originally Posted by ap0gee

all Fabias will seem to pull to the left to an extent. If you're on a contraflow where the cambers reversed, it'll pull to the right. It seems they're just very sensitive to camber!

Ain't that the truth, I often feel it pulling based on the camber, though I wonder if the PAS has some effect on that, if you didn't have power steering, I wonder if you'd notice it as much as you'd have more weight on the wheel?

Eitehr way, not a problem, just part of it's "character"

[BoilingPoint]

Anti-Roll Bars - The early ones were fitted with plastic collars that break easily. Hopefully yours will have been replaced with the newer ones.

Anti-Roll Bar Bushes - A weak point in all fabias, they seem to perish at an alarming rate.

For that matter check (if possible) all the bushes as they are all made of poor quality materials. It's expensive to get them all replaced, but worth it in the long run.

Check out :-

Car review: Skoda Fabia (2000 - 2007)

For a comprehensive shortlist on what's good and what's bad.

Oah' and when driven with verve the little 1.4 can embarase many a more powerful newer motor.

Good luck with your new purchase...

[colkai]

Oh, as to the head gasket - you can sometimes tell, there is a little tab that sticks out on the 'new' one. I recall seeing a piccy someplace showing it but durned it I can find it on a search a the moment.

[Dmac1969]

I hope you enjoy your new car , Ive had one for coming up 3 years and I think its great! Okay , its no Ferrari off the lights , but as a general everyday workhorse , I reckon its fine.
Problems; well Ive had the rad fan switch replaced due to a leak (look for a puddle under the rad , and coolant level dropping) this is quite a regular thing on Fabias , also watch out for damp carpets - it has been known for doors to leak. If you hear clonks and thumps when going over bumps/speedhumps etc , this could be either the front anti roll bar , or your suspension bushes (another perrenial Fabia problem!) Also , keep and eye out on the dash for the Steering Wheel symbol (usually accompanied by a lack of power assistance on the steering) this will most likely be your steering angle sensor (or if you are unlucky , the power steering pump or steering rack - big ££££s!).

Just keep dropping in on here , most of the typical Fabia problems are discussed in here on a regular basis , and solutions are posted by 'those in the know'!

One again , enjoy your Fabia , and Welcome to Briskoda!

[moley]

Check the rear carpets for water leaks from the rear doors, although it's a fairly easy fix & there are a few threads regarding this problem. You say the engine idle was 1000 rpm, that sounds a bit high. My Wife's 1.4 MPI idles around 850 rpm and like all MPI's is a little lumpy on idle at times.

[BoilingPoint]

Could be the air con, if that's switched on the idle will rise to about 1000

[Chickenleg]

Well I looked at a few around my area and the poorer quality ones (mostly failing) were idling at around 750 rpm and "Chugging" and in worse cases almost stalling. All the good examples I looked at were generally 1000 - 900 RPM after a couple of revs of the engine. As for the coolant leak etc I checked under and around the container, it seemed spotless and the whole unit looked generally well looked after. I think I'll deffinately look at these cheap anti roll bars, If I do find anything of worry ill deffinately take a pic and post it up here. Ill put some pictures of it up as soon as I get it out of the MOT with new tyres, hopefully in a couple of days. Thanks for being so welcoming too! Its good to find a well backed community of genuine people!

[colkai]

Originally Posted by moley

My Wife's 1.4 MPI idles around 850 rpm and like all MPI's is a little lumpy on idle at times.

Yup, lumpy idle is a little disconcerting but not a problem, I've got used to it now.
As BoilingPoint said though, if your air-con is on, the revs stick at a solid 1K and keeps you cool, (when it finally gets warm out there that is ).

[ap0gee]

Lumpy idle can be made worse by a faulty coolant temperature sensor, although this will be revealed by the temperature gauge staying stuck at 0 intermittently. All MPis have a lumpy idle to some extent, and it's down to emissions controls reining the engine right back (to the point of almost stalling) when no throttle is applied. Keeping the A/C on (if you have it!) increases the load on the engine a little, which help by incresing the revs as colkai has said, and because the Fabia's wobble-plate A/C compressor never actually stops turning unlike a clutched compressor, you won't use much more fuel leaving it on all the time, unless it's really hot and the thing's going flat-out the whole time! If you have it, you should use it regularly anyway, as the refrigerant contains lubricant which keeps the internals in good nick and stops the seals drying out...

HTH

[colkai]

Yep, I try to use it at least once a week for a min of 15 mins as I think I recall reading the advice someplace on here.

Mind you, in wet weather, it' essential as I can steam up any car - I swear - you have to see it to believe it.

[ap0gee]

I don't think I want to know...

[Chickenleg]

lol, What an agonising wait it is for my car I'm glad I can have AC/Electrics + Central locking on my first car though... I was going for the classic but for the cost difference you might as well... its only one insurance group more!

[Dmac1969]

You also get 8 speakers for the stereo (2 rear mids , and 2 tweeters in the rear doors) over and above the 4 front ones in the Classic. (Do you still have the standard MS402 Rad/Cassette player?)
You should also have electric and heated mirrors , which the Classic does without , and the mirror housings will be colour coded - Classic ones are just black plastic.
Its quite a nice jump in spec , the Comfort/Ambiente.

[Chickenleg]

Yeah its the standard Cassette player but im looking into some kind of MP3 to Cassette device, or Just get a CD player and let my brother install it. Its a faffle with loads of CDs in the glove compartment and stuff though...

[ap0gee]

Depending how much you want to spend, Symphony CD players are about £80 on the 'bay (my wife's Comfy now has one), and you can get CD changer kits for about £180 (which is what I have in mine )

Of course an MP3/CD will allow you to carry more than one album's worth of music, too, but you'll need a fascia adaptor (only a couple of quid from a dealer)

Enjoy, whatever!

[Dmac1969]

......Or you could stick with the Cassette player , and I could lend you some of my Wham! cassettes!? lol!
Not a bad spec for your first car , mine was a £80 Mini with an 'ahem'- O.T. and some white fluffy seat covers!