2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service

SLS82 · 14-03-2008, 10:27

Hi, I hope somebody can help me with my query.
My 2004 Skoda Fabia VRS just hit 59,500 miles. I have just moved house and cannot find the manual. What is due to be done at 60k as I know this is usually a 'big' service. Do I need the cambelt doing? (If it is almost due, but not quite, ie : 80k), I would rather do it now as I have the spare cash to do so.
A list of bits and bobs would be a great help

Also, does anyone else experience what I think is dodgy brakes (but I know after MANY inspections Isn't)... It feels as though they are stuck when I start the car (there is a noise as they come 'unstuck') and reverse in the morning and they squeak quite a lot slowing down (but no grinding). There are no trapped stones and the pads and everything are fine. I was told it might be something to do with the finish but if someone could put my mind at ease that would be appreciated.
Other than that cracking little car, much better than any of the 7 VW'S I have owned!!
Samantha

Kaiserb_uk · 14-03-2008, 10:51

Yes, 60k (or 4 years) is cambelt change time. The 'moo-ing' brakes when reversing is the rear brakes, is not a problem, more of a design flaw. I hardly notice mine now. Squeaking under braking is something else though - not sure what.

ap0gee · 14-03-2008, 11:01

The brakes will stick if you jam the handbrake on, as the pads effectively get stuck to the discs. It's pretty normal AFAIK, and I guess it depends on whether you'd rather have that or your car rolling into the road in the middle of the night!

Squeaky brakes can just be because of a build-up of brake dust, or can be a sign that the discs are on the way out. If they've got plenty of wear left and are not too dusty, it's also possible that you may have glazed them by braking long and hard on a particular occasion but then only braking gently from then on?

SLS82 · 14-03-2008, 11:27

Hello, thank you for quick replies.
I will get the cambelt done straight away, dont want that going wrong....
Is there any other major surgery needed or anything else worth doing whilst the car is pulled apart and fiddly bits maybe exposed (save me doing it in the near future - promised I would look after this car

).
Funny you should say that about squeaky brakes - putting them on hard then normal, I have 3 nasty speed bumps down my drive and naturally brake hard for them at the start of my journey each morning so possibly could be that (always late and rushing), I will take it easy and see if this makes any difference..

KenONeill · 14-03-2008, 12:51

Hi Samantha.

Having your handbrake stick on if it's rained overnight or been very wet when you were getting home is pretty typical with a disc handbrake.

Going on from that, the noise when you brake in the morning is probably the brake pads cleaning surface rust off the discs. If you have a minute or so, look through the wheels and see of the discs are a silvery colour, or an orange or red colour. Some time when they're orange, leave the way you normally do, and I'll bet they make a scraping noise!

The other thing to try to quieten things down on a Furbie would be getting the backplates Coppaslipped (special copper-based ultra high temperature grease for brakes).

Also, with a 2004 car, you might want to think about getting the coolant changed, and should get the brake fluid changed just because (presuming it was done in 2006) it will be 2 years old.

SLS82 · 14-03-2008, 13:08

Hi, yes, the discs do have rust on them, mostly silver but a circular rust mark all round.
Obviously do use the handbrake but I am not your typical woman pulling it out of the floor, in fact I tell the other half off for putting his handbrake on so high I need both hands to get it off...
I only the bought the car last August and have done 4000 miles in it, 2nd owner. As soon as I bought it even though it has been very well looked after, serviced etc... I got most of it done again to be sure by a mechanic I know. He did the brake fluid and coolant then so that should be ok.
Hasn't cost me a penny yet through going wrong funny little car.
Thank you.

KenONeill · 14-03-2008, 13:20

Rings of dark rust round the edges of the discs is entirely normal; the orangy stuff I was talking about coats the swept area that's presently silver, and you'll only see it after the car's been sitting with water getting on the discs for an hour or more.

Oh and yes, I did get the coolant in mine changed at 4 years old. I just don't believe that even "long life" coolant will last indefinately.

SLS82 · 14-03-2008, 13:23

I am not taking chances with my car, she will be looked after. I was very lazy with my golf gttdi previous and it gave me no end of problems and didnt save me money long term..they seem to hold their value very well and I intend to keep it that way!
Thank you, Samantha

KenONeill · 14-03-2008, 13:29

Any time.

14-03-2008, 10:27	#1
SLS82 Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service Hi, I hope somebody can help me with my query. My 2004 Skoda Fabia VRS just hit 59,500 miles. I have just moved house and cannot find the manual. What is due to be done at 60k as I know this is usually a 'big' service. Do I need the cambelt doing? (If it is almost due, but not quite, ie : 80k), I would rather do it now as I have the spare cash to do so. A list of bits and bobs would be a great help Also, does anyone else experience what I think is dodgy brakes (but I know after MANY inspections Isn't)... It feels as though they are stuck when I start the car (there is a noise as they come 'unstuck') and reverse in the morning and they squeak quite a lot slowing down (but no grinding). There are no trapped stones and the pads and everything are fine. I was told it might be something to do with the finish but if someone could put my mind at ease that would be appreciated. Other than that cracking little car, much better than any of the 7 VW'S I have owned!! Samantha

14-03-2008, 10:51	#2
Kaiserb_uk Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Leighton Buzzard Posts: 1,309 Thanks: 8 Thanked 40 Times in 34 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service Yes, 60k (or 4 years) is cambelt change time. The 'moo-ing' brakes when reversing is the rear brakes, is not a problem, more of a design flaw. I hardly notice mine now. Squeaking under braking is something else though - not sure what. __________________ MCSA:M CompTIA:Security+ Mods:Nearly enough My last.fm page

14-03-2008, 11:01	#3
ap0gee ASZ Eternal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Leafy Chesh-shire Posts: 6,518 Thanks: 322 Thanked 315 Times in 271 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service The brakes will stick if you jam the handbrake on, as the pads effectively get stuck to the discs. It's pretty normal AFAIK, and I guess it depends on whether you'd rather have that or your car rolling into the road in the middle of the night! Squeaky brakes can just be because of a build-up of brake dust, or can be a sign that the discs are on the way out. If they've got plenty of wear left and are not too dusty, it's also possible that you may have glazed them by braking long and hard on a particular occasion but then only braking gently from then on? __________________

14-03-2008, 11:27	#4
SLS82 Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service Hello, thank you for quick replies. I will get the cambelt done straight away, dont want that going wrong.... Is there any other major surgery needed or anything else worth doing whilst the car is pulled apart and fiddly bits maybe exposed (save me doing it in the near future - promised I would look after this car ). Funny you should say that about squeaky brakes - putting them on hard then normal, I have 3 nasty speed bumps down my drive and naturally brake hard for them at the start of my journey each morning so possibly could be that (always late and rushing), I will take it easy and see if this makes any difference..

14-03-2008, 12:51	#5
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service Hi Samantha. Having your handbrake stick on if it's rained overnight or been very wet when you were getting home is pretty typical with a disc handbrake. Going on from that, the noise when you brake in the morning is probably the brake pads cleaning surface rust off the discs. If you have a minute or so, look through the wheels and see of the discs are a silvery colour, or an orange or red colour. Some time when they're orange, leave the way you normally do, and I'll bet they make a scraping noise! The other thing to try to quieten things down on a Furbie would be getting the backplates Coppaslipped (special copper-based ultra high temperature grease for brakes). Also, with a 2004 car, you might want to think about getting the coolant changed, and should get the brake fluid changed just because (presuming it was done in 2006) it will be 2 years old.

14-03-2008, 13:08	#6
SLS82 Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service Hi, yes, the discs do have rust on them, mostly silver but a circular rust mark all round. Obviously do use the handbrake but I am not your typical woman pulling it out of the floor, in fact I tell the other half off for putting his handbrake on so high I need both hands to get it off... I only the bought the car last August and have done 4000 miles in it, 2nd owner. As soon as I bought it even though it has been very well looked after, serviced etc... I got most of it done again to be sure by a mechanic I know. He did the brake fluid and coolant then so that should be ok. Hasn't cost me a penny yet through going wrong funny little car. Thank you.

14-03-2008, 13:20	#7
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service Rings of dark rust round the edges of the discs is entirely normal; the orangy stuff I was talking about coats the swept area that's presently silver, and you'll only see it after the car's been sitting with water getting on the discs for an hour or more. Oh and yes, I did get the coolant in mine changed at 4 years old. I just don't believe that even "long life" coolant will last indefinately.

14-03-2008, 13:23	#8
SLS82 Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service I am not taking chances with my car, she will be looked after. I was very lazy with my golf gttdi previous and it gave me no end of problems and didnt save me money long term..they seem to hold their value very well and I intend to keep it that way! Thank you, Samantha

14-03-2008, 13:29	#9
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: 2004 SKODA FABIA VRS 60k Service Any time.

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