Hey guys,

Some of you have been immesurably helpful, especially in advising me how to change my temperature sender and thermostat, and completely replace my coolant.

I now want to direct my attention to another common fault that happens on Skoda Fabias, notably the coolant level sensor. I imagine it has "crud" on it, which prevents electrical current flowing through the water in the expansion tank. As a result, the sensor has no electrical value and reads as zero, causing the car to display a flashing red temperature symbol and to annoy me with three loud beeps. In other words, "get out of the car, it is about to explode"!

OK, so I think I know what the problem is. I also realise that the prongs are not easily accessible. From what I gather, the prongs can only be reached by a three year old through the expansion tank's cap, with no bones in it's hands or arms. Clearly, I need a new tank!

Am I correct in assuming that I would need the following item, and nothing else (ie: the tank comes with "prongs" etc)? I ask because £10 delivered is extremely cheap. Once I receive the item, I will replace the tank, following the procedure outlined in a well known thread.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Fabia_1.4_2003/p/Car-Parts/car-cooling-parts-and-car-heating/Cooling/expansion-tank/?205440680&1&5ad4431c0f681a992d9a4fc8e2ae68304254131f&EXPT

If I come up with any more questions I'll post them in this thread as a follow up. I'll also let everyone know how it goes and if I succeed!

Thanks once again guys!

NIck

Without the image, it's impossible to tell for absolutely certain - what I would say is that they're not that much more expensive from the dealer (about 12 quid), and at least you'd know for sure as there are differences (for instance I tried the SEAT dealer near my house first, and the Ibiza one had the level probe 90 degrees out from where it was on the Fabia...)

But yes, the tank is all you need!

Should be the right one. ECP do sell OE parts so if it is wrong they will change it. I have found ECP good at getting the right OE part's for my fleet. and changing them if necessary. Just make sure you ask for OE parts.

Really should replace mine. Only been 3 years...

Is it just a simple swap over, top up coolant and bleed it a little?

Cheers

Change it when cold, Just undo the hose clips and wiring connector and whip it out, don't worry about the coolant spilling if doing it outside. Fit the new one and top up with fresh G12. It'll bleed itself after a while so check the coolant level again after a few days, anyway the bleeping will tell you again.

Something to bear in mind normally the cause of the prongs getting contaiminated is a leak from the head gasket, especially if you can see a film of oil in the header tank.

Modified Temec gaskets can be spotted by a T or Temac written on the right hand corner as you look at it.

Well, as promised, here is an update!

I received the tank from Euro Car Parts in a huge box which I shall now use for storing several old 25" CRT monitors.

Replacing the tank took an hour and was a bit more tricky than I anticipated. The procedure did not require me to lift the car in any way; I simply used pliers to remove the clip from the hose at the bottom, removed the hose, and caught all the spillage in a small bottle. Removal of the other hose, at the top, was easy as was the disconnection of the sensor connector (note: you have to press in two places, not one!).

The hardest part was the extraction of the screws in the tank itself. You have to unclip some unrelated hoses on the left of the bay in order to be able to lift the mini tray that covers the screws embedded in the tank. That tray simply lifts up with minimal effort. Once this is done, you need a long socket to be able to grip the nut. I managed to extract it without having to connect the socket bit to any spanner. Once all this was done, I lifted the tank to extract it, remarked at the terrible condition it was in, and did everything in reverse to fit the new tank.

Now I can actually read the coolant level, and my car no longer thinks there's no water in the tank!

I am a happy man. Thanks once again guys,

Nick

Thanks for posting an update.

Told you it was easy.

did it cause eml light to come up ?

Quick tip from doing mine - undo the mounting bolts etc first. Once the tank is loose you can drain it easily and lift it to minimise loss from the loose hoses and swap them onto the new tank quickly before bolting that one in. (Remove the lowest hose last and refit it first.)

 

Nasty bodge if you can't replace the tank straight away and you're sure the level isn't falling is to pull the plug off and short it's terminals with an old electrical connector/staple/what have you. Make sure it's insulated and tied out the way so it doesn't short anything and make sure to regularly check coolant level as you'll get no warning if it drops until it overheats. Just stops that annoying bleep until you can fit the new tank.

Edited 21 January, 201412 yr by Red Studio

did it cause eml light to come up ?

no it won't, not linked to ecu just to warning light on dash.

recently replaced mine, £12 off ebay for a oe tank

Coincidently my red temp warning light has started flashing randomly over the past month or so. Reading this thread, it looks like a expansion tank change could be the solution. Cheers

As an alternative try cleaning the tank with brake cleaner. Worked on ours and we were doing it twice yearly due to issues with the coolant leaking somewhere.