benni8

Not sure that is even a word - but bear with me My 04 VRS is starting to annoy me with little bits here and there that are showing signs of age. 133k. The main issue I suppose is the ride quality. If I drive along at 20mph, and I put my hand on the steering wheel at 12 o clock, and move from side the side slightly, the whole car just wallows (like a jelly on a plate would) rather than feel like a strong unit. The tyres are Falcons that have been on for about 3 years and covered just over 11k miles. When braking also the car doesnt feel smooth, it feels a bit lumpy as it slows down through the brake pedal and the steering wheel. The MOT is in august and im pretty sure I will need some new pads and discs, as the discs are pretty weather worn where they are not touching the brake pad. In the last 3 years, I have changed a wishbone, track rod end and some bushes, but to be honest I am not sure which one specifically as I don't have the receipts to hand. If you could advise on some improvements I could do to freshen things up and help me at least get some driving pleasure back with a bit more stability and less tired feel about it - I would appreciate it. Failing this I will probably at this point just upgrade as it is due its cam belt change in January also. Thanks in advance.

Morning All, On Tuesday my front wipers and spray will not work. Rear one is fine. Checked fuse and is fine. Gone out this morning as its slightly warmer (as thought it might be cold temps) and still nothing Any ideas?

So if any of you guys got on the motorway.. at 70mph in a straight line the steering wheel is completely vibration free to your hands?

Lol.. Because i dont use it to bomb around in, i just cruise around on the motorway to work etc.. and just take stillness and less feedback feel as more refined. On motorway if i let go of steering wheel it doesnt pull either left or right.. but jutters (slightly) with any change in road surface. On cobbled roads even slow i feel like steering wheel has a mind of its own

Afternoon All, 04 Fabia VRS I have recently had my tracking done and since then I have been putting more attention into how the car feels on the road while driving and an annoying trait has become apparent. No matter what speed I go, I can feel the feedback of the road through the steering wheel. In my Mrs car, (07 focus) the steering wheel is still and vibration free every time I have drove it. When I jump in mine and drive the same road, even though the car doesn’t pull to either side, I can feel every bump or even surface in the steering wheel. Is there any way to rectify this at all, or as anyone else had a similar experience? Bushes and track rods replaced within the last 2 years

Also.. is there a service guide available on here? I am feeling brave and want to do the oil and filter change myself if there is a guide available.

Hi All, I have a 04 Fabia VRS, that I have owned for 5 years in June. I bought the car at 78k, (had a cambelt done at 75k), it has now done 130k. In this time, I have replaced lots of bits, bushes, track rods ends, water pump, turbo, clutch etc... and it has been a very reliable car. The heating doesnt really work and there are some squeaks etc.. so there are some annoying features, but I always had an imaginery time in my mind - namely when we will be trying for a child, that I will upgrade to a newer family car. That time is roughly 12-15 months away. However, it is due a service (I do every 10 - 11k miles) and needs a cambelt change, i.e. its just gone past the 4 years). I am stuck in that space where I dont want to be spending loads on the car, i wont get the money back for nor spend a bomb if there are a number of potentially niggly bits that need doing due to the age of the car. There is also a part of me that knows the car has never let me down - and I should just get the service and cambelt done and get another 15 months out of it. I guess im just after some thoughts really - as I am normally quite decisive, but I have been mulling this over for a while now and its annoying me so wanted to guage the thoughts of people who drive the same car.

I would have thought something was stuck or clogged up rather than simply changing the thermostat. Just had a look on carparts4less and they are only £4. It is located being the alternator isnt it?

5 Minutes on the motorway and I am up at 90 and it doesn't fall from there. But its that lukewarm that anything stronger than blow (2), and it feels room temp at best. Just out of curiosity could someone explain how replacing the thermostat as advised above would rectify the issue please? My tiny brain needs it spelling out! Thanks for the help thus far

Morning Guys, I have a 04 Red Fabia VRS 1.9TDi. Since I purchased the car 4 years ago, while the air-con is freezing cold, the heater will never raise above lukewarm at best. I did try to address the problem last year, when my regular mechanic put some water through the pipes and apparently some 'sludge' did come out, and to be fair, it did slightly improve the heat.. However it is FAR from hot. I was wondering if there was anyone who has experience of rectifying this problem in a cost effective manner, because some of the over the phone quotes I have had to change the heater matrix (which apparently means taking half the dashboard out) are ridiculous. In a separate incident, although the blower still works, only 2,3 and 4 setting now activates the fan. 1 doesn’t work anymore. This isn't the main issue but thought it would be worth mentioning. I don’t mind paying someone to help me rectify if they are near the Manchester area. Cheers in advance

The heatshield seems solid enough.. when I push it, it starts to bend before it moves so dont think its that

Afternoon All, I have a 04 VRS, 122K on the clock. Over the past 3 months it has developed a noise when driving over bumps or uneven roads, that seems like it coming from the rear of the vehicle. If I had to say what the noise sounded like, the most accurate description I could come up with is a rattling parcel shelf. However, I have removed the parcel shelf and everything in the boot compartment including the box on the spare wheel and although it does SEEM to have got a bit better, the main noise still exists and I am at a loss to find what is causing it and its really beginning to ruin my driving experience. My only other guess could be the boot, but that seems to have all the necessary rubber stops in place to stop any noise it would cause if that was the offending item. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

(Duplicate post)

I always take it for a little 10 mile run on Saturday morning regardless just to get her blood flowing again. I can actually travel to another station that is 4.7 miles off. Would that be better off for the car instead of the 1.7. Miles? I would be driving to that every day though.

Morning Gents, I have recently moved house and as such have not been using my car to travel to work, as I have been walking to the train station which is 1.7 miles away. However, after doing this for 3 months, and getting caught in some terrible weather, it would be nice to drive to the station on Mondays and Fridays as a "treat", as I walk another mile after I get off the train at the other side. My question is, with a diesel, 2004 VRS, I understand that small journeys (1.7 miles each way) isnt the best for them. From experience, and general understanding of diesel engines, do you think I can use the car twice a week to drive to the station with damaging it or causing issues further down the line? I understand the diesel particulate filters which the fabia doesnt have is usually cause for concern, but thought I would ask your advise all the same. Cheers