keithw

Hello David Ian Skoda now Vantage Skoda Morecambe LA3 3BN 01524 844666 enabled DRL's, side lights & rear lights to be lit when the ignition is switched on. 2014 Fabia Monte Carlo 1.6 Tdi Estate. The conversion was done through the ECU when my wife purchased the car in 2014. Regards Keith

I tried to enter my wife's Fabia Monte Carlo Estate 1.6 Tdi on the Skoda Emissions Scandal as shown on Briskoda. Strangely no Fabia of any type is listed!! Her car first registered May 2014 has performed without any problems whatsoever, totally reliable. Recently Skoda UK have advised me that EA 189 NOx emissions service action can be applied to her vehicle. Given the car is now out of its 3 year warranty I wonder if Skoda will extend the warranty on any parts that could be effected by service action taken to rectify the EA 189 NOx emission? Has anybody else considered this? I will be taking this up with my Skoda dealer.

Whatever brand of tyre you choose consider 205/45/17 instead of the o/e 205/40/17. A definite improvement in comfort & no loss of cornering ability, according to my wife, it's her car. Kumho KU39 Ecsta LE Sport 205/45/17 on Monte. Also use these Kumho's on my MX5 2 litre Sport

Has anybody successfully fitted a tow bar to a Monte Carlo Estate, if so I would greatly appreciate knowing what brand of tow bar was fitted? Thank you Keith

Get in touch with www.performancecreations.co.uk 01204 659594 Bolton BL3 3AQ. My wife's Monte Estate was used to create the first mud flaps for a Monte Estate, perfect fit, definitely stops much of the mud at the front & some mud at the rear. However Monte still needs the back end washing regularly, I know I'm the washer! Performance Creations also offer mud flaps for the Monte Hatch.

Great advice from delta925. My wife's Monte Estate has done 27k miles & so far no DPF or ERG problems. Using 3rd gear for almost all country lane driving as opposed to Skoda's "indicated change to 5th gear" is actually more fuel efficient. In fact unless one is doing 70 mph 5th gear is somewhat redundant. The 1.6 Tdi CR has totally different engine characteristics to the 1.9Tdi engine in her previous MK1 Octavia in which one could chug along all day at around 1500 rpm. Yes, the 1.6Tdi CR needs plenty of revs!

Thank you both for the replies. I've just checked the Webasto website, seemingly no Skoda can be fitted with a Webasto sunroof. That completely rules out a Fabia 3. Unless I can find an alternative reputable sun roof supplier. Keith

Our Fabia 2 Monte Carlo Estate is fitted with a factory fitted sun roof, a factory sun roof is not available for the Fabia 3 Estate. Has anybody had an after market sun roof fitted to a Fabia 3 Estate or Hatch, if so please advise as to brand fitted, which company & cost? (I'm not interested in non-opening panoramic roofs) Keith

Performance Creations definitely get my approval, mud flaps fitted front & rear to my wife's Monte 2014 Estate Tdi, very effective.

I experimented & took the 4 x 25% worn Bridgestones 205/45/17 off my MX5 2.0 Sport & had them fitted to my wife's Fabia Monte Carlo 1.6 Tdi Estate which needed 4 new tyres, she achieved 19K miles out of 3 of the original Dunlops, 1 Dunlop was replaced at 8K miles due to pot hole damage. The 205/45/17 have improved the comfort, bear in mind the Bridgestones are a relatively "hard" tyre. Whether this change will add anything to tyre protection remains to be experienced. This tyre change will mean a speedo reading of 29 mph is actually 30 mph, 58 mph being 60 mph. ( I fitted 215/45/17 Kumho HS51 to the MX5) Keith

The sunroof on our 2014 Fabia Monte Carlo 1.6 Tdi Estate works perfectly & no leaks to date. Unless Skoda make the MK3 Fabia available, I'm told unlikely, WITH A SUNROOF THAT OPENS, I'll not buy another Fabia Estate. The whole point of a sunroof is that it actually OPENS.

Many thanks Jonro2009 & pkoconnor. Keith

Hello pkoconnor I've been considering fitting a dash cam, I'm impressed by your picture quality. Please advise as to which dash cam you use. Regards Keith

Standard Monte tyres are of course 205/40/17 my possible change being to 205/45/17 just regular tyres not summer winter tyres. SORRY FOR THE TYPO MISTAKE. Keith

I'm thinking of replacing the standard 205/45/17 tyres with 205/45/17 tyres. I realize this will probably alter the speedo reading by -3.33% i.e. 58 mph actual with a 60 mph speedo reading. Ride height increase 10.25mm. I'm thinking the 45's maybe somewhat more cushioning than the 40's? Any experiences of this tyre change would be appreciated. (If I go ahead I will of course advise the insurance company). Keith

Has anybody any information as to which retro fitting tow bar is most suitable for a 2014 Monte Carlo 1.6 Tdi Estate? Keith

May 2014 Monte Carlo 1.6tdi 14k miles - creaking steering on right hand full lock. David Ian Skoda Morecambe replaced both steering arms, re-aligned wheels, without question under warranty. Not an uncommon problem, but definitely important to get the creaking, (which is caused by water getting into the steering arm rubbers covering the ball joints), sorted. Skoda have updated the replacement steering arms in an effort to stop this problem re-occurring. It will be interesting to see if the updated steering arms solve the problem. Of interest, maybe, so far this has been the first warranty claim necessary. Keith

I can't help with the black stuff on your white Fabia but if you, or anybody else wants some really effective mud flaps contact www.performancecreations.co.uk based in Bolton. Performance Creations used my Monte Carlo Estate, it's white, to create the special rear mudflaps for the MC estate. Yes, the estate rear still gets some dirt even with the mudflaps but a lot less dirt than no mudflaps at all. White cars show the dirt but at least one needs just a single wash to remove the dirt, whereas a black car looks clean when wet but invariably when it dries one has missed a bit of dirt. Arguably silver is the ideal colour, it does not show the dirt as much as white but when one is washing the car one can clearly see all the dirt & one wash is enough to thoroughly clean the car. Never again a black, or dark coloured car!!!

I'm very pleased with the front & rear mudflaps fitted to our Monte Carlo Estate. In fact our Monte was used to create the very first rear mud flaps for the M/C estate (car pictured on P/C's website) 4mm material used. The front mudflaps are indentical & fit the M/C hatch & estate, the M/C estate rear differs from both all other Fabias hatch or estate. The initial rear mud flap creation process is quite lengthy, time consuming & invovled a few trips to Performance Creations Bolton HQ. Definitely the mudflaps are excellent. Keith

I guess old habits die hard, the last car I owned that did not have a sunroof was a MK1 Ford Escort back in the early 70's. Every car since: Ford Capri 2.8, Volvo 850R, VW Corrado VR6, etc etc plus the 3 MK1 Octavia Elegance all had factory sunroofs Air con does little for me & steams up windows, climate control, yes, that is an all round benefit, especially so if one is driving in city centres in hot humid conditions, which thankfully these days I'm not. But for me a sun roof is essential, my MX5 of course is even better!!!

I've just checked out the SEL Fabia Estate at David Ian Skoda Morecambe. I doubt I'll buy a MK3 Fabia when the Monte Estate, with a SUNROOF that opens, is due for replacement in 2 years time. It seems that a panoramic roof, which does not open - waste of money, is the only option. Sunroof aside the MK3 estate looked the business. Maybe an aftermarket sunroof is an option? Keith PS David Ian Skoda Morecambe is a great garage I've used them since 2003 for 3 Octavias prior to the current Monte.

Hello Rickford55 You are not the first, or the last to misfuel!! I did in my wife's previous MK1 Octavia Tdi , £45 worth of petrol, £200 for the car to be picked up & tank drained, £55 of the correct fuel - diesel. Fortunately I only drove 3 miles before realising my mistake. Yes my mistake, but strangely I have never been back to the BP station for any fuel petrol or diesel!! After my mistake I bought a Fuel Angel, this rescricts the fuel tank intake neck size, so putting petrol nozzles into my wife's Monte Carlo is impossible. Lesson learned!! Keith

Thank you all for your contributions. Keith

Help! Scuffed, not badly, front wheel on my Monte. I need a Skoda paint code. Please. Keith

Be sure to get the right wheel offset, check out www.willtheyfit.com