isinglass

Just a curiosity. Always read ebay ad's with care. Why defend it?

if the new engine had one fitted and this is the old one, where did the cardboard box come from?

Hi, The engine light means theres a fault code to be read from the engine computer. Could be one of loads of fault codes. You need the code read off and then you can go from there as the code will refer to a particular text description. You can get the code read by someone with 'VAGCOM' or you could get a VAGCOM cable and the software or get a code reader from ebay, something like this eBay: u280, Werkzeuge, KFZ-Handwerk, Auto Motorrad Teile This plugs in to a socket behind the can cooler thing beside the drivers right knee. Pull it down to see the port. You can then do a search on google for the code and post here and someone might be able to narrow it down. Category:Fault Codes - Ross-Tech Wiki

Don't you get a 30 day/ 1000 mile exchange with it, don't know what the terms of that are, might be worth reminding them. Depends how good a deal you got on it, perhaps they've got something to play with?

Piston rings is the biggy to look out for.

Which engine is it?

How much have they charged you for this decoke? Did it involve new piston rings?

I have been informed that Allams only found out after the event so my post was a bit unfair on them so I have edited it. Did you not take it back to where you bought it? I think it should have been covered by warranty and you should have been able to have the work done anywhere. I don't accept it normal for a 3 year old, 30,000 mile engine be 'coked-up'. I think it indicative of another problem that the engine was coked up.

So, Skoda have sold you a 3 year old skoda fabia, just out of warranty with only 30,000 miles on the clock with a Skoda Approved Used Car Warranty. Understandably, you were probably a little nervy when buying a used car. But to take away some of that uncertainty you went to an approved skoda dealer who offer a whole host of checks, warranties and the like so all you had to worry about was choosing the right car for you. Just so you knew your used Škoda was in good shape, Skoda's fully qualified technicians gave your fabia a comprehensive workshop check before they delivered to you. Sadly you have broken down. Skoda have then informed you that your engine is all coked-up. The engine that has covered only 30,000 miles. Skoda UK have said this isn't covered by their comprehensive parts and labour warranty. Apparently Skoda say it's perfectly normal for a Skoda Fabia to be coked up after 30,000 miles.

I'll bet the piston rings are shot, a problem well known to Skoda UK on the 1.4 16v engine, it's said the newer engine doesn't suffer from this but there have been a few people on here reporting problems. Do a search on here for piston rings. My guess is 'Blow by'/ engine gasses passing worn rings has sent crankcase oil and vapour up into your throttle body to be burnt by the engine. This doesn't burn great and hence your engine is all coked up.

Did you buy this from a Skoda Dealer?

It's just plain jealousy and spite. Personally I wouldn't claim on the insurance for that, it's not that bad really. I would just get it touched up by someone who knows what they're doing. You'll just go through the roof if some git does it again.

sounds like the alternator to me, however also check this out: Fabia Electrical Help Needed - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community No Battery Lamp on Dashboard - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community Skoda Parts - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community seems there is something called a 'dfm wire' that can cause a problem. Sounds like you have to take the undertray off to examine it though. My alternator went not long ago. I got an exchange/refurbished one fitted for £150 by a mobile mechanic. I think they are very pricey new.

has someone been in yer engine bay recently? Which plug was disconnected, can you photo it? You can test the battery and alternator with a multimeter or theres a specific little meter you can buy that has about 4 led's to show status. when the engines running you should get 14 (and a bit) volts across battery if alternator working

battery or alternator maybe?

look like cotton reels don't they?

Check the window switches and the rear window winders make sure the windows come down. Check the rear wash wipe works.

check the heater works hot and cold the flap motors seem to go.

Like you say I would pull off the engine cover and see how mucky it is and give it a clean up. It's probably the throttle body is dirty. Oil vapour get's blown up the breather from the crankcase (this is under the bottom of the pistons). You get this anyway to some extent as the crankcase is under positive pressure somehow this reduces emissions. Too much crankcase pressure is bad for piston rings though hence don't overfill the oil. This vapour can be worse if the piston rings are worn as you also get blow past the pistons as the mixture lights. This sends more stuff up the breather. There is a oil filter thing in the air filter housing this looks like it's supposed to stop most of it. It's in a leaky pipe thing. Oil seems to seep out of this and along the pipe, round the air filter rubber and also drip into the throttle body. Does anyone know the part number of the oil filter bit in the engine cover? It's held by a rivet but I would quite like to change it as I would like to see how long it takes to get sodden. The engine cover just pulls off. Theres 4 mounts that fit in rubber holes on the bottom of the engine cover. Give it a pull from the front first and then the back. Theres a rubber pipe on the back left of the cover too (the crankcase breather). Pull it off. Use a philips screwdriver and lossen the 11 numbered screws. The air filter is under that cover. Clean the housing and change the filter. Have a look at the throttle body and clean it very carefully with a little wynns fuel injection intake cleaner and a lint free cloth. I presume the jumping about is the car trying to make subtle adjustments to the little butterfly valve but it's a bit gummed up? I still don't know what causes the rings to go though. Like audisi says the breather is apparently prone to blockage? Does this lead to too much crankcase pressure? Also people seem to report better running on super unleaded higher octane, preignition damage? Perhaps short journeys lead to too much moisture in the engine causing condensation and emulsion blocking the breather?

Well as they agreed to fix it when they sold you it they'll have to. The light just indicates one/many of a number of symptoms, these are saved as a fault code in the engine computer. You really need the stored fault code to know what the fault is. Like Basil says someone with vagcom could read them off or get the garage to give you them. However the 1.4 16v is known to suffer from piston ring problems.

AJB, I thought I would have another look in the engine cover and you're right there is an filter in there for the breather. I thought it was an empty pipe but it has filter in it. I changed the air filter, wouldn't mind changing that too actually. Sisko, to my untrained mind looks like the first 2 relate to the throttle body, does it look slimey when you remove the engine cover?

Thats the code I had on my fabia 16v 1.4 when the piston rings went! If you can see oil dribbling from the air filter housing i'd take it off and have a look inside and at the throttle body as that sounds like it needs cleaning up anyway. Can anyone say if it is this oil blown up the crankcase breather that causes the rings to go? does this lower the octane of the fuel causing pre ignition and the damage perhaps? or is the oil/vapour blow up because of the fault or unrelated? Would fitting an oil catcher or an inline filter be a good idea?

How many miles has it done Jonnic?

can you scan it and post it up, we can then send it to the motoring press. That's not something they mention on Parkers. Do Skoda know how much 'castrol edge vw' costs? You'd need a litre every 400 miles. If you were on the motorway thats nearly everytime you fill up. It's £44 / 4L from Halfords. Thats an extra £10 everytime you fill the tank.

Willis Motor Company in south ruislip are not far from you and are good. Dealer though. Škoda - Retailers - Willis Motor Company - Find Us