bertJ

ABS won't create any problem just make sure that all the vacuum has gone from the servo by pumping the brake pedal with the engine off. You should feel the pedal go very hard. For the front discs just push the pistons back in with a G clamp or similar. However, if you car has rear discs, you will need a special VAG/Sykes-Pickavent retracting tool for the pistons. They have to be rotated as well as being pushed in. There is no way you can do it without the tool (I'm sure someone will prove me wrong!). Whatever you do don't try to push the pistons in as you would for the front. I'm sure that you know to pump the brake pedal after installing the pads before driving the car.

Kentish: Yes, of course you are correct. I didn't know that Skoda offered variable (i.e.extended) service intervals. You could change to fixed service intervals and use 505.01 but presumably your car is still under warranty so has to be serviced by a Skoda dealer. It's something you could consider when the car is out of warranty.

Just for the record Castrol SLX Longlife 2 is 506.01 spec. This is used when the car is set up for extended service intervals; i.e. the car 'tells' you when you need a service. I don't know whether Skoda offer this facility. VW pdi's can be set up in this way but most private owners opt for 10,000 miles or 1 year oil changes (whichever comes first). In this case use 505.01 spec as 506.01 would be overkill (although you can use it, of course). Even so, there is a lot of debate as to whether 10k oil changes are frequent enough. However, all VAG pdi's come filled with 506.01 from the factory. This oil is synthetic and 'thinner' than 505.01 and this can explain the very high oil consumption that some engines have. The consumption often improves when an oil change is done with 505.01. Under no circumstances should oil which is not to 505.01 or 506.01 be used in pdi engines. These oils have special additives apparently to cope with the mechanical injectors fitted to pdi engines. IMHO, as someone else has said, Millers oils offer the best deal at about

Unfortunately the service interval is 10,000 miles or 1 year, so the car will still require 3 services in 3 years even at 8k per year. These service intervals have to be kept to otherwise there will be problems with the warranty.

My wife is due to take delivery soon of a new Fabia 100bhp tdi Elegance. She has been offered a 3 year service agreement for

Another way out feature I've just heard about: When reverse is selected the air con and/or heating switches to recirculation mode to prevent exhaust fumes being sucked into the car. I don't know whether this is a 'codeable' feature or is standard on the Fabia. Again, it's present on recent VW's.

Thank you very much for all the replies - lots of info to hit the dealer with! BTW - Vectras have now been modified because of the over-sensitive indicators. The 3 flash system on the 9n Polo actually works very well and I really miss it when driving other cars. Thanks again

Just for info: In Germany it is only legal to have one rear fog light precisely because of possible confusion with brake lights. I presume that this is why all VAG sourced cars have one light only with the nearside blanked off. Even top of the range Mercs. have one rear fog light with the other one disabled. A friend with a 320 asked the dealer to make both fogs work but was refused because " it isn't MB's policy to carry out unauthorised modifications".

I'm new to this forum and I think I'm going to be grateful it exists! Our family have had VW derived diesels for the last 10 years include a 110bhp tdi Octavia about 3 years ago. My wife has just ordered a new Fabia 100bhp Elegance tdi to replace a Polo. The dealer seems excellent but there has been some confusion over various locking modes as to whether they exist or can be programmed into the car. The various modes were/are all possible on the Polo and on my Passat. I'd be very grateful if someone can tell me about the following: Auto Locking: When the car reaches 8/10 mph it automatically locks; when you remove the ignition key at the end of a journey the doors unlock. Is this possible on the Fabia? Remote Locking: can it be altered so that one 'zap' opens all the doors instead of two 'zaps'? Window Closing: If the locking button on the remote is held down will any windows that are still open, be closed? Similarly if the key is used to lock the car and held in the locking position will the windows close? Self Locking: If the car is unlocked with the remote but a door not opened within 30 secs. will the car lock itself again? Lastly, not to do with locking, but the indicators. Will the indicators give 3 flashes if the stalk is just moved into the overtaking position? This was a very useful feature on the Polo. Sorry about the very long first post; unfortunately I'm sure that I will need more advice in the future!