StigDude

No, they didn't blame that. I even showed the picture of that adjustment motor you mentioned from eBay. They just told me the plastic parts were worn/broken. I honestly don't know what kind of contraption/method they used to fix it. But it worked for the MOT kind of test we have here. So the car is approved for going on the roads again. I'd rather have had a better artist to work the problem out, perhaps pointing a way to prevent this for the future. But it's not easy without the proper parts, unless you've got the real skills and craftmanship we can see done in other topics here. That's why in my opinion, some of the guys here, including some of yourselves, are real artists. It's a shame, but I'm having to leave my beloved Fabia RS. Now it's just a matter of who gives more money for it, preferably in exchange for another efficient and punchy diesel engine. If only the new Fabia had one... 😔 I'd have to skip meals if I had to use a petrol engine here in Portugal, it's a luxury item these days 🤑

Well, it's done. I was finally able to sort the problems and the car was approved at the inspection test!! So it avoided Scrappy Heaven and will be safe for now 😄. But I'll probably have to sell it, since I'm not sure what surprises await in the future. It's a shame, I was hoping to keep it "forever", but I guess I'll rather get something valuable for it now, than risking a more serious problem and then... get nothing for it.

VCDS isn't indicating any fault concerning the lighting. Just the usual EGR rubbish... In our similar MOT inspection they use a regular headlight tester, just as in your MOT. Traumatized as I am now, I can only see my car's nemesis 😡 when I look at that contraption thingy 🤣 Hopefully the new lamps I had fitted can help with the brightness level... I just went to get the car back. The experienced veteran mechanic my father-in-law's friend recommended (I'm officially that desperate) told me the headlight regulators are busted. I'll still have to confirm that, but at least he adjusted the level to the correct one, so it can pass the inspection. Tomorrow I have to take the car to another garage, one where I was told they would only work with new headlights. There they can work out a separate fog light problem, but which won't suffer from the parts issue as in the headlights case. This guy was recommended by our VW mechanic. I feel like being part of a soap opera at this stage. The only definite solution would be a conversion from xenon to halogen, but I don't have the time, space and means to do it. Sooner than later I'll have to part ways with my little black beauty 😭. But I'm determined it won't involve a scrapyard, hopefully, as I intend to get this problem reasonably done with, and this is a rare vehicle here in Portugal. The last Skoda dealer I talked with, asked me to show him a picture of my car...

Thank you delroy, and that thread was also very enlightening. I'll check if there is any fault code with VCDS. My dashboard hasn't got any fault light on, but if I'm lucky then maybe it's mainly a ball and socket problem that they messed around with. I think the new electrician who was recommended to me is able to do the kind of work within the headlight mentioned in the other thread. If he could solve the ball socket problem with new parts, maybe with the new lamps the whole xenon headlight nightmare could be done away with. First thing Monday morning I'll take the car to him, I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks!

Wow, thank you guys! I've already put that item under watch, in case they find out those parts are the faulty ones. This morning I used the car for working and still weren't able to take it to the workshop. Thanks again 👍

Thank you petrolcan, I've already contacted them some days ago. They only sell the lamp set, but not the headlights... : (

Yes, I found there are still lots of halogen headlights. If I had those lamps, there wouldn't be any problem. But these xenon weren't so common. And they're simply gone now... 🤦‍♂️

The original fault was a weaker beam. That means they were self levelling, but probably the glass lens within the headlight had become cloudy. I first thought the bulb wasn't working properly, but now I guess the lens could be the problem. Only after the first workshop handled the bulb replacement was there a problem with the levelling. Tomorrow I'll talk with the guy and ask him to see what's happening now. But his first hint was that the headlights were gone. We'll see. Thank your for your help guys 👍

Thank you Winston and skomaz for your tips. I'm going to the workshop again, so they can check what can be actually done with the current headlights. They are different workshops (the one who spotted the problem and the one I'll be working with now) and the latter has more experience with lighting. Hella were the manufacturers of these OE headlights and told me that the parts aren't available anymore. Skoda, from the Skoda-auto.cz site, emailed me this: We are sorry that we cannot help you, but the production of parts after the end of model production is 15 years only for essential components such as engine, transmission, etc... For other parts it is 7-10 years, however it varies from part to part. If the vehicle's production mileage is more than 15, it is likely that it will not be possible to obtain official parts through ŠKODA AUTO, it is necessary to solve this unofficially. So basically, I'm left alone to sort it out myself. I just hope my mechanic can help, otherwise I'll just have to look somewhere else, or use some duct tape and chewing gum...

I bought this pair of led bulbs, lots of light. Very nice for my dark garage access: AGLINT 1156 LED Bulb P21W

Long story short: I can't find a couple of headlights for my Pearl Black Fabia vRS. Which I doubt would have happened if I had chosen another brand. I got my car here in Portugal back in 2007. For years it made my commutes the most fun part of the day, the 130hp engine with 310 nm is a great road partner, and being a very efficient diesel, it burns a LOT less fuel than modern petrol engines. To me personally, a cool car, safe, with great handling for my roads, great engine and it took care of my trips excellently. It came with a couple of xenon headlights, though it wasn't my pick, they look great too. Had many happy passengers throughout these years, often surprised of how quick they got to their destinations. All that was more than "simply clever". It was brilliant. A couple of years ago, I had the seats restored and even invested in a small box where I can park it safely and leave it well kept most of the time. Then... at the annual vehicle inspection (kind of MOT car safety test here in Portugal), they detected that the right beam was weaker and needed replacement. I got a pair of efficient OSRAM Cool Blue Intense xenon bulbs. Then, at the car workshop, they told me that the headlights weren't self levelling, as they should, and needed to be replaced. That is perfectly natural, the car is more than 17 years old and never had before a single problem with the original lamps, or headlights. From that day, last Thursday, to this moment, there is no one who can get me a pair of xenon headlights for my Fabia vRS. I'm not even talking about the aftermarket brands, they don't have anything available, everything is out of stock in every country I looked in the internet, in every country I searched. I only found one shop in Russia thay possibly had one... I called Skoda here in Portugal and they told me they can only get one single headlight, from a warehouse in Germany. They couldn't get the other headlight and production had stopped last year. Not to mention that even if they could actually order two headlights, it would cost me more than half the current insurance value of the vehicle: 3300€ plus for two headlights! (more than 2800£) . Obviously I don't expect Škoda to manufacture these xenon headlights for eternity, but... seriously? One headlight available from Skoda itself? Well... now the car is parked in its box, with a perfectly usable great engine, restored seats. And I'll be unable to drive legally on public roads here in Portugal within nine days from now, because I can't fix the fault. Obviously I can't sell it, unless a farmer can use it as a tractor or a small chicken coop. My only option it rusting in the garage, or pay for someone to tow it to the nearest scrapyard. Why? Engine failure? A big crash? No. Because I can't get a couple of Skoda headlights replaced. How is this possible?? It sounds like a bad joke, but it's happening... unbelievable. I honestly doubt a Seat or VW, or other brands, owner would have this problem. I sent an email to Skoda yesterday night with this info, but even if I got both headlights, what would happen if they got broken in a crash? It would start all over again. Not so "clever" decision, after all. I checked with my mechanic, they can't change to regular bulbs' headlights, like H7, because the levelling systems are not compatible. The headlights won't self level anymore (even if we try manually with a screw, the plastic parts won't move anymore) and can't be used safely on the road, nor will the car pass the auto inspection like this. He could only level the beam for inspection, but whenever I would have passengers, or some weight in the boot, the headlights would turn too high. Has anyone made any headlight mod in their Fabia, that required a headlight levelling system change? Thanks for any help or suggestions...

Any luck mate? Old problems, new comments... I've got the same problem here, looking for two seat base fabrics. Mine are 10 year old now and pretty worn, but I needed most the driver's back cover (left seat in my case) prepared for airbag. It's heated too, but I think that's the same cover though. Looking for it in the internet you can still get some new originals for sale, mainly in Germany auto parts sites and usually from 120£ up. If it's too hard and expensive I'm thinking of giving up an extra slice of money and upgrade all seats with a seatsurgeons kit... at least they'd last longer and look much cooler. I'm waiting for them to contact me back...

Your bullseye sticker spot is where I want to put my cam. Otherwise I'll have to take it with me whenever I park it on the street.

I have a Blackvue DR400 II coming (!!) for my Fabia I and I've been asking that same question, but as its been said here it really depends on the area you park. But it's a shame that in some places we have to take it out of the car, because the parking mode can turn out to be useful. I'd like to place mine above the rear view mirror so it's not so visible from outside. If I place it on the back of the mirror it will be displayed against the reflectible sun shade I use for the dashboard. Besides, above the mirror it would be a little safer from UV light and high temperatures that would bake the dashcam, as it would be placed behind the sun strip. But I'm afraid there won't be enough room...

There should be a mod that allowed us to take the key and close the car, but letting the engine run 30 to 60 seconds, just to let the turbo cool off. High bhp Subarus do that. You leave the car and the engine shuts down by itself