Kalum0101

So as well as my Fabia, I have two Vauxhalls, an Insignia and a Vectra. Both are of the 1.8 VVT kind. I decided to teach myself how to do a timing belt change on the vectra, because you gotta start somewhere. Anyway, all was going well until I started the engine and it made a god awful racket, so as quick as I could, I stopped the engine and inspected my work. Timing was fine, but I noticed the Aux belt that I also changed hadn't moved, and sure enough I hadn't tightened the crank pulley bolt enough (used a breaker bar then tested it with a torque wrench) causing the pulley to come off its guide on the crank sprocket and sheered the guide flat. My first fear was it wrecked the timing and in turn the engine, but I inspected the belt and all the camshaft gears and it seemed to be okay. So, my hope is I can remove the crankshaft sprocket and replace with new, redo the timing again, replace the pulley and get a new bolt and it will be off to the races, this time using an impact wrench I will borrow from a friend. My biggest fear is that its knackered something on the crank inside the engine, although I would like to think I didn't have the engine on for long enough. What do you all think? Easy-ish fix with not much damage, or me having the engine on for probably less than 3 seconds is enough to be catastrophic?

So they've potentially gone down a rabbit hole that they didn't need to, costing me money in the process. Guess I shouldn't be too surprised. My Vectra had a front end rattle that got diagnosed as a suspension issue when it was a missing Brake Pad retention clip...

So I didn't get the time to look at it myself due to it being a busier than average month for me, so I took it back to the garage for them to diagnose it further and they said they think its the ECU and it has now gone off for testing. My skepticism is making me wish that I tested all the wires myself.... How often do the ECUs fail on these? I find it hard to believe that a ECU fault could cause just one thing to go wrong.

I'm back again While I'm on a roll trying to get my car MOT ready, I noticed there was a rattle from the front of the car over bumps. I checked over the suspension with a fine tooth comb and couldn't find anything wrong with it (not long had work done). Then by chance I heard the same sound it was making over bumps when I shut the bonnet. Turns out the front grille bit that's bolted to the rest of the bonnet is rattling really badly, and the bolts are all rusted. Anyone had this issue before and knows how to quieten it down or where I can get fresh bolts from? They're so rusted I'll probably have to drill them out.

Amazing thank you. Now I just have to pluck up the courage to strip the car apart to trace the loom. Hoping its not an ECU fault.

Yeah, it's been on my list for a while, but with it's MOT just round the corner I need to get it sorted or it'll fail. Don't suppose you know which wire is for the heater element?

Mine did that, just needed to reflow the solder joints on the main connector and it cured the issue.

You should be able to fit seats from a Polo Mk4 9n or a Seat Ibiza Mk3 6L. I believe Audi A2 seats will fit too, but not 100% sure on that.

Good afternoon My 06 fabia has had a lambda sensor fault for a little while, brings up the code P0135. Tried a new sensor and it the issue didn't go away, so I took it to my local indy who had an auto electrician out to look at it. He thinks there is a broken wire from where the sensor plugs in back to the ECU, or it could be a fault with the ECU itself. Just curious if anyone else has had this issue before and wouldn't mind shedding some light on what to look out for, maybe what wire could be broken? They said it's reading data but the heater element isn't reading properly. Engine code is BKY.

It's done just shy of 75,000 miles

Another day, another weird issue with my 56 Automatic Fabia... It seems to have a jerky acceleration when you restart it warm. To better explain it, I completed a 30 mile journey from Cannock to Redditch the other day, started from cold, no issues the entire drive. Got to Redditch, stopped at Tesco for lunch, got back in the car and went to pull away and it started to kangaroo as it accelerated. Did this for about 2 miles before settling down again. I wanted to see if it would do the same today, this time a shorter 10 mile journey from cold. No issues from cold start to the destination, stopped the car, started it again, back to the kangaroo effect when accelerating, again for about 2 miles until it calmed down. I'm really stumped on this one. No EML showing up, no codes. Any ideas what it could be?

Thought I would take a recording of the noise it's making. Voice 006.m4a

Good Evening everyone, Recently purchased another fabia after the old one died. 1.4 16v automatic for a price I couldn't argue with. Has some faults, mainly the pre-cat lambda sensor, stuff I can sort, but once I had it out of the 30mph zones and onto country roads, accelerating past 3500 revs foot fully down produces this horrible loud noise, almost like a motorbike screaming. Doesn't do it while cruising at high revs, just accelerating. The car has been sitting unused for about 6 months as well before I bought it as well. Any ideas what it could be? Would a pre-cat lambda not working cause odd noises like that? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to try some stop leak and see if that helps a bit as well. I am guessing this is all unrelated to the O2 sensor EML?

Usually every month. I've checked it twice since the service (full service at the end of August). When I filled it, it was right at the top of A, then when I've checked it last month it's been around the upper B, and today it was at the lowest C point. I'm guessing that's a normal thing? I've not noticed any issue driving the car, other than its a bit thirsty at 30mpg average, but I've been told that's normal for the automatic fabias.

Good evening Today after doing a 250 mile roadtrip, I had an EML light come on. I plugged a code reader in and the error that came up was P013A which relates to the O2 sensor. I also checked the car over to make sure there wasn't anything else that stood out, and while checking the oil I realised it was right at the lowest level. I last did an oil change at 75000 miles and it's now on 79000 which I thought was a bit fast to burn through all that. I've never noticed a leak and there's no signs of a leak in the engine bay. Do you think the two issues could be related or could it be something else. Its a 2002 model with the 1.4 75bhp engine and an autobox. Any help is really appreciated. Thank you

So in fixing the solder joints for the big connector, I have managed to break the automatic gear selection screen at the bottom of the cluster. It's connected by a very fragile surface mount ribbon cable so I am not surprised. Anyone have any experience in fixing these?

Thank you for the advice I took the cluster out and stripped it down, found several cracked solder joints. I've reflowed them and it seems to be all good. Now just to fix the other fun quirks it has (noisy starter motor, central locking that likes to lock itself at will etc )

I have some issues with my instrument cluster. The coolant temperature light is flashing, the window washer low light is on and my fuel gauge reads 0. I also can't seem to scroll through the functions on my trip computer using the stalk. Anyone know what could be causing this? Thank you

@Tech1eI have sent you a message. Thank you.

Hello everyone I am looking to add cruise control to my Mk1 Fabia automatic, but I am very much a beginner when it comes to car electronics. Is there anyone who can assist me with fitting it or anywhere I can take it to get fitted by someone with more knowledge than me?