MURVAG82

Right, I decided to bite the bullet, as I can’t stand being irritated/defeated by something. So, I’ve removed the glovebox mostly (enough so I know how it comes out and also be able to reassemble it). You’ll need a T20 Torx screwdriver. So, there are 3 visible screws to undo at the top of the glove box first. Then, you need to drop the glovebox fully by unclipping the 2 top catches. Once the glovebox is fully dropped, there’s 1 screw behind at the top to unscrew. Then, there are 2 screws underneath in the footwell to unscrew. Finally, you need to pop the end panel off on the left hand side, where the passenger airbag on/off switch is. Once that’s off, there are 2 plastic clips holding it in. Pop them out and the glovebox should come out. I’ve only gone as far as taking the final 2 plastic clips half way out to see if they were easy to remove and also to see if they were the last things holding the glovebox in, which I think they are. So until I go to replace my glovebox fully in a couple of weeks, when it arrives, I won’t know if that’s it for sure. But as far as I can see, that’s it. It only took 5 mins to do as well.

Did you remove the entire box? If so, I can only see 5 screws, 3 in the top and 2 underneath in the foot well. Are there more?

Yeah, I’ve got a complete one. So I may just be able to screw the old one out and the new one in. I was just hoping to remove the door which I thought would be easier. I’ll try to remove the whole thing first, might be easier. Famous last words.

You won’t believe this. I had a few items in the glovebox, and when I opened it up fully (I unclipped the top stoppers), it dropped and the damper arm just came out of its bracket. So, I presume that if you pull the door outwards and downwards with a tiny bit of force, the damper arm comes out itself. Then you can just twist the bracket which holds the damper, and it pops out. But, be careful, there’s a small plastic wheel with teeth on it, like a gear wheel, that work the damper, so when you pull it out, be careful not to damage the teeth. There’s probably a more elegant way to remove the damper arm from the bracket with the teeth in it, but I haven’t been able to figure it out. The only issue I have now is the 2 bottom hinges on the door. I thought a pull upwards would unseat them, but that didn’t work. I may have to remove the whole box, I’m still trying to locate all the screws if I need to do that.

I’ve removed the aero plastic trim and bought a set of original centre caps. The wheels were filthy underneath. Unfortunately, on a different topic, my Fabia seems to be the one with a decent bit of road noise from the stock tyres, particularly between about 30-40 mph. I guess when I replace the tyres, at some point, I’ll try get lower road noise tyres.

Just an update. I’ve tried to remove the scratches from the glovebox, which made it worse. So I’ve bought a used replacement. But I’m still none the wiser on how to remove the original door so I can replace it. I’ve dropped the glovebox as far as it can go. The dampening arm is on the right hand side of the Mk 4 so I don’t think removing the trim on left hand side will work to access the damper. As far as I can see, all that needs unhooking is the damper and then a firm push up from below to unhinge the hinges and it should pop out. But how you undo the damper, which is on the left, and not the right, I’ve no idea. Has anyone else tried it? Cheers.

Hi Guys, I’m a new driving instructor and I’ve just bought a 2023 110 Fabia with 16” Proxima wheels. They have the aero plastic trim on them, which I’ll remove. But I was wondering, has anybody put alloygators or rimblades on them? I’m just looking for some pros and cons really. Do they work? Do they damage them wheel during installation, being on or removal? Also, I reckon I’ll be getting new tyres every year due to mileage, I don’t want to be replacing them too every time really. Cheers.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, there is an extending arm which controls the descent of the glovebox, which needs to be unhinged, so I suspect the end trim panel needs to be removed to unhinge it, like you’ve said. I’ll try to fix the glove box that’s on it first. A heat gun is good for fixing plastic scratches, as is toothpaste as a compound to smooth out light scratches. If that doesn’t work, I’ll buy another on eBay and try fit it myself. If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask a mechanic to fit it. There’s one across the road from me in my estate who is friendly, he might do it for free or for a small fee.

Thanks for the reply. I've checked through the replies to the post you've identified. There seems to be a way to lower the glovebox fully, but not detach it. It's only the door I need to replace, not necessarily remove the frame too. So hopefully, as you suggest, the door, once lowered fully, will pop out if held in by plastic hooks. I'll try the toothpaste approach first to smooth it out, maybe use a tiny bit of dark grey marker to cover it a bit. If it looks naff, then I'll go down the route of swapping it out. Cheers again.

Hi Guys, does anyone know how to remove a glovebox from a MK4 Fabia? Mine has got scratches on it. I might try toothpaste as a mild compound to smooth it a little and if that fails, I might swap it out for a used one without scratches. I’m assuming there’s screws holding it in and I’d possibly need to remove the side trim too. I can’t find a video online. There are tonnes for a Polo and other marks of Fabia etc but not the Mark 4. Thanks.

Cheers, I couldn’t find a 65 option on the site I went with, so got the 60 so, I know it’s a tiny bit smaller but it’ll fine for temporary use whilst I get a puncture repaired and it’s wider than a space saver so, it’ll do. I’ll stick a bit of extra air in it for good measure 😂 I was also conscious of it fitting I the wheel well. So if a 65 fits in the well, like you’ve said, then the 60 certainly will. I was looking on eBay for a cheaper 2nd hand one but went with a new one from the Wheel Shop, just so I knew the tyre was new as the 2nd hand ones tend to be taken from 2012-2017 cars or older so the rubber will have degraded somewhat. Anyway, fingers crossed I don’t ever need to use a spare wheel in the first place 🤞 Thanks again.

Hi Guys, thanks for all the messages. I went for the wheel shop option of 185/60/R15. They didn’t have a 65 option but it’s near enough and will hopefully fit in the wheel well when it arrives. I’ve got all of the kit/insert from my Seat Leon, so no need to buy another. It’ll do. The jack and wheel brace should be fine, I’m just hoping the tow ring is the same size. But it should be … famous last words.

Thanks. I think there’s enough space in the wheel well for a full sized one. Personally I’d prefer the full sized one as I’ll be using my car for work and I’ll need to go longer distances than a space saver will allow and the get a puncture to the alloy fixed whilst I’m working. Cheers.

Cool, is that a 15” full sized wheel? I don’t want a frisbee space saver 😂

Thanks for the reply. I’ve been on there before but they offer 2 sizes, a 15” and 16”. I’m not sure which one to get. My alloys are 16” but will have a 55 walled tyre so I’m assuming a 15” steel wheel spare with a 65 walled tyre would be fairly equal in size? I don’t want to get a 16” spare wheel if it’s too big with the steel rim and won’t fit in the boot recess. I hope that makes sense. Cheers.

Hi Guys, this is my first question on here, so hopefully I’ve posted it in the right place. I’m looking to buy a spare wheel for my new MK4 Fabia 110 comes with 195/55 R16 alloy wheels. I don’t want to pay extortionate money. So I’ll buy a second hand one online. I’ve already got the foam insert from my previous car, Seat Leon, so it’s just the wheel I need. I want a full size steel wheel and tyre. My question is, are polo/ibiza/fabia wheels interchangeable as it just widens the search/availability? Also, what size should I get, is it 185/65 HR15? I’m assuming most of the small car VAG wheels are the same, I’m just not sure about offsets etc. I want a full sized steel rim + tyre that has similar overall diameter as the alloys. Thanks Guys.

Hi Guys, just a quick hello from me. I’ve dabbled in the VAG world over the years. I had an awesome VW Bora when I was younger and I’ve just traded in my 2018 Seat Leon FR for a 2023 Skoda Fabia TSI 110 as I’m changing career and becoming a driving instructor and needed something a bit more sensible. I’m sure I’ll have many questions but looking forward to experiencing the Skoda world. Cheers.