charon

That oil cap looks horrible, that looks worse than just condensation, but I am interrested in what others with more experience with these engines say. BTW, that looks like the 'temporary' filler cap that you use when the engine cover is removed, because of the quite frankly redicilous way the regular filler cap fits into the cover, and is not actually closing the filler tightly, but kind of hovering above it.

Stupid question perhaps, but are you sure that the battery itself is not the problem?

Did you loosen the three screws that hold the pully on, before you loosened the aux. belt? You just undo those three screws, and the pully will pop off. In other news, I did mine today. Much profanity was used, but the new pump is on. Just cleaning out the expansion tank now, before refilling the coolant and starting it up.

And, did you have a result?

Not pretty, but not bad for 25 years old.. 84500 on the clock, and suffers quite badly from the dreaded "Red Paint Peel", but on the upshot, no rust. All the usual issues to be sorted out (drooped roof lining, driver's door lock or wiring issues, passenger front door window "glued in"... No winding mechnism for the rear drivers side door window. Head lights glass beyond cleaning up) Still, I like it. I'll be fitting a towbar soon. .

Just as an update, I checked the hoses under the bonnet, they seem to be ok. I checked the airfilter, which could do with replacing, but it;s not that bad yet, but gave it a good "slapping" and put it back. Wether it''s that, or that I've been driving it regularly since I got it, or that I drive it mainly down the motorway and it gets a proper workout, or maybe that I'm filling with fresh petrol now that I use it, it has stopped doing it.. So happy days. Now to check the waterpump and alternator to see if they are they source of that slightly annoying and mildly worrying noise under the bonnet when idling..

Is that right? I recently bought a 2001 Fabia Combi (after owning a succesion of small vans, I like to have space to carry stuff about..) when no decent van was available. I quite like it, it's got 84.000 on the clock, in very decent nick, and I like the system of a timing chain and pushrods. I didn't know it was a rare model?

Thank you Alasdair, I'll check that hose in a minute. I think I need to invest in a scanner, it seems a handy diagnostic tool.

Hello all, I recently bought a 25 year old mark1 Fabia Combi, and looking for some advice/feedback on an issue that may or may not be a problem, and that I have not been able to find being discussed in the forum. I have been driving diesel vans and cars for years, and this is my first "modern" petrol engine vehicle. The engine is a 1.4 8v MPI, which runs well, as responsive as you can expect, and so far good around town and on the motorway. However, at tickover, there seems to be an occasional "judder", which I can hear and feel in the car, every few seconds or so. It feels a bit like worn engine mounts, but too intermitent but also regular to be so, and there doesn't appear to be any movement of the engine during pulling away or gear changes. It's not quite like "hunting" (which I remember from bike engines years ago), but just a little "judder" every few seconds. The oil and filter were recently changed (before my purchase), and I plan on checking, and probably changing as a matter of course, the plugs, but is this a known sympton, and would it be ignition or carburetor related? Cheers

£617 monthly payment... Seriously? £617 every month? That's £7,404 per year!! Does that include everything? Tax? Insurance? I just paid £850 for a 25 year old Fabia. If it lasts till the MOT and fails terminally (in September, 6 months hence), I'll still be £2,986 better off. Not likely though. And frankly, I could have haggled the Fabia down more (owner started at £1000 🤣) , but the engine appears well looked after (recent oil changes etc, and other work with receipts, presented clean throughout, including the engine bay, clean MOT, and only 83000 on the clock), so I went easy. Each to their own, but when the talk is of "cost of living crisis", I can't see how people can consider paying that much just to have a new car on the drive.

I know this is an old post, but I have recently bought a Fabia Combi (2001, 83000mls, almost all windows working...) , and I'm trying to get to the bottom of some annoying (but seemingly very common) issues. I have a similar problem, the driver's door doesn't communicate with the car, causing it to lock itself after you get in, the "lights still on" buzzer not working when you exit the car (hand brake on buzzer works..). What you say about the radio has something, because when I fitted my Sony radio, the remote locking stopped working "remote". I saw in another post something about swapping the Red and Yellow power cables, and guess what? When I swapped them over, the remote is working "remote" again. And the radio still remembers the channel presets I choose. Still locks you in though, and still no "Lights still on" buzzer. Presently waiting for the locking fuelcap to arrive, and the replacement struts for the tailgate. And the Haynes Manual I found for £6.50 on Evilbay .