george brann

I have virtually given up with my local Skoda dealer, I bought my Skoda Fabia 2 1.4 TDI from new in 2007. I had a good deal and was pleased by the car. I felt the old service manager was ok; some of his staff were far from satisfactory. Since Chichester has closed down (and the service manager has left) and they have moved everything to Fareham it has gone from bad to worse. Staff are very unhelpful, rude and don’t do what is agreed. There seams no ability to correct any of these faults, I get the impression customers are an inconvenience. You are treated as if you are either a 2 year old or 90 years of age. They are so rapped up in their rules and routine they can’t adjust to this century. I will not purchase another Skoda while Sparshatt’s have the franchise. I am also strongly considering having my car serviced by an independent and not by Sparshatt’s in the future. I had the normal Skoda boot leak problem, which the service manager said “I cant guarantee this being fixed, but the mechanic said there would be no problem” During the time in the garage they put a nail in my tyre while driving it around, I did not have a spare in the car as the boot was being fixed, I had some idiot ring me on the last day thinking it was funny the fact the tyre was constantly deflating on a daily basis, despite them pumping it up. I was not impressed if they had told me I would have taken the spare to the garage immediately. Recently I have had the lockable fuel cap go faulty. They would not order one until their mechanic had seen the problem! He confirmed the fact it was faulty and one was ordered but could take 6 weeks to arrive! Skoda UK said it could arrive within 2 days if ordered properly, Sparshatt’s said they would try to push it through quickly. It arrived but as normal no one rang me. Remember it was only a fuel cap a child of 4 could put it on, the fuss made to fit it was ridiculous. One customer service representative asked me “what can I do to make things better” I listed some areas but he just seamed either unable or not interested, I wonder why he asked in the first place. The mechanic seams to know his stuff and has always fixed the problems. I also had the problem with the hand brake, that most Skoda owners have experienced. The mechanic said this was normal but funny when I got it back post boot problem it actual now holds and you don’t have to lift it to the roof of the car for it to do this, not funny when I was on a car ferry in February. It’s a shame Sparshatt’s treat their customers with such contempt, I have given them the best part of 3 years to improve and despite phone calls and letters things have actually got worse.

Had the same problem with the boot as well on my Fabia 2 1.4 TDI - boot filled up twice nearly to the top. Also the lockable fuil cap needed replacing. My biggest problem is the Skoda dealer, to say they are jobs worth is an understatement!

2 queries please: I own a Fabia 2 1.4 pdi Reg Nov 2007. 1. I was in the car park at work this week someone close to me in a different car (not Skoda or VW) unlocked my car when they used their remote to unlock their own. I was under the impression that there were millions of combinations and this should not have occured. He was as shocked as I was. Please comment. 2. You may have noticed some of the threads on Briscodia regarding steering issues, I am not overly woried but noced that when I have full lock on low reves there is the same knocking odd noice. Do you know of issues with the steering on full lock and is this something I should get investigated looked at during my next service?

Many thanks one and all for your 1st class advice: "Zebra. I assume that your maxidot told you it required a service? MY 1.4 tdi Is on 7000 @ 16 Months old and still indicates no service requirement till 8700 miles. I assume that this is normal as I was always under the impression that diesel cars were a year about?" Yes the maxidot (which is most helpful because I now drive to conserve fuil only whish it was standard on all cars and versions of Skoda's) told me leading up to the year - didnt quite get to the 10,000 miles around 9,400. Actualy the reminders became a little anoying but I expect that is what it is ment to happen.

Many thanks

Hi, Last month just had my 1st service on my Fabia 2 TDI 1.4 PDI The oil was quite dark when I checked it but full - after only 700 miles its the colour of ink. I take it this is correct and an oil change took place rather than just a top up of oil. On previous cars its always been clear or brown in colour not jet ink black. They gave me a chit which said what VW oil was put in. George

I have been there and had the same person behind the desk twice - I worked in the NHS and had staff who had similar bad customer service skills. It reflects very badly on the garage and on Skoda - either they are in the wrong job or should be re trained - senior staff must know they are like this. Perhapse they have got used to their attitude, however as a customer its very difficult - I found it aggressive and challanging/not helpful at all. Not happy and pleased to help or give assistance.

I notice the price difference of my Fab 2 TDI 80 pdi 1.4 and the green is £2,400 you will never get the money back on fuel saving - I now get 54.4 and sometimes 59 mpg and I dont drive always slow. The best you are going to get is 10 mpg on the green!

Just a quick one - my skoda horn will not work without power! Is this the same for you all? Thanks George

I use sticky cable ties as well - presume its there due to rear passenger asses to the 12V sorce. My TOMTOM works fine with it as it is. But like you was a little suppriced it was so far back

I wondered if anyone had the same problem as me - I have a new fabia 1.4 TD PD 80 I washed the car on the weekend and lifted the bonet. I noticed that the bonet release is held on by two pins (base mettle) they are rusty! I have greased them up in the hope this will be ok, the worse problem that could happen is in the future these pins rust away and the release mechanism on the bonit itself comes away from the car. What do you think? Rather suppriced myself not even galvanised mettle George

I have a 1.4 pd tdi 80 best millage is 57mpg using maxi dot total avarage rather than avarage as you drive. But its working out on a weekly bassis of 50 mpg. Quite happy with this but as one reader wrote you will not recoop the cost of the Dieso in your mpg and as its more expensive at the pumps as well. Still very happy

Hi everyone - just wanted to mention a quick thing. Also with reference to others who have mentioned regarding the alternater. I have a TDI 1.4 80 PDI even when the glove box light was on for 3 months undetected (now fixed) the battery light went out straight away when I started the car. Now the car starts but does not have the feeling of a powerful start and the battery light remains on for 2 or 3 seconds but then goes out. Would this be a sign of some future failure on the alternator? What do you think. As always many thanks. George:eek:

Many thanks for all your points and postings - just on the full rev mot test can anyone tell me why they do this for dieso's and not petrol's? and what purpose does it serve to do this test on dieso's? Many thanks

Not sure about this but very keen as my wife is intrested in a FAB1 - could I ask you ask a question. With just central locking can you open the boot on its own or do you only have the drivers door that then opens all doors?

I agree I had a toyota corrolla that was no better than blowers despite it was air conditioning. Happy to have a Fab2 with better air con than that. Frankly I dont rate air con at all and would willingly swop it for 3 year free servicing any day. I think my new Fabia 2 TDI 80 PDI 1.4 is working exactly like yours. If anything I find modern cars a little hot with small vents and little air flow. My wife has a Toyota Yaris her air con is her windows. George

I want to thank you SKISBP - I actualy went out on this glorious day to the car during lunch before you posted the photo. Yes its there and works. You know I want to make 3 comments:- 1. All manafacturers are at fault they write a manual for all models and miss out vital information. 2. This Web site is totaly invaluble - its truly fantastic because problems etc get sorted when it would take months asking the garage if they could answer the question at all. 3. You have gone more than the mile for me I am in your debt and thank you. I beleave that vent pipe is probably ment to be knocked by the filling pipe this would follow my previous assumption that the thicker nozzels hit this and the thin ones do not. Thank you very very much. George

Most grateful - therefor you get more for your money only if its not evaperated before it goes in the tank. Nothing to do with the flow and the metre. This does not help my car filling problems because even if it trickles out I cant get a full tank. I will look to see if there is this vent pipe, but cant say I have or its mentioned in the book (I have read my book cover to cover 2 or 3 times) I thought it could be to do with the nossel sizes, I have noticed some pumps have short nossels with very large diamiters, others are long and small diamiters. Thought it could be to do with this and fumes cutting off the fuil. I notice allso alot of fuil sounds in the top of the tank as if its not going anywhere. Will keep an eye on it. Thanks again intresting explanation good graphics George

Thank you very happy with the car. I think changing from one car to anouther is very difficult. I like most have had quite a few cars, I buy ex demmo's or new. My last car was a Toyota Corrolla, this was very good up till the 8 year mark with no problems at all. I have to say to date I am very pleased with the Fabia 2 TDI 80 pdi 1.4. There were a few tinny problems like the glove box light on permantly for 3 months and some other minor things but over all its passed the test so far. I will have to wait and see if it passes the test of time. How expensive it is to run on tyres, bulbs, exhausts, services etc. No car is perfect and there are a few things I would improve with this - possibly the manafactures of cars should send out a questionare on what things drivers would improve with the vehicals. Thank you for all the posts on this issue of filling - just one observasion, not sure how slowing down the filling off a tank can give you more fuil for your money! George

Thanks one and all just on the last post how do you vent?

Hi all, I have a Fabia 2 TDI 80 2007 New Nov. I am having great problems putting dieso into the car - Most pumps I can only with alot of trouble get 3/4 of a tank. I put the nossel in all different angles - in or out no matter what I try to do it puts fuil in then cuts out. Even if I dribble it in! I filled up 3/4 of a tank getting very frustrated at TESCO then the 3 mins was up and the unit timed out no power on the pump. I then went latter to ASDA I could continue to fill up a full tank. Anyone got any ideas? Anyone had the same problem? At the moment I have no idea what is going on. George

Wondered if anyone had experianced this:- I have a Fabia 2 80bhp TDI I was in traffic and needed to get out of trouble so put my foot down. I sudanly notticed the car stoped excellerating felt as if I had lost power. Looked at the dash my revs were in the red. I was in 2nd but was not expecting to hit the RED. I note that the rev rang is a little short compared to other cars I have driven and you quickly climb up to near the RED. Do you think the rev limiter kicked in? Thanks George

thanks stu, I can use my heated mirrors without switching on the rear heated window. They still get hot! this means if you use them in conjunction with the rear window - the rear window will time out but the mirrors will stay on permantly while ignition is on.

I have had my Fabia for 3 months now and clocking up alot of miles. I got dieso on friday and droped something out of the top glove box, when I put it back in I noticed the glove box was very hot. On taking out all the stuff both glove boxes were almost at a temperture of melting point. It appears the light on the 2nd glove box has never switched off! It appears that the light is ment to switch off when the hinges are shut. I have had to disconect the light assembly at present till I can get it into the garage. I am using a little oil, well within the book specks but still was not expecting to use noticiably any oil. not happy with the heated mirrors - no warning they are on - will not switch off automaticaly and dont work in conjunction with the heated rear window as the book states!

Could I ask for a few pointers on these questions please:- 1. When I rang up my insurance company they said is your car a Fabia 2 or Fabia 2 + I have no idea what they are refering to 2. Does a dieso have a catalitic converter? 3. The tool kit particaly the wheel brace looks very flimsy can I use a different wheel brace with Alloys - never had Alloys before. 4. Still very confused regarding my spair - lots of coloured lines on it (never seen this on any tyre other than a space saver) any restriction on speed with the spair on fabia 2