chris 11

Ok, thanks for your thoughts - and the advice that I may have to argue liability (hoping to avoid as it was a small independent dealer, but I take your point about not letting problem develop). Will bear that in mind katia and might try an independent for a second opinion; and while Skoda garage said oil made no difference to this problem (bit surprised by that), I'm sticking with multigrade 10W-40. Off right now for two-week break in the south-west, so hope not too many problems on the road...

Yep, that's how it seems after visit to local skoda garage to make sure. EGR fault, almost certainly the piston rings. As neil at preston motors said, could have saved myself the charge (very reasonable half-hour fee to be fair) as you'd already suggested it! Glad to have it checked out though. (Diagnostic socket is fine as it turns out, AA van must have had faulty/incompatible reader.) For now, I'm planning to ignore it and keep topping up when needed unless performance starts taking a big hit. About to take two-week driving holiday in cornwall & somerset so we'll see how that goes... Just posted to same effect on Fabia I forum. Anyway, cheers and good to meet you all...

thanks for the pointer. looks like you (and all those previous threads) are right. EGR fault identified at local garage (neil at preston motors, forest gate, seemed all right to me), oil getting through & piston rings the culprit. so oil thirst and engine light were connected. planning to live with it for the time being (refilling oil at 1l per 1000-1500m and engine light coming back on) unless performance starts changing drastically, as quote is the best part of 1k as previous posters report. diagnostic socket fine as it turns out, AA van must have had faulty computer or not compatible with the model.

No, original radio and no other mods.

Ok, so loving the '01 fabia 1.4 (100 bhp) so far... bought in May, apparently looked after for its 46,000m before that, and serviced with fluids topped up as I bought it, now running nicely. Run about 2000 miles since, mostly motorways and good A roads, so fast driving but smooth and rarely with any real load. So... how come there was barely a trace of oil on the dipstick a few days ago and it took 2 litres (Magnatec) to bring back up into the right range? Scanning previous threads suggests that might not be impossible, but would be surprising. No obvious oil leaks (checked under car and quick visual check of engine though not a thorough examination), and no obvious worrying smell or residue suggesting burning off. Is this just me not having adjusted up to the slightly punchier engine to the smaller cars I drove before? Other than that, the amber engine management indicator light has stayed on for a little over a week now... I'll take it into a skoda-approved garage when I can, but any punts for now on the reason? No change in handling, revs, ignition or - as far as I can tell - exhaust since before the light came on. Again, scanned previous threats so I know that even if not very serious, it needs to be diagnosed and dealt with... BUT have discovered (via a friendly passing AA fella) that the diagnostic socket is faulty or deliberately disabled... what's that all about I wonder? (And how can it be diagnosed now?) Any thoughts? Will update in a few days after the planned garage visit... Cheers Chris

Time for me to stop lurking and say hello! Picked up 2001 Fabia 1.4 (100bhp) in May, having been persuaded (not with much difficulty) to trust friend-of-friend small independent dealer and go with it over the pokey little micras etc my girlfriend and I started out looking at. Runs really nicely, so very happy with the decision, and after reading these forums, glad to join the crowd too. We're in east London but get out of town as much as possible so loving it both on the fast roads and country lanes... Just a couple of things - engine management light on with (great coincidence...) a disabled diagnostic socket, and an unexpected thirst for oil, but I think I'd better post about those in the Fabia forum... Chris