John Edwards

Couldn't get my post above to work, and then it did just as I was checking my spelling !! Should be, of course "steel assembly that fits behind front bumper". !!!

Retired in Linlithgow. My Favorit paint work is rather tatty but I try to keep the mechanics up to scratch. Not been on here for a while; a few fine days and I've been outside Favorit fiddling, among other things. Discovered two wee areas of corrosion worth mentioning. One in the seam beside the front right suspension turret, and the other beside the LHS front mount for the steel assembley that fots behind the front bumper. That is a right dirt trap. I tried the link you gave and now I am the proud owner of two new rear brake cylinders ! Thanks.

Thanks for that, but it would help if redundant Web Sites were removed! It was always easier to go straight to Jorily, or J.M. Butt before that; less faffing about. There is a good factor in Falkirk, but maybe also I'll try West End Garage, my nearest dealer; they used to some times obtain such things. (I'm well pleased with the Fabia 2 estate they sold me six months ago.) I note you have a Favorit. That was me thinking mine could have been the last one this side of the Border. Even Felicias are now few and far between.

I'm in need of replacement rear brake cylinders for my Favorit. (Later type as also fitted to the earlier Felicias). I keep trying Jorily but for the last two weeks the Web Site has been saying "down for maintenance". The telephone numbers appear to have been changed or are now unavailable. Can anyone please advise how to contact them, or less preferably, some other supplier ? Thanks.

Only once has my 1.3 Favorit (26,000 miles) failed MoT on emissions. Solved the problem by fitting a new air filter. May be worth remembering !

Strange that; my cars have tyres which don't get "tired" in the snow !!

Nice set of photo's. Car looks to be in lovely condition. My Favorit lost the paint laquer on the roof and bonnet because of my neighbour's flowering cherry tree. Fortunately the tree has now gone. I've fitted a replacement bonnet and I want to have the roof resprayed some time; thinking of white to offset the green.

Thank you for the advice. Sorry about the delay in replying; we've had a wedding in the family. Couldn't avoid that one ! Could anyone please confirm if the same or different bolts are used with other engine types ? It has not been easy to find a supplier, and they want to know the numbers. My Fabia has the petrol 16v DOHC engine. Car is off the road as the belt change is 2 years overdue, much of that time due to my involement in a road accident. I am now hoping to do the job before the winter to avoid having to use my Favorit on salted roads.

At some point I changed the fuel filter on the Favorit I referred to above. It was badly choked with crud. It is well worth doing and not particularly difficult once you're under the car. (And that's a good opportunity to look around underneath. Also for me lying under a car is excellent relaxation !) But I don't think that was when I had the loss of power / idling problem. That Favorit has gone to the great Skoda home in the sky, or what was left of it after I stripped everything possible as spares for my present LXi PLUS, one of only 49 left running.

I had similar problems a few years ago, which I cured by renewing most of the hoses around the throttle body. I can't now remember which were in worst condition, but the tiny hose that connects into the air filter chamber kept coming off and I had to bodge a clamp. Good luck !

Pleased I found this, it shines light on all the little things that Haynes describe in words not photographs ! I'm hoping to replace my timimg belt very soon, 1.4 DOHC engine. Regarding the engine mounting bolts, I still need these. They are not shown on Jorily's web site so I put a query into them, but so far no reply. Any advice anyone please ? Also the kit I have only has the timing belt, not the secondary belt. Any thoughts on whether I should renew them both. I realise that I should do both just for access reasons, but the car has only done 23,000 miles. Thanks.

I cannot see any mention of windscreen sealant in the above. Is this not necessary ? I've discovered water in the drivers footwell of my Favorit, and presumably it is coming in around the windscreen. I've been wondering if some sealant with the screen in situ might solve the problem, or should I remove the screen and replace with a new seal. (If I can get one) Any thoughts please ?

Had similar problem with my Favorit. When I changed the filter dirt came out of the fuel pipe on the inlet side. Seemed that the low mileage caused dirt to accumulate in the tank, which then stuck together in larger lumps. If changing the filter hasn't worked try cleaning out the tank.

I've had 3 Favorits (broken 2 for parts) and all have suffered from corrosion where the body steel joins the rear wheel arch, on the horizontal surface directly above the wheel. When cutting up one of the Favorits I found that there is a passage through to this area from the recess where the rear seat belts attach to the body. An oil can filled with a mixture of new engine oil and Waxoyl (thin enough to allow it to run) squirted into this recess will make its way down to the wheel arch join and successfuly resist corrosion. Put some newspaper along side and to the back of the wheel to catch any surplus that runs out.

Didn't know that Favorits ever made it to NZ. Never saw one in my visits back to the land of my upbringing, and certainly my relatives have never seen one either. Must be difficult getting parts.

Just a note to anyone who has an apparent Felicia emmission problem. Car Mechanics Mag for this month has an article (on Page 12) about thermostat problems being wrongly interpreted as Cat failure. Well worth getting a copy _ _

A few points : The Lamda sensor screws into a boss that is welded into the down pipe. The carb vesrion of the Favorit had a non Lambda type pipe, pre 1993, but the exhaust is configured diferently for cat and non cat Favorits. It would probably ony work on the 1.3 litre engine. "Cataclean" does wonders for your hydrocarbon emissions. And a question ; is it legal to pass your MOT and then remove any parts that are essential for emissions control ? regards

Thanks chaps. If it ever stops raining (central Scotland and school holidays- should expect it) I'll be going out to try.

Sounds like a fuel problem to me. Some dirt in the fuel system that moves when the pump actuates. Therefore just enough fuel gets past to run the engine briefly. When the fuel line pressure is cut the dirt (or whatever) falls back to its original position. Start with the filter; its underneath so you'll need ramps or axle stands, but is relatively easy to get at. Also check the fuel pump electrical connections on top of the tank; take out the back saet and remove the round cover to access. Good luck !

Can some one advise me please; two questions re Fabia Mk 1. (05 reg) 1) A bit of a daft laddie question, but how do I take off the engine cover ? (DOHC engine). Haynes manual is a bit vague on this point. I'm concerned that I might damage some thing if I just give it a good pull or prise it up, especially if I do it in the wrong place. 2) Where is the diagnostics socket ? I believed it was in the drivers footwell, but I can't see or feel anything that seems like a cover. Many thanks. :(

Is there a good (coffee table type) book available giving the history of Skoda, right back the the start of production / Laurent & Klement days ?

Good basic checks recommended there, but the camber on a normally surfaced road will have this effect, anyway.

If you have a level drive and a garage door or wall you can shine your head lights onto, the screws on the headlamp can give adjustment very close to legal position. If you want to be really serious about it, makes sure the car is exactly level, and adjust the lights at full beam so the height above ground of the centre of the beam on the wall or garage door is the same as the height of the centre of the head lamp on the car. Works on my Favorit, anyway, and used to work on my Series 2 Morris Minor.