55VRS

Ah! Thanks yes that’s the button I’d seen, but not sure what to call it.

Hi, I’m looking at Yeti’s, not owned one yet but they are just about coming into my (small) budget. I want a 4x4. I note that some 4x4s seem to have a 4x4 button under the Air-con controls, and some don’t. Can anyone explain why please? Ta!

Hi, I have a 55 VRS with a steady but slow coolant loss. I've been through the checks for radiator, expansion tank and looked for gunky oil. It seems the loss is due to presurisation and then coolant being pushed out the expansion overflow valve/thing. So... a garage used some sort of tester that checked for gasses in the coolant (red/blue liquid) and "proved" that its head-gasket failure. So... options. One garage said I needed to have headgasket replaced, water pump, skimms, new timing belt etc and quoted £1050.. thats a third or more of the car's worth!! Another said it was most likely to be a cracked head. What do you guys think... scrap? drive off a bridge or into a canal?

Thanks mate, I replaced fuse 21 and it's all lovely again Well... there is still a coolant leak / airlock, creaky parcel shelf, broken air-con, dodgy wheel bearing and whisling turbo.. but... lovely

Hi, I'm getting some odd electrical faults on my 55 vRS. Before I start on a wild goose chase under the bonnet and in the fusepanel, can someone tell me how to do that driver door key reset thing I've seen mentioned? I've tried searching about but can't find it :/ Problems: Window switches intermittent operation. Front and rear wipers either not working, or working on wrong switch positions. Washer not working as of yesterday. Cheers!

Hi All, I was at Prescott Hill Climb on Sat and was pleased to seem someone doing the climb in a 50 or 55 plate black vRS. Not bad times (56 / 58 I think?). It as so quiet in comparison to absolutely everything else that went up the hill! Any idea who it was? I'd love to try it Ben

Hi people... just adding this for the benefit of anyone about to remove their battery box or headlamp assembly or take the car to a garage to get the nearside bulbs replaced!: http://myquickfix.co.uk/2011/10/replace-nearside-headlamp-on-fabia-vrs-mk1-without-removing-battery/ Hope linking is ok on this site, haven't used it for ages, can't remember what the policy is now :/

:( oh well... I'll just have to get used to the brick-on-wheels effect, and looking out the side window when going around corners

Yea handling is an issue. Must get a RARB on there asap. All these people saying it 'transforms' the handling cant be wrong.. can they? I reckon my fiesta handled better than the vRS!

T. Spark: Yea it was good at doing what it was designed for. Getting comfortably and economically around town. I did have a 1.1 fiesta as me first car and it was similar, although you could rag the fiesta more. I wasnt (believe it or not) trying to mock the 1.2, I was just comparing it to the vRS. Buuuut... maybe I'm not talking about a standard vRS. I bought it about 5 months ago and assumed it was 'standard', and having nothing to compare it to, just figured it was a pretty quick car. However when I picked it up from the dealer today he said (in reference to fixing something under warranty) "well between you and me, off the record, it has been modified hasnt it?" so I said that no I hadn't done any power mods. He says that when the mechanic road tested it after doing some work, the mechanic said it was far quicker than a standard vRS, more torque and 'tighter' (whatver that means). So.. uh.. maybe the previous owner remapped it??

"never found a problem with them" besides the fact that they have the power of a asthmatic weasel with a bad smoking habit! Granted, given a long enough run up, a sympathetic prevailing wind, and a negative gradient, I think the 1.2 could overtake most trucks on most abandoned runways. However... - The car is comfortable. - The radio is good. - I like the little blue thermometer light even though I haven't a clue what it indicates. - The rear-view mirrors are huge enough to use while towing a caravan (albeit a static caravan because you'd never get it to move). - I can no longer be called homophobic because I'm driving around in a car with a 'nice' white roof. There. Have I offended anyone? no? Jolly good!

For the record, I'm not bored with mine, but I have heard others (see above ) say they are. It's had to say in the garage a day longer, so ANOTHER drive of slow death to work tomorrow! I also nearly killed myself overtaking a truck tonight on a short stretch that I usually use to clear some traffic. eek!

If you are starting to get bored with your vRS, I suggest you book it into a Skarage for some work, and request a 1.2htp Fabia as a courtesy car... ..oh my word. It just doesn't move. The pedal moves sure enough, but the car doesn't seem to. I think it took me about 12 minutes to get to 70 on the A41. Ok, a slight exageration, but close!

Hehehehe... very very funny. Back on topic, I find I get less smoke when I fill up with something expensive like V-Power or Ultimate. I think.. I hope its not a case of selective-smoke-not-there-noticing.

Good man MoggyFellow, I just did the same on my seats and no more rattles! Also noticed that the rear headrests 'tap' the back of the sear inners annoyingly, so removed them and stuck them in the boot.

Just a note about part numbers for this also. The expansion tank part number is: 6Q0 121 407 A which seems to be the same as a VW Polo. and NOT 1J0 121 403 B as quoted a few times on the forum. The latter part will not fit in about 3 places, and is from a Golf according to local VW dealer.

Hi, I had to replace the expansion tank on the car at the weekend, after getting the 'beep' and temp light at every start of the engine. So I thought I'd photograph the process. I've stuck it on my site here: My Quick Fix Blog Archive Skoda Fabia VRS, temperature beep, expansion tank replacement I hope it's not tooooo patronising, but I've tried to write if for all mechanical capabilities - trying to show that it's not at all the sort of job that needs to be done by a dealer. Cheers! Ben

I emailed Unit 18 and the prices seem reasonable. I first need to find out if these bushes are the problem - which could be a challenge in itself - but once I know that, I think I'll be taking a drive up to Unit18. Thanks for the tip.

I don't know, but we'd love to see your results. Ideally it's be great to see an before and after RR on an un-remapped car, then before and after on the same car after a remap.

Hi, I have serious clonking knocking tattling etc etc usual thing. I've read loads of threads and decided it must be Console Bushes and/or ARB bushes and/or droplinks. The car is still under a year long dealer warranty, but I don't want to fight to get dealer to fix it FOC, and I don't think they will want to fit uprated bushes/bits that I'd like to put on there. Can anyone recommend a trustworth 'fabia aware' machanic / garage near to Potters Bar or Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. Dropping the car off and picking it up is always an issue for me with working hours and stuff, so I need the place to be pretty close. I realise I could go to 100 random garages, but would really like to find one that has worked on a vRS before and knows the issues. Cheers! Ben

Ok thanks. Did you notice much difference after the two things you've had so far? Mines a real 'clonk/thump' sound.

Hi KIDD, was is the ARB bush? (I'm about to contact the dealer about the same problem and want to go as armed with as much info as possible!) Cheers!

Just wondered, seen it a couple of times... I work there. um.. ok, sorry to bother you, back on your heads!

I've been chatting to Angel Tuning. It'll be worth giving them a call/email as they come to your house/work to do the remap, or you can go to one of about 5 or 6 centres. I haven't used them, and I can't personally vouch for them, but having talked to 'Nigel' there it seems they know what they are talking about. Do a search for them on here and you'll see what others say too.

I would like to let just one more worm out: I fitted the brace Monday and have noticed more direct steering when really pinning it. However if I'm honest.. I just wanted an excuse to do a 'first mod' and chose the brace cus it was easy. Haven't tried to change a filter yet! Also planning fitting the PD160 intake very soon.. then a remap! (another worm?)