toothandnail

I've recently acquired a Mk1 Fabia vRS SE. Comes with the standard Symphony head unit and a CD changer. Which is nice. However, the radio isn't as good as the Sony I had in the older vRS, and I really need an auxiliary input, since I use a Garmin GPS as a music source and hands-free for the phone. While the Garmin has a built in FM transmitter, its a bit noisy and prone to interference, so I'd like to be able to use a direct input for the GPS. I've got a pretty good Sony head unit, but so far as I can tell, that would lose me the ability to use the CD changer. I had thought that there was an adaptor for the Sony bus connection, but haven't managed to find one, so it may not be available any longer. I know that there is an adaptor which would give me an auxiliary input for the Symphony, but so far as I can tell, it uses the same input line as the CD changer, so it would probably lose me the use of the changer as well. As one further option, I've been offered the head unity from a 57 reg Octavia Scout. Its a double-DIN unit, so I'd need a an adaptor, but I'm not sure whether its compatible. So, my questions.... Anyone know of a way of using the Skoda CD changer with an after-market head unit like the Sony range? Anyone know if the Octavia head unit can be used in a Mk1 Fabia? And if so, anyone know where I can get a suitable double DIN adaptor? Just a few questions....

My 54 plate vRS has it. Paul.

Just slightly so you can pull it open without using the catch. Paul.

I've been thinking about going that way. What HIDs have you used, and how much were they? I'd hate to be without the Xenon dipped beams, and adding HID for high beam sounds like a good idea.... Paul.

Oh yes I do.... You've got NO chance there.

Not exactly. The original claim was that high sulphur diesel provides a good deal of top end lubrication, which is missing with the low emission, low sulphur diesel. The 2T helps lubricate the top end of the engine. As to older tech diesels, thats not exactly the case either - there were a number of reported failures in modern diesels due to lack of top end lubrication. The only reported problems with 2T were on cars with DPFs, which doesn't apply to Fabia 1s. For those cases, an ultra low ash 2T is recommended. 2T also improves the cetane rating of the fuel, or so its claimed. Also claimed to help keep the injectors/turbo free of crud - don't know if that has ever been verified either. Never noticed any real difference in fuel economy (changing front tires from Michelin to Kumos did more to damange my fuel economy than running 3 or 4 tanks without 2T), but the difference in smothness and noise is certainly there.... Paul.

I've had my '54 plate vRS for a little bit short of 3 years. For most of that time, I've been running 220ml of JASO FD two stroke oil per tank. As Moggy says, some of the claims made for it are laughable, but I've been pleased with the results. At one stage I was unable to get the 2T that I normally use, and ended up not using it for 3 or 4 tanks (wasn't prepared to pay the Halfords price for inferior oil). I notieced an imediate improvement in smoothness and a decrease in smoke (not that mine smokes much anyway...) once I got a new supply of 2T. From my point of view, the improved response and decrease in smoke levels make it worth the trouble and expense. If you want to read ALL the details, try this thread: http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic878.html?vote=viewresult&printertopic=1 Paul.

While you obviously need to weigh up the effects on your insurance, even if you don't push the vehicle all that hard, a remap is still worth considering. I got in on the Shark special buy about a year ago - remap and free STS. I didn't apply the map until early this year (had to wait for my old insurance to run out and get new which allowed the mod), but I'm more than just happy with the results. Most of the time these days I don't drive all that hard - I seem to spend far too much time commuting to and from work or working. Even without pushing the vehicle all that hard, the difference in how it drives is amazing. Its smoother, revs higher when I need it, and has enough extra grunt to make it fun all over again. Not to mention the economy - I drove to London last week to pick up 4 wheels and tires from another member. Around 160 miles round trip - calculated mpg of 59.2 (the trip meter was a bit pesimistic - it said 58.4). Would have been better if I hadn't had to crawl for 10 - 15 miles on the M25 on the way back (I do love roadworks, not!), but still a pretty good result. So, I'd say it might be worth it if it doesn't up the insurance costs too much.... Paul.

I don't know what regs apply to private imports, but I do know (having owned one) that most imports have to go through testing to make sure they meet Oz standards. There are a number of businesses that import low mileage Japanese cars and bring them up to standard - quite an expensive operation in many cases. When I was still living in Queensland, I owned an (legally) imported Honda City Turbo II. Lovely car, but a nightmare to insure, since none of the companies had the slightest idea what it was. I also had problems with parts (air filters, and other such things). There were a few similar cars around, so I could usually get what I needed, but it was often a painful process. The AC and the turbo were not really built for Queensland either - the AC was never enough in hot weather, and I went through 2 turbos before I managed to get a rebuit one with water cooled bearing housings. A diesel turbo shouldn't be quite so sensitive (the City had a tiny IHI turbo that ran at positvely stratospheric speeds). If the personal import gets you round the problem of complying with OZ stantards and you can get some idea of insurance, it might be worht while. Oh, one other thing - until fairly recently, diesel commonly availalbe in Queensland at least wasn't much use for modern high performance diesel engines. Don't know how much that has changed since I left. Paul

Sounds like the lock indicator for the back seats. I would check to see that both back seat backs are fully upright and locked. You normally see this for a while when you fold down the back seats, though it will go out if you leave the back seats folded down for a while. Paul.

Same here. When I first heard the noise, I thought there was something going horribly wrong. And once I'd heard the noise, it became very difficult to ignore.... Paul.

Magic! Thanks a lot. Seems to be exactly the same problem. I just got a chance to try pulling the two rubbers (both of which were hard as rock), and the noise is gone Paul

I've got something very similar at the moment. Been happening ever since the car had its annual service and MOT. Brown's assure me its nothing dangerous, but I can't work out what is causing it, and its rapidly driving me round the twist.... If you get any solutions, I'd be grateful to hear them as well. Paul.

There's a fitting guide which includes part numbers. Have a look here..... http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/147230-mk1-fabia-5-litre-washer-bottle-conversion/ Paul.

Mine has a Shark remap. Got it last year on a special deal - £250 including the STS unit. I've only had the map in place for a few weeks - had to wait for my insurance to run out, since the old firm wouldn't look at modified vehicles. Was quite difficult being patient about it. I'm very happy with the Shark remap. Its smooth, much less lumpy than the car was originally, and has helped the ecomony ( well, until I start overtaking everything in sight - that tends to drop it a bit....). Browns can also do remaps, not sure what they're charging at the moment though. Paul.