DerekU

This link may be of interest https://club.autodoc.co.uk/review/parts/pollen-filter I don't know how the placements in the list were arrived at (based on the number of sales?) and the quality reviews are hardly scientific. (When a product is advertised as 'OE quality', my immediate reaction is to ask "Says who?")

I notice you complained about the condensation issue in 2023 https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/488582-interior-condensation/ To quote the French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr - Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose .

I'm pretty sure my 2024 Fabia's Valeo-made cabin filter is the activated carbon type. This old link may be of interest regarding the Crosland brand https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=28684 A properly designed/manufactured cabin filter should be effective and still permit a good airflow. I've no personal experience of the Halfords-sold Croslands cabin filters, but if you find that the airflow is significantly better than it was with the original filter, you may perhaps wonder whether the Croslands filter (made in China?) is doing a good job. Unless I'm confident I can obtain a car part that is superior to the OE part, I'll normally fit the OE part and source it as cheaply as possible.

Car servicing in Israel (for Skoda vehicles at least) is clearly significantly different to the UK's, where the expectation is that servicing work carried out by UK Skoda dealerships can be trusted and will be more comprehensive (though generally more expensive) than servicing performed by non-Skoda workshops. If you have your Fabia serviced during its warranty period by a non=Skoda workshop that you trust, so be it. And, if that workshop allows you to provide the parts you have sourced yourself that you know meet Skoda's specification, I don't think anyone would try to persuade you that you should use an 'unprofessional' Skoda workshop that you fear might damage your car, use unsuitable parts or do the work badly.

The following work is what Skoda's UK website advises should be carried out as part of an Oil and Inspection service.

This video may be useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lsYCFlpoE8 As a weedy and weak octogenarian (with my rough-sex days long past) I try to be gentle with car-related tasks nowadays. So it would be more apt to say that I've found carefully and tenderly refitting the aero trims "awkward" rather than "difficult".

Just to emphasise that - when using the hook-tool - the tool should be positioned close to the centre of the aero trim as shown on this drawing. IAEFRTFM 😀

The 'hook' tool was originally designed to remove wheel-bolt caps https://shop.wingsskoda.co.uk/products/skoda-removal-tool-for-original-caps-1 The Fabia Owner's Manual suggests using the wheel-bolt wrench (assuming the car has one!!) to provide more tugging power, but using two hook-tools with a tube/dowel through them should work OK. The tricky bit is getting the aero trim to detach from the centre opening in the wheel: once that's done, removing the trim's 'arms' from the wheel's rim should be straightforward. I made my own pullers. (See my June 2 postings on this forum thread) https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/523977-aero-covers-removed/#comment-5856202

More exciting stuff here... https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/skoda-world/innovation-and-technology/tips-tricks-windscreen-wipers-and-sprays-deserve-care-and-attention/

If your Fabia has 'full house' KESSY, the door handles will have a visible sensor where indicated here Deactivating keyless locking is mentioned in the Fabia's Owner's Manual (Page 27 in my car's hardcopy Manual) but this advises that deactivation is only temporary. There's a fair bit of online discussion about permanently disabling keyless locking using OBDeleven (or similar electronic tools) but received wisdom seems to be that keyless locking and keyless starting are inextricably linked and hacking the software coding relating to keyless entry will also impact on keyless starting. It's also evident that care needs to be taken when modifying code to disable an unwanted/disliked feature as, even when this action proves successful, it may prove tricky to reset the coding at a later date to re-enable the feature.

This earlier discussion relates to removal of the Aero wheel trims and includes references to several other relevant forum threads. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/523977-aero-covers-removed/#comment-5856202 KESSY was discussed here https://www.https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/514483-2023-keyless-entry-question/briskoda.net/forums/topic/514483-2023-keyless-entry-question/ My 2024 Fabia SE L has keyless ignition (ie. there's a push-button not an ignition switch). But my car's door unlocking and locking requires buttons on the remote key-fob to be pressed, not merely by having the key-fob in proximity to sensors in the door handles. Skoda's 'genuine' KESSY (Keyless-Entry-Start-and-Exit-System) is described here https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/kessy_en/

The Lane Assist entry in my Fabia's Owner's Manual says "The system is designed primarily for driving on the motorway", but fails to add "in all other cases it will infuriate most drivers". A major selling-point for cars recently sold in Europe is the vehicle's EURO NCAP safety rating and 'Lane Support' is one of the features that contribute to that rating. It's described on this 2014/2018 link. https://www.euroncap.com/en/car-safety/the-ratings-explained/safety-assist/lane-support/ The Fabia Owner's Manual explains that Lane assist always activates automatically when the ignition is switched on (though - apparently - that's not the case in some countries). EURO NCAP now mandates that Lane Assist MUST self-enable each time a car's ignition is turned on (It's not Skoda being bloody-minded!) though EURO NCAP also allows a driver to switch it off and, with my Fabia, this can be via the steering-wheel's buttons or through the infotainment screen.( It should be practicable to 'hack' a Fabia's software coding using VCDS or OBDeleven diagnostic tools so that Lane Assist is permanently off or its last setting is retained.) As I loathe Lane Assist and dislike Start-Stop I try to remember to turn off both before I drive the Fabia and, during a 40-mile trip made a few days ago, this meant going through that irritating procedure six times. While switching off Stop-Start is via a dedicated button and easily done while driving, I find fiddling about with the steering-wheel buttons distracting (unlike my 2021 Hyundai i20 that had a dedicated button for Lane Assist). During that trip with the navigation system on but no destination set (I knew where I wanted to go and was just interested in how accurate the speed limit data was. Answer - not very!) a message appeared on the display screen on the lines of "What would you like to do" with an accompanying woman's voice quietly asking the same question. Does this indicate that my car has a female AI personality?

The Fabia Mk 4 Owner's Manual includes a section headed "START-STOP', but the only guidance on the system's operating conditions is as shown below. Operating conditions Some conditions are systemic and can neither be influenced nor recognised. Therefore, the system may react differently in situations which seem identical from the driver's perspective. The driver must fulfil the following conditions: - The driver's door is closed. - The driver has fastened the seat belt. - The driving speed was higher than 4 km/h after the last stop. As Warrior193 has advised there will be a number of 'technical' conditions that must be met before the system will activate and (as far as I'm aware) when a Fabia Mk IV's Start-Stop system does not activate, there is no simple way to determine why. The system just moves in its own mysterious and unfathomable ways its wonders to perform. This Wikipedia entry may be of interest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system#:~:text=Start-stop activation depends on,lubrication for an effortless restart.

This is the oil-related advice in the Skoda Roomster Owner's Manual provided with my car. My Roomster has been serviced annually at the Skoda dealership from which I bought it (new) in 2009. I still have a good deal of the servicing documentation and I note that the oil initially used was described as "Platinum 5W-40" - a Quantum product. The maintenance list stated that oil to the VW 501.01, VW 502.00 standard had been used. This continued until 2017, when the oil was described as "Magnetec Professional 5W-40" (a Castrol product) with the same VW standard appearing in the maintenance list. There's a gap in my documentation records until 2022, when the oil's manufacturer is no longer stated (just 5W-40) with the VW 501.01, VW 502.00 standard still showing in the maintenance list. In 2023 (and 2024) the oil is described as "0W30 LONGLIFE III" , which might indicate a Quantum product or the OE VW oil (assuming they are actually different !!) Maintenance list still shows the VW 501.01, VW 502.00 standard. I'm guessing that there's a dealer-database link between my Roomster's servicing record and the maintenance list document and, unless this (apparent) anomaly is queried, the maintenance list format won't change. I'll ask about it when I next visit the dealership. (There's a discussion about VW oil policy here) https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.php?threads/vw-switching-to-0w-oils.518643/

This is the check-list relating to my 2009 Skoda Rooster's most recent Oil & Inspection service (the images aren't great, I'm afraid) The parts involved were oil (3.6litres of 0W-30 to VW 502.00/501.01 specification), an oil-filter, a sump-plug and 1litre of windscreen washer fluid (that I didn't need but was included in the service's fixed price of £210).

I don't read Yogev's original posting as indicating that he is proposing to have his Fabia serviced by a Skoda dealership and that the Skoda dealership will permit him to provide parts (eg. oil and oil-filter) that he has sourced himself. When I've chosen to have a vehicle serviced within its warranty period, but by a workshop not approved by the vehicle's manufacturer, the workshop has allowed me to bring oil that I've purchased myself, having confirmed that the oil they would normally use did not match the vehicle manufacturer's specification, but any other parts needed were obtained by the workshop from the nearest dealership for the manufacturer of the vehicle. When arriving at a service appointment at an 'approved dealership', where appropriate I have advised the workshop manager about parts I have recently fitted myself (eg. a cabin filter or a K&N air filter) and usually they have accepted this, with one workshop manager saying "Good, we loathe changing those filters". Conversely, another workshop manager (Hyundai) said that changing those items was an integral part of the mandatory service process and would happen irrespective of whatever I had done myself. In the Hyundai instance I said "OK, but I want back whatever you replace" which did not go down too well, although they did do it. I haven't got an itemised service schedule for an Oil & Inspection service for a Fabia Mk 4, but I do have the 'check list' for the similar service carried out in September for my Roomster. It's three pages long and its scope covers a helluva lot more than just replacing the oil and oil-filter.

As Yogev's Fabia is a 2024 model, whether he is living in Israel or whatever the duration of his car's warranty, his car will currently be well within its warranty period. The wording of the terms and conditions of a new car's warranty are not standardised and, although mandatory servicing may not need to be performed by an agency of the car's manufacturer, if servicing is performed outside the manufacturer's dealership network, care should be taken to ensure that all parts used and the actions taken conform to the mandatory servicing requirements, and that details of those parts and the actions are carefully documented. This link is to an article by the UK magazine "What Car" https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/best-new-car-warranties/n26485 and includes the following guidance Could I accidentally invalidate my new car warranty? As with all insurance policies, there are lots of exclusions and clauses that need to be adhered to so that you don’t invalidate your cover. The main one is that you keep the car maintained regularly to the manufacturer ’s standard and have servicing done within the time or mileage recommended. Although you aren’t usually required to have your car serviced by a franchised dealer, you do have to take it to a garage that will carry out the correct service to the standards recommended in the owner ’s manual. They must use genuine parts, or those of equivalent quality, and it ’s best to get the garage to make a note on the service invoice of all part numbers for items used. You must also stick to fuel, oil and other lubricants that are recommended in the manual. Yogev has said that his 2024 Fabia is his first car and (as I interpret his first posting) he seems to be considering using a non-Skoda-approved workshop to carry out his Fabia's first service. A Fabia Mk 4 is a technically sophisticated vehicle and servicing to meet Skoda's requirements will include the work referred to by Ootohere last Friday They are actually called Oil & Inspection Services. Or if called 'just an Oil Service' i hope they are doing an inspection and plugging in the car, checking for faults or any Software Updates required. Checking a new car as 12 months past someone should be, & do a paint inspection for that warranty. Although a non-Skoda-approved workshop should be able to carry out some of the necessary servicing tasks and use OE parts and oil that meets Skoda's specification, the chances approach zero that it will be able to check for or install any outstanding software updates. There may a persuasive reason for Yogev choosing not to have his Fabia serviced by the Skoda dealership from which he bought the car (eg. that dealership is 200km away from where he lives) or that more local Skoda dealerships are unable to service the car in the near future. But, if it's primarily the question of the cost of the servicing work that's discouraging Yogev, he should consider whether saving a few shekels now is the worth the risk of Skoda being unhelpful if a problem with his car arises in future. And, if it's felt that Skoda will always be helpful and benevolent where warranties are concerned, this 2022 article may cause a re-think. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/apr/20/skodas-refusal-to-honour-warranty-staggers-legal-experts

This 2017 link SUGGESTS that Skoda cars marketed in Israel have a 3 years warranty https://www.change.org/p/matthias-müller-get-the-vw-group-to-give-israeli-seat-customers-the-same-warranty-period-as-skoda-and-vw

Cars are not 'created', they are 'assembled'. Skoda did not manufacture the oil put in a Fabia Mk 4 when it was being assembled in the Czech factory, nor did Skoda manufacture any of a Fabia's filters (oil, air, pollen, fuel), nor its headlamps, bulbs, battery, window glass, wiper blades, etc. etc. It has been suggested online that, about 4 years ago, VW changed their OE oil supplier from Castrol to Mobil, though - if that were the case - one might expect the 'genuine' VW 508.00/509.00 specification oil to exactly match the Mobil 1™ ESP x2 0W-20 equivalent, but the test results mentioned above indicate otherwise. It is guessed online that Mann or Mahle might currently manufacture OE VW oil filters, but who knows? I do know who made two of my Fabia's factory-fitted parts - the tyres (Goodyear) and the cabin filter (Valeo), but that's only because the manufacturer's name is on them and it was easy to check. I believe a new Fabia Mk 4 sold in Israel will have a similar 3-year warranty to a Fabia Mk 4 marketed new in the UK. As Ootohere has emphasised, a service carried out by a Skoda dealership while a car is within its warranty period will involve more than just replacing the oil and oil filter. A competent non-Skoda workshop (or even an experienced DIYer) should be able to carry out a basic oil /oil-filter change on a Fabia Mk 4 and use an oil that meets the specification shown on the car's under-bonnet sticker, but will not be able to install software/firmware revisions that the car should have. And, if the car has any sort of faults/issues that the owner has noticed and wants corrected under the warranty, that work would need to be performed by a Skoda dealership. Once a Skoda is out of warranty anything goes. Owners can have the vehicle professionally serviced or not and, if servicing work is to be performed by a non-Skoda agent (and the servicing workshop will allow it) owners can provide the parts and consumables needed based on price, preference and availability, while accepting that it won't be possible for software/firmware revisions to be installed. Or they can DIY the work if they believe themselves capable. I replaced my 2009 Skoda Roomster's windscreen-washer pump earlier this year. There had been a small leak for quite a while that I had unsuccessfully attempted to bodge a repair and, as I knew what having another go involved, I tolerated the fluid loss. But then the pump failed with the car's MOT looming. The cost of a 'genuine' pump was about £60, so I bought an £11 copy. I REALLY did not enjoy fitting the new pump and addressing the leak, but it was a task that I did not want to farm out to the local Skoda dealership that services and MOTs the Roomster as the labour costs would have been high and (I assume) they would have wanted to fit a 'genuine' pump. But if a similar thing happened with my 2024 Fabia while under warranty, I'd want a Skoda Dealership to fix it and to fit a 'genuine' pump and for there to be no charge for the work.

For some bed-time reading, this 2019 analysis of 0W-20 oils with a VW 508.00/509.00 specification may be of interest. https://ato24.de/en/blog/comparison-0w-20-engine-oils/

Your Fabia will have a label beneath its bonnet (at the front of the engine compartment) advising the specification of the oil to be used and its viscosity. The position of the label is marked 3 in the drawing below. My own UK-specification 2024 Fabia has a 1.0 litre motor (not the 1.5litre motor of your Fabia) and my car's under-bonnet oil-label indicates the oil to be used should meet the VW 508.00/509.00 specification and have a 0W-20 viscosity. A GOOGLE-search on vw 508.00/509.00 oil will show that several oil companies (Castrol, Motul, Shell, Valvoline, Petronas, etc.) market a 0W-20 viscosity oil that meets the VW 508.00/509.00 specification and a Skoda dealership may choose to use a particular brand. For example, I'm guessing that my local Skoda dealership would use this Shell Helix oil https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/shult0w20-shell-helix-ultra-professional-av-l-0w-20-engine-oil-europen-union-oe-producer-36782.html when servicing my Fabia Mk 4, as they use Shell Helix oil when servicing my 2009 Skoda Roomster. I don't think there is any credible way of KNOWING which of those oils is 'best' - as long as the oil has the right viscosity and it is certain that the oil has the right VW specification, it should be OK. (Assuming that you bought your Fabia locally (ie. in the Middle East) it's possible that its recommended oil differs from the recommended oil specification of my 'colder-climate' car . I don't think that will be the case, but check your car's under-bonnet oil-label to be 100% sure.) It would be wise to fit a 'genuine' OEM VW/Skoda oil filter obtained from a Skoda dealership https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/04e115561ac-oil-filter-1-0mpi-1-0tsi-1-5tsi-skoda-19639.html rather than a cheaper equivalent from a different manufacturer. Also wise to fit a 'genuine' OEM Skoda sump-plug (if that is a service replacement item) or a 'genuine' OEM Skoda sump-plug gasket.

This link relates to the part number you have quoted (6Y1959801SK6) https://www.deutsche-parts.co.uk/6y1959801sk6-regulator-motor-new-genuine-part.html but goes on to say "This is for Left hand drive (non UK) models only" This link also quotes that number https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/6Y1959801SK6/skoda-6y1959801sk6-window-regulator-motor and indicates that it relates to the front-left door. It might be worth you checking whether the supplier actually can obtain the part you want, but it looks like you are going to need to ensure that you get an exact match for your car. A GOOGLE-search indicates that there are a few vehicle dismantlers in the Towcester region, or you could look through this Gumtree list and see if any of the advertisers would have the correct part. https://www.gumtree.com/cars-vans-motorbikes/motors-parts/car-replacement-parts/uk/srpsearch+skoda+fabia+breaking

Comments on the video suggested that the headrest removal procedure was described in the SEAT Owner's Manual, but that's not the case where Fabia Mk 4 Owner's Manuals are concerned. The procedure is covered in the Fabia Mk 4 Workshop Manual, however, which explains why Skoda dealership staff know how to do it. https://cardiagn.com/skoda/fabia/ What the Workshop Manual does not highlight is how tricky it is to find the release 'button', nor that the task really needs two people.

I chanced across this... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RHx1FXKQvuQ

Yes, it's a 'fudge' - but it works after a fashion. It was suggested elsewhere on this forum and I tried it on my car. However (as you rightly say) it may be simpler to accept that there's no simple fix and just bite the bullet and press the OK button.