DerekU

I notice there's a video about this (No idea if it will help!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSSXAi2kaA For more 'stuff' you could also try a GOOGLE-search on skoda privacy settings

This annoyance was discussed on this Fabia Mk4 sub-forum in this 2023-2025 topic, but no 'fix' was provided. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/514137-data-protection-information/ I notice that - in this VW T6 Facebook group entry https://www.facebook.com/groups/341447403317545/posts/2154737708655163/ - it was suggested that swiping down from the top of the display screen allowed the privacy settings to be accessed. (I'm sceptical, but perhaps worth a try!!!)

The only inbuilt sat-nav for a Fabia Mk4 runs on the Amundsen display-screen and was discussed here https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/536163-sat-nav-sel-mk-4-10/#comment-5979593 My 2024 Fabia does not have traffic-sign recognition, so relies on a GPS database for speed-limit data. My previous Hyundai i20 had a traffic-sign recognition capability using a windscreen camera (but no inbuilt sat-nav) but this was, understandably, only able to provide speed-limit data on roads that have physical speed-limit traffic signs, and most UK roads do not. Presumably a Fabia Mk4 that has inbuilt sat-nav AND traffic-sign recognition will use both systems and be more capable of providing accurate speed-limit information. My neighbour has just changed a 9-months-old Tesla SUV for a new Skoda Enyaq VRS. I asked him how he was finding the Envaq's sat-nav (I knew he had run GROK on the Tesla's navigation system) and he said "I just put a destination in and follow the instructions". When driving (10.5 miles) from my (rural) home to the Skoda dealership that services my cars, my Fabia's navigation system always inexplicably suggests that, part way along, I turn left on to a narrow single-track lane. Ignoring that guidance rapidly causes the system to reset and the remainder of the trip accurately follows the 'logical' route. Choosing 'Home' at the dealership resulted in the Fabia's navigation system behaving rationally until I reached the town near my home and decided to enter it rather than bypass it and probably hit heavy traffic. That decision caused the Fabia's navigation system a lot of grief and I've no idea where I would have gone if I had followed the instructions. Eventually the system got back on track, but it's easy to see the potential risks involved in slavishly relying on sat-nav guidance.

The dealership I mentioned has MG and Skoda franchises (I was waiting for my Fabia to be serviced). I've dealt with them since 2009 and found them trustworthy and their staff technically competent. The MG owner also complained that his car's sat-nav occasionally failed to provide speed-limit data. I said that my Skoda Fabia had done this for a couple of miles on my trip to the dealership and, as my car's sat-nav relied on a database for speed-limit information, the reason must have been because there was a gap in the database relating to that stretch of road. In fact, on the way home, on the same stretch of road (but in the opposite direction) the speed-limit readout was again lost. (I'm not sure it's still possible to opt for 'adaptive' LED headlights on current UK Skoda Fabia Mk4 models. All Fabia Mk4 cars now have 'all LED' headlights (ie. they do not contain traditional bulbs) as part of their standard equipment, but only the 130.has 'adaptive' LED headlights as standard.)

The photo in the original posting indicates that PongoBongo's 2025 Fabia Monte Carlo has the 'Full LED' headlights that are optional for that model and are mentioned here https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/front-2/ it may be difficult to identify/rectify the cause as the turn-indicators are now behaving normally. I was at a MG dealership a few weeks ago and overheard a conversation where an owner had brought in his nearly-new car complaining about a transitory problem. He had been told that - despite the car being under warranty - as the problem was not currently showing up there would be a charge (about £150) for investigation and this would only be refunded if an 'under warranty' fault was discovered. No fault was identified and the MG owner (unhappily) agreed to pay up. The problem should definitely be mentioned ASAP to the Skoda selling dealership and see what they advise. The fact that the My Skoda app referred to an issue with the "front-right turn signal" might suggest a fault confined to the headlight unit itself or to the indicators' control system (or to computer bloody-mindedness!) It may be necessary to wait and see if the problem reoccurs and, before stopping/restarting the car, check if it's only the front-right headlight indicator's speed that has doubled or all the right-hand-side indicators.

Skoda evidently uses the term "full LED" to indicate that light-units contain no traditional bulbs - hence current Fabia models have full-LED tail-lights as well as full-led headlights. https://www.skoda-auto.com/models/layers/layers/all-new-fabia-technology Skoda uses "BI-LED" to indicate that a headlight has a LED matrix and (as you've said) a UK-specification Fabia 130 has this type of headlight as standard, whereas it's an option on Monte-Carlo models. I know that my Fabia does not have the LED-matrix type of headlights, have established that the Corner Function that should involve the front fog-lights (that do work) is inoperative and concluded that this is not a 'fault', just that the Corner Function is disabled on my car. As I don't want an operative Corner Function, that's fine by me....

This UK company may be worth contacting AutologicsŠkoda Fabia Reversing Camera RetrofitŠKODA Fabia Reverse CameraFitting a reverse camera to your Škoda Fabia offers a host of benefits. First and foremost, it enhances safety by providing a clear view of the area behind the vehicle, minim

My understanding (such as it is!) of the CURRENT UK-specification Fabia range is as follows: 1: All Fabias now have LED headlights. 2: 'Basic' LED headlights are fitted as standard to all current-model Fabias, except Monte Carlo and 130 models that have 'full' LED headlights as standard. 3: All current Fabias have a pair of halogen fog-lights in the lower front bumper. 4: When a Fabia has 'basic' LED headlights, the Corner Function involves a combination of those headlights and the front fog-lights. However, when a Fabia has 'full' LED headlights, the Corner Function is built into the headlight-units and the front fog-lights operate independently. (This would explain the subtle difference in the data in the Fabia configurator between the stated standard specification for Monte Carlo/130 Fabias and for the other Fabia models.) DaveA63's February comment above "I've recently enabled this fog light cornering function on our 2023 MY Colour Edition. I used an OBD11 and it was straight forward" confirms (to me) that my 2024 Fabia SE L's Corner Function is disabled, but could be enabled. As I'd rather not have the Corner Function active, I'm not bothered - though I'm curious why Skoda would choose to advertise in my Fabia;s Owner's Manual the existence of that function and then (apparently) disable it.

When my Fabia was in for an oil service last week I asked the receptionist whether the workshop technicians (if they had time) could comment on the the following questions. Questions: 1. What is special about the fuses marked 40s in the dashboard fuse-box? 2. How easy should it be to remove the front-seat head restraints? I know how it should be done (by pushing a circular button hidden deep within the seat’s back rest) but I still cannot do it! 3. Is the Corner Function (that uses the front fog lights) disabled on UK-specification Fabia Mk 4 cars? My car seems to lack that feature. 4. This statement was recently made on a Skoda-related forum Since mid-2024 Skoda have made available a software update for the Fabia Mk4. The purpose is to remedy a fault with the PO638 throttle actuator control – range/performance. It updates the engine control module. It is said that this is a ‘chargeable’ workshop update (not an Over-the-Air update). Is there any truth in this? 5. Does a replacement for the Fabia’s EFB starter-battery ALWAYS need to be coded even if the replacement is another EFB battery with the same size and capacity? Unfortunately the workshop was under pressure, so answers were not forthcoming, but, when I demonstrated the headrest removal procedure to the receptionist, he said "My God, nobody would ever guess that's how to do it!"

This article compares the 130 with a VW Polo GTi https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/choosing-a-car/car-comparisons-side-by-side/skoda-fabia-130-vs-volkswagen-polo-gti-jamie-edkins-twin-test-review#gref Neither vehicle has the 'track day' credibility of (say) a Hyundai i20N, but if someone wants a 130 (rather than a Monte Carlo) why should they be dissuaded from doing that? (I could afford a new Skoda Octavia VRS, or even a new Audi RS3, but my Fabia Mk4 SE L DSG was cheap enough in 2024 and is large enough and quick enough for me now that my future driving will probably be confined to the UK.)

For UK-specification Fabia 130 models there are 4 colour options (all at the same zero price). 1: Black Magic Pearl Effect. 2: Velvet Red Metallic Black Magic Pearl Effect. 3: Race Blue Metallic Black Magic Pearl Effect. 4: Moon White Metallic Black Magic Pearl Effect. Option 1 is black-all-over, options 2, 3 or 4 combine the (respective) red, blue or white bodywork colour with a black roof and black exterior mirrors. Regarding the steering-wheel paddles, this recent Reddit discussion is interesting. https://www.reddit.com/r/skoda/comments/1sa9tv4/fabia_130_ideas_why_there_are_no_paddles/ This October 2025 Skoda UK webpage https://www.skoda.co.uk/news/details/skoda-marks-130-years-with-fastest-ever-fabia-130 provides data on the 130's performance increases over the standard Monte Carlo and mentions DSG paddles in the "Interior: sportiness meets practicality" section. The Skoda online configurator for Fabia 130 cars indicates that "Tiptronic" paddles are part of the UK standard specification. (Doesn't the 130 also have an artificial engine-noise generator?)

During a follow-up conversation with a Winners Garage salesman yesterday, I mentioned your interest in viewing/test-driving a Fabia i30 and was told that the blue 130 in their showroom needed technical preparation before it could be driven and - unless the car became a demonstrator (unlikely) would remain in that state until it was sold. He thought that other Skoda dealers currently advertising having 130 cars in stock would be in a similar position regarding test drives. The salesman said that, as the 130 's specification was very close to that of a Fabia Monte Carlo with the 1.5litre motor and DSG transmission, your best bet would be to view/test-drive a newish Monte Carlo for sale on a Skoda dealer's forecourt. You might not be able to assess (say) the ride-quality resulting from the 130's big wheels and 40-profile tyres, but you should get a pretty good idea whether you liked the model enough to commit to buying a 130. (You might consider a VW Polo GTi. A few new ones still seem to be available and you'd get the 2.0litre motor. A 2024 Hyundai i20N would be significantly cheaper than a Fabia 130, should still have 3 years of Hyundai warranty and would definitely qualify as a genuine 'hot hatch'. Bit drab and cheap inside (my wife said "Like being in a gloomy cave!") but not short on boy-racer performance.)

Coincidentally, my 2024 Fabia SE L is currently in for service at Winners Garage (Skoda) at Cinderford (Gloucestershire) and they have a new blue 130 in their showroom, priced at a whisker under £29k (on the road). I don't know how externally different a 130 is from an ordinary Monte Carlo, but, compared to my 1-litre Fabia, the 'spoiler' over the rear window is slightly bulkier. There's a "130" badge on the rear and "130" badges on its side flanks, shiny black door sills, and twin chrome exhaust tail-pipes. The 18"-diameter "Libra" alloy wheels are quite snazzy and the (front and rear) red disc-brake callipers are easily visible. Internally, there's the usual Monte Carlo stripy seats with integrated head restraints and an Amundsen infotainment display-unit. A few more buttons on the centre console than my Fabia's, but I did not explore what they were for. The saleslady told me that she had not driven the 130 and wondered how it would handle. My Fabia (with 16"-diameter wheels and the recommended 2.5bar inflation pressure) has a pretty firm ride on UK roads and it would be interesting to know what lmpact on the ride quality the 130's lowered suspension, bigger wheels and 215/40 (Continental) tyres might have. (It's also worth highlighting that the £30k price was for a bog-standard 130 and excluded any optional equipment.)

Discussed previously here https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/535520-fabia-mk4-130/#comment-5973116 The 130 is the most powerful and quickest CURRENT MODEL Fabia available. (It's highly unlikely that any current model Fabia with the 1.5litre motor will be marketed with a manual transmission.)

This Autotrader entry may help https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertising-location=at_cars&aggregatedTrim=130&body-type=&colour=&fuel-type=&make=SKODA&model=Fabia&postcode=hr9%207jd&transmission=&trim=130 (On 21 March a member of the Skoda Fabia Owners Club on Facebook said he had just taken delivery of a red 130 and provided a few photos.)

Still unable to remove my Fabia's front seats' head restraints... The attached image shows the 'prongs' of the head restraint and it's plain where the wires on the guide fit (arrowed) on to the prongs. I've no difficulty locating the guide's circular button, but pressing it does not seem to move it. It's possible that, if I could simultaneously press the button while moving/shaking/lifting the head restraint, the button would move, but I haven't got enough hands to do that!

And these two images show the guide's position in the seat back. The design of the guide seems to be standardised for use on multiple recent VAG Group vehicles, not just Skoda Fabia Mk 4s.

(My device of choice for online use is a 2010 Apple iMac and it's plain that this elderly machine has an uncomfortable relationship with the BRISKODA forum. I don't have this image-related problem using my iMac for other forums that run on the Invision Community platform and, although I can walk round the issue, it's a nuisance.) Anyway, the 2 attached photos should show the head-restraint guide (with central button) that's embedded in the front seat back and there are more photos on this ebay advert https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/297603909635

The following Wikipedia link relates to VRLA batteries (of which AGM batteries are one type) and states that the first AGM battery cell was patented in 1972. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRLA_battery#AGM_battery I'm a member of a Hyundai vehicle forum that has a large number of USA-based participants who will commonly recommend replacing a traditional 'wet-acid' starter-battery with an AGM type without mentioning any potential overcharging risks or re-coding requirements. But I suspect that this is either because their own vehicles are old enough to have no BEM system, or that the BEM system used in more modern Hyundai vehicles is the 'self-learning' type and battery re-coding is unnecessary. My 2009 Skoda Roomster does not have Start/Stop and, although I could replace its standard wet-acid starter-battery with a more expensive EFB or AGM equivalent and no re-coding would be required, there's no obvious incentive to do so: the Roomster does not need an EFB or AGM starter-battery - the standard wet-acid type is perfectly adequate. My 2024 Skida Fabia SE L does have Start/Stop and has an EFB starter-battery as standard. I definitely would not replace the Fabia's EFB battery with a wet-acid equivalent and I'm unconvinced that replacing the EFB battery with an AGM equivalent would merit the extra cost of the AGM battery plus the required re-coding. In bazz204's case he was told that his Fabia's EFB battery was below-par and - thinking (hoping!) that this might be why his car had been breaking down - decided to have the EFB battery replaced with an AGM equivalent. But, realistically, although a below-par battery might cause stating problems, it was most unlikely to be the culprit for the types of breakdown that had been occurring and this subsequently proved to be the case. Replacing a wet-acid (traditional or EFB) with an AGM battery is not a magic bullet and will not cure problems that are not specifically battery-related. It's also the case that, if there's a high parasitic drain on a vehicle's starter-battery, that drain will flatten the battery irrespective of its type.

This VARTA website discusses battery coding for vehicles with a start/stop system. https://www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/knowledge/articles/article-details/the-right-coding-of-the-battery-energy-management-system-for-battery-replacement

The 3 images in my last posting (hopefully!) show the head-restraint guide that is fitted to Fabia Mk4 front seats. The 1st image shows the position of the guide on the seat's back-rest (it is held by 2 screws). The 2nd image clearly shows the button in the centre of the guide. The 3rd image shows the mechanism - but I've no real idea how it actually works.

Uploading Attachment...

This TikTok link shows front-seat head-rest removal for a VW Polo https://www.tiktok.com/@giuseppe.antolini3/video/7500592321583451414 That car's seat upholstery is a lot less padded than my car's, but it's still apparent that finding the hidden press-button and getting it to release wasn't that simple.

Thanks for the feedback. On my 2024 Fabia SE L's front seats there is definitely something rigid there in the position you've shown, but I can't identify anything that feels like a circular button and, when I press hard in various places using both thumbs, nothing moves. My car's seats are heavily padded in that area, so obtaining 'feel' for what's underneath the padding is difficult. Might be easy if one has Boston Strangler thumbs, but I can't do it.

The answer may be Yes and No. The documentation relating to my 2024 Fabia's last service (carried out by a Skoda dealership on 12 March 2025) has two relevant entries. One says that the service procedure includes "Check for outstanding workshop campaigns" and (in the MAINTENANCE LIST) there's a reference to checking for "OTA Software update - if a field campaign is listed on the VIN (with the customer's consent)" This 2014 BRISKODA topic discussed Skoda service campaigns and the differences between the various types of 'recall' https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/337617-skoda-service-campaigns-no-recalls-being-done-briskoda-forum/ and there's a Skoda website for checking for recall campaigns using the vehicle's VIN code https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/recall-campaigns I'm wary of the idea that - since mid-2024 - there has been a universal non-OTA 'workshop-only' ECU update that can (or should) be applied to ALL Fabia Mk4 cars. This is simply because the Mk4 range has several possible motors and (logically) the ECU will match the motor's specification. However I can believe that (since mid-2024) there has been an ECU update that can (and should) be installed on certain Mk4 models that have a major problem and the P0638 error code is detected. I'll ask about this when my Fabia is serviced in 3 weeks' time. Release notes for OTA software updates can be found here and I installed Campaign (03A9) yesterday. https://www.skoda-auto.com/services/software-update-ice I did not enjoy the experience and (for my Fabia SE L at least) I found the procedure a lot less user-friendly and informative than I would have liked. To digress... In 2015 I bought a new motorhome built on a Fiat Ducato chassis. Widespread problems with this Ducato's instrument-cluster (spurious warning lights) soon began to be reported and Fiat would replace under warranty the complete cluster ( £900 to purchase new) of any Ducato that displayed the fault. It was also admitted (eventually) by Fiat that, for RHD Ducatos, it was difficult to read the speedometer during the day in low-light conditions. As a result, when the vehicle was being Fiat dealer-serviced, a software update was installed to turn on the dashboard lighting each time the vehicle's ignition was switched on. My Ducato was LHD and not affected by the speedometer visibility issue, but, when it was next serviced, I immediately noticed that the dashboard-lighting update had been applied. I asked the technician about this and he said "Three software updates were installed on your vehicle, one of which was the dashboard lighting change". "What were the other two updates for?" I asked. He replied "I don't recall - the system tells us there are updates to install and we just let the the system install them".