DerekU

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.

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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".

In my posting of 26 April 2024 in this earlier BRISKODA forum topic I described how to fully lower the glove-box of a Fabia Mk4 to gain access to the cabin pollen filter. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/516188-fusebox-opening-on-mk4-fabia/ And in a later (2025) forum topic (link below) I described in some detail how to replace the filter. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/533659-replacing-ac-filter/#comment-5954971

When I bought my Fabia Mk4 new in March 2024 I asked the salesman about servicing time-intervals. I was told that, for low-mileage cars (as mine would definitely be) an oil/filter change would be required at 1-year, as opposed to 2-years for a car that covered a significantly higher mileage, and that a message would appear on the car's instrument cluster when the date for a service approached - and that's what has happened. With an annual mileage of less than 2000, PongoBongo's car will (like my car) qualify for an oil/filter change at 12 months and another at 24-months. And, based on the cost of my car's first service (at 12 months) the £299 of his Service Pack should provide a useful financial saving over two 'same type' full-price Skoda dealership services (that should include a lot more actions/checks than just changing the engine-oil and oil-filter). I'd expect PongoBongo's car to recalculate its servicing schedule over time (mine does) but I can't see that matters much when it's clear that his car will require servicing at 12 and 24 months within the Service Plan's lifespan.

This earlier BRISKODA thread may be of interest In my final posting on that thread I said I believed that what you want to do was not possible with a Fabia Mk4. As nobody contradicted this, it's probably true. 🙂

The B1916F4 code was also discussed on the BRISKODA Scala sub-forum https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/533271-backup-battery-service-life-critical/#comment-5951331 (I think the location of the back-up battery was not covered.) GOOGLE AI Overview below: Fault code B1916F4 indicates a "Backup battery - Service life critical" error in the Telematics (SOS/eCall) module, commonly affecting VW Group vehicles (VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat). This means the internal, rechargeable battery for the emergency call system has failed, degraded, or cannot hold a charge, requiring replacement. Key Information regarding B1916F4: Symptoms: "Emergency call function: fault" message on the dash, red SOS light, and potential battery drain if the system tries to charge the dead backup unit. Cause: The small, internal battery within the SOS control module (often located under the roof console or rear bench) has reached the end of its life (typically 3–6 years). Fix: The physical battery must be replaced (part number 3G091589 is common). Software Requirement: After physical replacement, the new battery must be initialized using a diagnostic tool like ODIS to clear the "service life critical" status, otherwise the fault code will remain. DIY Note: While the battery can be replaced physically, the necessary software reset makes this difficult without professional tools.

There have been several recent UK reviews of the Fabia 130 (example article here) https://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews/article/13963/-/2026-Skoda-Fabia/First+drive%3A+130.html Regarding the 130's higher power output. the article says: (Skoda is) proud to say this is more than a simple ECU reflash of the 1.5. Skoda's Technical Development team changed the four-pot motor's intake plenum, vibration damper and its rocker arms to gain the extra horses, and the 177hp iteration of the TSI Evo2 is now a unique-to-Skoda specification of this turbo petrol engine in the entire VW Group. Furthermore, the 130 has a retuned seven-speed DSG 'box (yes, we know, sad times: there is no six-speed manual transmission option for the fleet-footed Fabia) with higher shift points for quicker acceleration, double-clutch downshifts in Sport mode for smoother gear-changes, and modified braking logic for punchier re-acceleration. Skoda also says it has worked on the exhaust system to give the Fabia 130 a beefier voice than a regular 150hp 1.5. This £400 tuning module would provide (advertised) power/torque increases from 150PS/250Nm to 191PS/328Nm. https://bluesparkautomotive.com/vw-tiguan-1-5-tsi-150ps

The size of the Fabia "Swing" unit's display is 6.5". So, if you are primarily interested in having a satellite-navigation capability, you might consider using a stand-alone sat-nav device with a similar size screen - eg. a Garmin DriveSmart 66 - and have it sit on a 'bean-bag' mount on the dashboard. https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/720419/ Evidently the Swing unit in your 2022 Fabia cannot be tweaked to run Apple CarPlay and replacing that unit would be a task that Skoda dealerships are most unlikely to agree to carry out (as you've found). A stand-alone sat-nav would work immediately, require no surgery or significant rewiring and have life-time map updating. Regarding the phone-mount, this earlier discussion may be of interest https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/535139-fabia-mk4-phone-mount-is-there-such-a-thing/ I bought a Yesido C242 mount very cheaply through the advert below and shortened slightly the part that attaches to my car's central air vent so it gets a better grip. https://www.sunsky-online.com/p/CAR7945/Yesido-C242-Adjustable-Car-Air-Vent-Mechanical-Phone-Clip-Holder.htm

The UK Skoda car warranty terms and conditions can be found here https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/warranty

Presumably you have lifted the floor of the boot and checked that there is nothing loose underneath? You've said "I'm reluctant to take the car to a dealer as I'm very doubtful if the rattle would be investigated as part of the warranty". But the rattle could be a symptom of a serious mechanical issue and, if you can easily demonstrate the noise to a Skoda dealership (and as your car is so new) I can't see why they should refuse to investigate the issue free of charge. If you don't ask, you won't get...

I've no experience of your Service Plan. However, based on my own Fabia Mk4 that I bought new in March 2024 (and that I've hardly used since due to personal circumstances) I believe you are over-worrying. At present, as you've owned your Fabia for just 4 months, the car cannot 'know' what mileage you will be covering in it and cannot calculate whether you are a low-, medium- or high-mileage owner. The standard service time-interval is 2 years, but, as the your car's 1st anniversary approaches and the car 'realises' that it has covered under 2000 miles, it will begin to issue 'count down' dashboard messages saying that an oil-service is due in X-number of days. And, as the 2nd anniversary approaches (and if you've continued to do the same sort of mileage) the same thing will happen.

These links (there are plenty more on-line) explain the procedures involved in rejecting a new car https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/rejecting-a-car/ https://stormcatcher.co.uk/automotive-law/reject-a-car/ https://www.themotorombudsman.org/knowledge/what-do-i-need-to-do-if-i-reject-my-new-car/

This is a 3-cylinder motor and, consequently, a mite 'lumpy' at tick-over - but it should otherwise be quite quiet and definitely not sound "like a bag of spanners". And the oil consumption SHOULD be low. My 2023 Fabia Owner's Manual says "...the engine may consume up to 0.5l/1000km. Consumption may be higher over the first 5000km". 0.5l/1000km equates to 1.0 litre per 1240 miles - that's a lot of oil and a modern car that's covered 7000 miles in 3 years should be fully run-in and not be using anywhere near that amount. If the cam-belt had 'jumped', I would have thought this would have been very noticeable where the motor's behaviour and the car's performance were concerned. As this is a 3rd-hand enquiry ("Not my car - a friend’s asked about his colleague’s Audi A1 with this engine") the sensible thing would be to advise the Audi's owner to have the car inspected by an Audi dealership while it is (apparently) still under warranty and before a major failure occurs.

The operating conditions of a Fabia Mk4's Corner Function are listed in my 1st posting above. I'm not convinced that enabling the function on my car would benefit me. The main 'selling point' seems to be the function's automation, but - as the car's headlights need to have their low beam turned on for the function to operate - there should be plenty of light in front of my car to spot any obstacles. In the unlikely event that I felt the fog-lights being on might be helpful, a quick pull on the switch would turn both of them on and a quick push would turn them back off - and I'm perfectly capable of doing that.

I just wanted confirmation that the 'cornering lights' function (that would involve the low-level halogen fog-lights) of my 2024 Fabia Mk4 had been disabled at the Skoda factory or whether it not working was a fault - and your reply suggests that the former is the case. The OBDeleven website advertises a One Click App for enabling the cornering lights function but the advert refers to 2021-2023 cars https://obdeleven.com/customizations/skoda/fabia/2021-2023/cornering-lights Coincidently, shortly after my forum postings above, I was parked in the street opposite a supermarket exit and recent-ish VW and SEAT cars turning left out of the exit all had their left low-level fog-light come on as they did so. After that, I noticed lots more cars/vans (of various makes) had this cornering-lights function operating in daylight and rapidly decided that I disliked it. Plus - given the low light output of my car's bumper-mounted halogen fog-lights - I was also doubtful that, even at night, the function would have genuine value for me.

Best of luck. It's perhaps worth adding that the same dash-panel fuse-box images and explanation of the purpose of the fuses apparently occur in all the Fabia Mk4 Owner's Manuals up to and including the latest 2026/3 production period. The dash-panel fuse-box has the potential to house 61 fuses, but my 2024 Mk4 SE L DSG's fuse-box carries just 30 (17 mini fuses and 13 of the larger type). I've tried to match my car's fuses to the explanation in the Manual, but the only fuse I can be 100% certain about so far is the blue 15A Fuse 52 (Cigarette lighter/12V socket at front) as I accidentally blew it and needed to replace it. Obviously the number of fuses will vary according to a Fabia's individual specification and, if a fuse is found to have blown, provided that it is replaced on a like-for-like basis and doesn't blow again, it may not matter too much knowing what the fuse is protecting. I'd still like to know that in advance though...

A correction... I notice that I referred to the smaller fuses as "MICRO-blade" type. They are, in fact, MINI fuses. https://www.swe-check.com.au/editorials/blade_fuse_sizes.php Three of the larger fuses in my Fabia Mk4's dashboard fuse-box are marked "40s". There is some on-line discussion about 40s fuses (example here) https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMechanics/comments/145ipev/2019_tiguan_uses_40s_fuse/ but the only advert for them I can find is this one. eBay UKStinger MAX 40S Maxi-type fuse 40amp krome finish - pack...Pack of 3 maxi-style fuses - 40amp protection. High conductivity, krome colour plating. Use with maxi-style fuseholders. Does any forum-member KNOW what difference there is between a Maxi 40 and a Maxi 40s fuse (other than the latter having an "s" on it)? 40A 'slow blow' fuses are widely available (example advert below) but they have a completely different design. Fuse - J Type Slow Blow - Green - 40A | Buy PWN804 and Wo...We sell PWN804 for 3.55 GBP in the UK. Buy real Wot-nots online from Autoshop. Fuse - J Type Slow Blow - Green - 40A. 1x Pearl Slow Blow Fuse.