Andy Pitt

Hi, Can anyone provide any advice. I have a Skoda Fabia Mk3 - top of range 1.2 SEL - that I've owned from new, and is just over 6 months old. I also have a 5 year old Octavia, that I've also had from new. Never had any issues with Skoda before, and the dealership have always been great. However, my Fabia warning lights - coolant leak empty - came on on Friday, and I had to get it towed by Skoda Assist to the main dealer. Main dealer have since said that there is a hole in the "charge air cooler" that looks like a stone has hit it. As such, they are considering external influence, therefore not covered by warranty. £550 to repair. They advised that I need to speak to Skoda Customer Services and see if they will do something. Skoda Customer Services have since advised that the dealer makes the final decision about whether it is warranty or not, but have offered a 12% discount on the repair costs. I have asked for the case to be escalated as surely the engine / radiator compartment should be properly protected from such "external influences", or should be made of materials that can cope with normal road use. The hole is just to the side of centre, so well away from the wheels, so I don't understand how a stone could have been flicked up. Does anyone have any advice, thoughts? Should this be covered by warranty as a design fault or materials issue? Or is it just "one of those things" and I have to pay? I'm additionally worried that if it has happened once, then it could easily happen again, so is the car fundementally flawed? Any advice welcome. Many thanks, Andy

Yes - FLAC files play fine - I have had my SEL for a month now, and started with a 16Gb SDCard loaded with FLACs. Finding the SD slot took a while though! I don't bother with the FLACs any more though - ripped the files to 320 Mp3 so I can have more on one card (as it's not possible to change the SD card whilst driving, with it being in the glovebox - unlike my Octy where the SD card is in the head unit). Sound quality of high resolution MP3s is fine in-car though. Wouldn't listen to MP3s on my home stereo though - FLAC all the way...

Here's mine :-)

I've got an answer now - spoke to Skoda customer service and got conclusive answer from them - the SEL has automatic headlights as standard, but they are not adjustable. Only adjustable with the option of auto windscreen wipers...

Just been and checked - the headlights came on automatically. Just no option to adjust them...

That's all I've got too. Is that right? If so, what's the point of the Auto setting? Still confused...

Picked up my Fabia a couple of days ago - SEL DSG - with no options (apart from black dash inlay and race blue paint). The switch to turn the lights on has an auto setting, which doesn't seem to do anything apart from display an orange lit icon next to the switch (the headlights don't come on automatically at night time). Does anyone have any idea what this setting is for? My current thinking is that it is a standard switch, that gets installed in all cars, even those without automatic headlights, but why would Skoda bother to make the icon light up if the setting doesn't actually do anything? Confused... Apart from that, am loving my new Fabia. Complements my Octavia Estate 4x4 nicely... Thanks.

Excited - getting mine in 2 weeks time - 1.2 SE L in race blue... To replace a 15 year old Golf that is falling apart.