marky

Thanks for the feedback so far. Sharkrider: Yeah different cars can behave differently with the same tyre but I think most of it is to do with the tyre size. The Monte uses a very low profile tyre 205/40 r17, which doesn't help things. When I first got the Monte I thought that it had really hard suspension but the harshness is all in the thin tyre. MarkE95: There are a lot of reviews and people saying the Conti SportContacts are good. I had initially dismissed these as I believe there was a time that they were standard fit on the Monte Carlo and a few people had complained of the pulling with them on. Maybe I'll have another look at them. Skoda did replace all four tyres with Pirelli P-Zero Nero so if I found the pulling to be worse with the new front tyres I could swap the fronts to the back.

Well the front tyres are getting low on tread and with colder and wetter weather approaching it's time to replace them. This used to be a simple task but alas my Monte is a bit fussy with tyres and likes to go left with certain makes. Originally I had the OEM Dunlops on which I liked as the grip in dry and wet was pretty good but the car didn't them and the left hand pull was very noticeable. Skoda replaced them for Pirelli P-Zero Nero and the car doesn't pull as badly but wet grip is a bit pants. My dilemma is do I put on another pair of Pirelli P-Zero Neros and live with the crappy wet grip or try something else that may have better wet grip but cause the pull to be amplified. I have seen some Avon ZZ5's that are slightly cheaper than the Pirellis and the fuel consumption and wet grip ratings are better. Any thoughts on tyres from any other Monte drivers?

Put your postcode in here and see where your nearest is: http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/ The garages listed should all use Hunter Alignment equipment which many believe make the best.

Another mystery solved then. I ahve updated the picture to show where the bulbs are on my Monte. It's the Low/Main bulb in the far left corner underneath the indicator that I am trying to change

Thats odd 'cos the sidelights are easy on mine There is nothing in the way of those. Maybe our headlamps are different. My Monte has one Projector light for Low and Main beam (this is what I am trying to replace) and the sidelight (W5W) is on its own in a separate part of the lamp.

This shows how to remove the fuel filter. And it shows what I mean about the housing fully enclosing the side of the filter. What it doesn't tell me is what size Torx/Spline tool to use? http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk2/power_unit/1.6/55;_66;_77_kw_tdi_cr_engine/fuel_supply_gas_operation/removing_and_installing_parts_of_the_fuel_supply_system/fuel_filter_summary_of_components/

It must be slightly different as unclipping the fuel filter does not help me. In your second picture you can see a little black tab just below and left of the two loops on the fuel filter. I am assuming these are what are used to release the fuel filter from the housing? However the housing is what is in the way and when you remove the filter the housing is still there. On my car the filter housing fully covers the sides of the fuel filter. EDIT: They are different. If you compare your second picture of the fuel filter with the fuel filter on my picture I don't have those two loops that yours has. Also the pipework is different.

That explains it. They are different mine the 1.6. The blue one at the bottom is the washer bottle. The blue to the top is the coolant. It's amazing how different they package engines even if it's essentially the same engine. My old Vectra was a 1.9 CDTi 8v. They also do the same engine but in a 16v. There is quite a difference between the two. Some things that were easy to access on the 16v are much more difficult to do on the 8v.

If Only You have to remove the front bumper to get the headlamp out (this is what I have done with previous cars) but its a right faff: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/238560-removing-front-bumper/

I can see the clips that remove the diesel filter but it's the housing thats in the way. Don't know if my car is different to others but the diesel filter is encased all around so you still can't get at the bulbs. See yellow highlight in attached picture I tried three time last night to do the drivers side but have now given up. I don't have the necessary Torx (think it's a Spline) attachment for my socket/screwdriver set. I am attempting to make a "thing" out of wood that will sit over the end of the bulb and give me somthing to hold on to.

Yes I read the other thread, it's your fault I started having a go at replacing the bulbs :p, I have had them sat around since christmas doing nothing. I thought it might be easier for TDi people to find with it's own specific thread. I just can't seem to get my hand in far enough to grip anything and then it seems impossible to try and twist. I didn't have a good look at the fuel filter. How do you unclip it? It didn't look like it unclipped. But for me its the big metal arm that holds the fuel filter in that get s in the way. For removing entirely I only remember seeing two torx bolts (I bet I don't have one big enough) didn't see a third one. As for Ooompah Lommpahs I am thinking of getting my 8 yr old son to have a go for me. Just a little concerned he might cut himself on the metal bulb holders. You can't change the bulbs at the roadside on most modern cars these days. On my old vectra it was easiest to drop the bumper and remove the headlamp unit, you could do it in 15mins once you got used to it!. But looking at how to remove the front bumper on the Fabia that isn't a simple job either having to remove the wheel arch liner etc.

Can you change the main bulbs on the projector lamps on a diesel without removing the fuel filter? I have small hands but I can barely get them in far enough to touch the wiring on the bulb connector. Then its impossible to twist it out. If I need to remove the fuel filter what do I need to do?

Can't get anywhere near that. About 450 miles to a tank from my 1.6TDI 105. 90% of that is on the motorway :( It has been getting better recently but I think that is down to the 50mph limit on the M56 roadworks. Or could be due to it being a bit warmer and less wind (not from me ).

I also asked my dealer (your dealer ;-) how much for it to be fitted to my Monte Tech and they said it can't be done. Awsome GTI said they can do it for £300.

Could my issue be related to tyre balancing? This website says that it could have a bearing on pulling to one side. http://www.balancemycar.co.uk/pull-issues/ I would have thought if it was then moving the wheels around would change the direction of pull. Also I guess the structure of the sidewall is what is different between the Dunlop tyres and other makes, hence why the issue is reduced when you swap out the Dunlops.