Tailhappy

I found a trim remover tool worked much better than pulling. The ones like a claw hammer end. Push into the gap, rock it back and the aerial pops out without strain.

5% is OK. Better than 10! My Fabia used to over read (75 when doing 70) but with larger tyres it now reads correctly. But the miles travelled is down a bit instead.

Back in the 70's and 80's magazines like Autocar used to test car speedometer accuracy across the range. Years ago when I had my Skoda Rapid 136 I just subtracted 10% off everything (got that from the Autocar review) to get the correct reading. But now this information is missing from Autocar and not available online that I can see either. I use a lot of hire cars and when I'm on a clear road I do a quick check against sat nav so I understand if there is any discrepancy. There is a lot of variation with the digital displays not making much improvement either. Is there any magazines or website reviews that still list this info? Would be good if there was. Have you ever tested your car against sat nav value? What was the offset? While sat nav isn't 100% reliable it does match the roadside speed displays which are pretty accurate.

It's worth removing as much rust as possible before applying any treatment or paints. Preparation is boring, laborious but important. Kurust works well but it (along with every other solution) does not soak through rust to the good metal unless its surface rust only. Depending on how much rust you have I really like the diamond grit disks that go into your Dremel. They buzz away rust pits very well and you can get right into the nasty bits. I note that often rusty areas have small rust 'bore holes' that are deeper than surrounding rust. I have had good success also with Hammerite anti-rust primer on top of the Kurust. It really blocks moisture and air well I feel, those being the catalyst for rust.

Thanks for the info! Well it still divides opinion. Some people want to entusiasically chat about it or even buy it there and then and some do dodgy overtakes and cut me off even when I have a car in front (usually Audi drivers) who feel it is below them to be following the cheapest car available 1987-1988. They can't have much else to think about!

Thanks. Yes it's really an impressive car. Even now not a single rattle or squeak and it keeps up well with modern traffic up to around 60. Interesting what you say about VW reducing quality - my 1989 Rapid Coupé had rust issues which I never understood.

It's always great to see the older Skodas out snd about so please do share a pic or two of yours - and any info to go along with the pic. I'll start. My 1988 105 LUX from today. All standard / original apart from alloy wheels, electronic ignition and gauge cluster from a 105 GL (not sold in the UK). It was my first car, gifted by a neighbour.

Whilst I don't have one sadly, the pumps are designed to be 0fully rebuildable. You have the diaphragm and valves underneath. It's held together with screws. However have you replaced the pipe connection from pump to tank? These are known to fail if original and when they do the pump just socks air through the hole. I have rebuild my own pump so if you need a hand don't hesitate to message me.

Great you can do yourself. I'm up for brake discs and basic repair work, but any engine out or heavy stuff like cambelt then it's beyond me. But even then I think the Fabia is worth any garage costs. I'd rather spend even £3000 on a lot of work and know I was getting a 'new car' in those areas than spend £5000 on something unproven. I have never seen a woman driving a Fabia vRS, so your missus hating it is interesting. I can't imagine hating such a great little car but I'm a bloke. Maybe women don't like them for some reason? 🤔

From today. I gave it a top-up coat of wax and wheel clean. Even though I've had it years I still love to drive it and it runs really well still. 100% happy. Maybe if I tried the latest Fabia I'd want to 'upgrade' so it's probably best I don't ☺️

Cheers for the input. Good to see some areas still got a few out and about. The ones I do see look like they are not waxed or tended too sadly. Dull paint and hazy headlights.

Well built, not too complex electronics, rust resistant (and easy to weld if needed), tough engines and resilient interiors...the Mk.1 Fabia is a high point for Skoda and deservedly won Car Of The Year in 2000. But they are getting to be a rare site now, maybe only one every fortnight. Why us this? What is seeing them off? I'd think they would still be a common car but this is definitely not the case (in the South East anyway). Shame really.

https://www.skopart24.com/shop/Satz-Schmutzlappen-hinten-p147378824 You just need to use white tyre pen to pick out the letters. Skopart is very good.

To wrap up I sent the incorrect one back and a replacement was supplied. Now it is like new so thanks for the help getting sorted.

Cheers for the input. Makes me feel better for not keeping up the stamps! For my part what put me off was the difficulty speaking to the service department, for instance I asked about changing the air filter at the service and was told 'the service interval has been followed' which meant a black air filter with 35,000 miles through it remained in the car, plus some damage to trim which they did not know how to remove. Its a shame its not as easy to tinker with as the Estelle but I still manage most jobs - especially with all the knowledge here.

At this age I'm thinking almost all Mk.1 Fabia's will be looked after by owners or idependants. But a fully stamped up dealer service book is great to see on used cars (shows care) and this had me wondering. Do any owners here still keep up the main dealer service stamps and use them for all repairs? Is your Fabia treated with respect by the Skoda dealer? I'm wondering also, now some parts are not so freely available due to the age of the car, does this have any effect on the work you get done? For myself, I no longer have a local main dealer (mores the pity) yet when I got my Fabia I promised myself I would always use the dealer to get the best possible experience and have my car looked after by the makers. The main dealer I did have was also not that good to deal with so I ended up doing a lot myself (like 5k oil changes and brake filters) but I still feel sad that the service stamps have stopped. Also the dealer was commenting I should be thinking of a new car when it was only 5 years old! Its 18 years old and I am still not even contemplating a change. Cheers for any input.

Cheers. Looks like another job for me this year x 2 then

Air recirculation is useful in heavy traffic but I have noticed in both our Fabias it turns off after a few minutes. You can turn it back on of course but I was wondering, is this a timer to stop the car getting low on oxygen or a fault?

Thanks for the input. I was getting very frustrated to put it mildly...I just unpacked the struts that did not fit and Carlston you have it right as the struts in the boxes are a different model. So thanks for that very much. I will raise this with the seller tomorrow. Cheers 🍻

My struts are getting tired so I ordered up some replacement ones. Stabilus brand. But the ones shown as 'correct' (016721) are too long by 5cm. I attach a photo. I cannot close the boot as they are too long. So I ordered up some through my local motor factors using my reg and they were even longer. I didn't accept them. Has anyone ordered some that fit? If so from where please? Failing that is it possible to have the old ones rebuilt or regassed? I know these fit and the falling hatch is a danger so I do need to get it fixed. Thanks for any input.

How long have you been using the super diesel? My fabia (run on supermarket diesel for 35k miles) took around 10k to stop producing bits of sticky black soot. You need to keep going. Don't go back to the regular until its cleaned up and running well.

Just waking up this topic - does anyone have the link to suitable switches used as I would like to fit new ones to sort out the boot light (always been a bit flaky). I would order the complete assembly but it seems to be only available used at a steep price...and no guarantee of working.

This weather with all the mess on the roads its tempting not to clean 'as it will get dirty again' but sorry, I don't like driving dirty so after a weekend wash.

Final update. Unit 18 did a great job of refitting after I de-rusted and painted the bar. I asked my local powder coater and they said because its large and also rusty steel they could not really do it. So an hour with a wire brush and paint and its like new again. I did try to contact Jabba for a full rebuild kit but they neither answered the phone or replied to the contact form so just cleaned up the old ones. They were fine thankfully. Amazing the difference the bar makes. When I drove without it the car was no longer chuckable and fun.

Yes for sure. The inner circlip was a challenge - as its under constant tension from a compressed o-ring. I ended up having to clamp it together in a press while fitting it.