MikeTheThinker

We tried from here on t'Wirral but we're on the Dee side and partway downhill from the sandstone ridge - hence no decent view North plus the usual issues with light pollution. I have seen the Northern Lights in an absolutely spectacular display near Pitlochry some years back but I'd hoped my wife would be able to see them for the first time this time; no luck 😞

Correct.

I believe you're looking for Magic Black, paint code 9910. You should be able to ask a Skoda dealer to look up the colour code against the registration number and/or the VIN.

The affected area was hanging off already so he masked off around it, gave the back of the lining a light spray and stuck it back up. He did comment that it is very easy to saturate the material leading to bleedthrough, although I think that bit of knowledge came via his work. I'll have to ask the SIL which brand of spray he used. IIRC it was a 'trade' brand rather than a retail one.

Our son-in-law used aerosol carpet adhesive on his mk1. Seems to work fine although naturally one has to be careful about overspray.

Parker's valuations (for 140k miles) are: Private Price £1,900 - £2,520 Dealer Price £2,945 - £4,095 Based on 140,000 miles with no optional extras You would uprate for the lower mileage but a 2k+ uprate feels a little steep.

Part of the ongoing process of sorting stuff out at my folks' old place, this is a new, unused and unopened Parkside Plasma Cutter model PPS 30 B2 to work with your compressor. It was bought new in April 2022 and has simply sat in the workshop since then. I've had a look at fleabay and the going rate seems to be 150-170 squid, so for Briskies £100 delivered to UK mainland via Royal Mail. Payment by bank transfer or PayPal personal payment, please.

Estate 1Z9827550 qty 2 Saloon has six options - details HERE

Behind the trim in the bottom third of the left hand side B pillar, according to the parts catalogue. https://www.lllparts.co.uk/catalogs/skoda/CZ/FABI/706/9/919/919050

"Vin Flinger". Now there's a name for an adventure film hero

You need to know your engine code to match the correct cooling system. If you don't have the service book to hand look in the spare wheel space for the configuration sticker.

Would this most likely be accompanied by screeching or squealing due to bearing failure?

I can't speak from experience of working on the mechanics (although I have my second O2 4x4) but the parts catalogue page for gearboxes for a 2009 O2 is HERE, and a little navigation will lead you to the other catalogue pages for the rest of the vehicle. From my understanding the 4-wheel drive system is triggered by monitoring the front wheels for slippage via the ABS system, in which case you would need to be looking at wheel sensors, ABS controller, plus wiring. I suspect there will be a 4x4 controller but I haven't looked. I know there are others on the forum who have converted mk1 Octys to 4wd so those posts may be helpful starting points.

The parts catalogue page for the front door locks is HERE. The main body of the lock is item 1.

My first suspect would be the solenoid that opens the lock getting tired, or perhaps the electrical connections corroding and reducing the available current.

Deliberate, yes, but that's what they're trained to do in the event of a potential threat to their protectees. Is it certain that the 'pedestrian' was actually a person and not a dummy? The way its legs flap after the bump doesn't look entirely natural.

Perhaps it's intake 'roar' as normally the intake is external to the cabin.

From a trawl of the interwebs and the OED it seems "gasses" is valid but deprecated in British English but quite prevalent in American and Australian English. I've been doing a lot of proofreading for American authors so it seems I have become contaminated by immersion. Time for a stiff upper lip

Snap!

Octavias (and I presume Fabias too) switch to internally recirculated air when reversing so as not to suck in exhaust gasses. When they do it sounds like the fan rate has increased.

What things have you had to sort along the way? BTW Ours is still a youngster at 170k

Are there any you would suggest as perhaps "least worst"?

I can only find one listed for a 2013 Fabia - HERE.

There are two immediate things you could do to help yourself; first, let us know whereabouts you are (so people will be able to gauge how far to travel) and secondly upload some pictures.

Just to clarify for your (and others') safety's sake, aquaplaning means your tyre/s have lost contact with the road surface and are skating on water. This means: 1) You have lost braking 2) You have lost steering 3) You have lost control of your 1 tonne plus armchair as it travels at whatever speed in only one direction, regardless of whatever the roadway or your desires wish for.