Breezy_Pete

That's a great recommendation, and I agree. @Lando98 there are two different versions of the 1.4/16v, a 75bhp one and a 100bhp. Most manual gearbox Fabias in the UK have the 100bhp, all of the automatic ones have the 75bhp. Basically the same engine, some minor hardware differences and different mapping in the ECU. As said, one of the best petrol engines in the mk1.

It's in a grey box right above the photo if you follow xman's link, and in the link itself there if you look carefully: 03C 198 229 C

Manual or automatic transmission? I've had nothing but good experiences with the 75bhp variant, but in the UK that was only sold in Fabias with automatic transmission, I think. Mine's in a manual 9N Polo, on about 150k and going strong.

Check that neither battery connection is loose (try twisting them by hand).

Looks OK.

Never done one myself but it's 3 mounting bolts and two hose connections. Space to get tools in may be a bit of a pain as it's quite close to radiator and fans.

Make sure it doesn't feel loose as well, the fuseholder should grip it a bit as it goes in or out.

Yes. Hold it up to the light, look at the wire inside that links the two sides, look at the shiny metal contacts. Post a photo if you're not sure.

Check it yourself, it'll take 10 seconds.

Ah, OK, see if that position 3 one is intact/not blown, and that the terminals of it aren't corroded.

I can't see the numbers of the fuseholders in the top left there, but if that gap between the yellow 20A and the orange 5A one is F3, put a 5 Amp fuse in there and see if the fault goes away.

Follow the link I posted, read the posts about the missing fuse from about halfway down page 2, see if your fusebox has a fuse in the same position (3) or not.

From Nov 2008 it is still same wire colour and connection at the lamp unit, but is now pin 50 of a brown 52-way at the BCM.

If it was built before November 2008, the right front indicator bulb is fed by a black/green wire. This originates from pin 6 of a black 11-way connector at the onboard power supply control unit (BCM). It goes to pin 9 of the 10-way connector at the headlamp unit. If there is also nothing from side light and main beam in that light cluster, check the earth from pin 7 of the 10-way as it is shared between those two and the turn signal bulb. I think the BCM unit is somewhere in front of your right knee if you drive a RHD car, and left knee on LHD. I'll have to leave detailed access information to someone who knows the Mk2 Octavia.

PM me tomorrow if I haven't remembered to reply to this.

Something about its visual appearance makes me wonder if it's actually a safety (over)pressure release valve? Not sure if earlier you were meaning how easy it is to replace that bit, or the whole compressor?

Thanks for your postings Steve. Fascinating business.

@stever750 you sound like you know what you're on about in this field so I'll ask you: For there to be any real 'learning' there would need to be a way of telling the systems whether any changes that they were making were in the right (or wrong) direction, a 'training' phase, no?

Don't think you'll find a relay anywhere. They are driven by a microchip these days I believe. Inside the BCM. Most likely a wiring fault between BCM and bulb holder.

Check fuse 11 too.

Should be OK to drive I think. If there's no refrigerant pressure the A/C won't try to turn on even if you asked it to. What that bit is/does I have no idea though. It's neither of the hose attachment points, right?

Well I guess it should be OK running with a belt that's one groove narrower, as long as it's the right length so the tensioner operates in the right way. 1095mm, according to this page (item 22): connecting and mounting parts for alternator; pol... - Fabia(FAB) [EUROPA 2001 year] (7zap.com)

Isn't there rust on the crank pulley too? Innermost groove unused? Wrong belt?

If that doesn't help, another thing to check is wiring in the door bellows, driver's door to A-pillar (and the other side if it gets used regularly). It's a crap design on the mk2 so it could easily be that a wire or more is broken within there.

Sounds like A/C compressor or its pulley are not correct fitment. Photo?