My Fabia is back after 2 and a half weeks in the dealer to sort out an electronic problem that was affecting the engine. They ended up replacing a bit of the wiring loom. While they might have cured the engine problem (only time will tell) they've made the MW reception on the radio a lot worse. Now whenever it's on MW I get a click when I apply the brakes. It also has a lot of interference when I use the brakes with anything more than moderate force. Although it had some interference befor it went in it's a lot worse now.

18 months old and it's still not right!

Anyone got any ideas, or should I just trade it in for the VRS version?

Sounds like they forgot to connect something, the symptoms suggest that the aerial booster is not functioning at all.

Thanks for that. Perhaps I'll give them a call. When I last brought this up they offered to fit an extra part at my expense. But it's much worse now that they've "fixed" the wiring loom.

Neil

Do the wipers cause noise ? Could be the choke on the power cable needs looking at or your HU/twig/etc not earthed properly.

The wipers don't seem to affect it, but your earthing comment makes a lot of sense bearing in mind what has been said by the Skoda techies about the other problems that have blighted the car.

I'm away next week but once I'm back the dealers are going to be getting a call (it's good that they don't groan when they hear me, but I hate to think what they say once they put the phone down).

Thanks for the help.

Register the fault before you go away, it will prep them for you and also stop them thinking thats its all fixed now. If you leave it, whilst it wont stop the car being fixed,there is a chance that the possible linkage between the last repair and the new fault may be lost.

I would call them before you go away and let them know of this new problem. They will then be ready for you on your return and hopefully already thought about where the fault may lie and what they need to rectify it.

Being in the service game this is the better option than springing it on them after 1 or 2 weeks after your time away.They will doubt that it was there straight after they repaired it last, even if you have a tan like Ghandi.

I called the dealers last night only to be told it was not their fault.

They had worked on the CAN BUS digital data system and the radio fault is from the 12v system.

Dealer actually asked if my car had a third brake light (I thought all Fabias had them!) as that would be part of the problem.

It can be fixed at MY expense. :thumbdwn:

What wonderful service. I'd add a review of the dealership but am afraid I might say something I would regret.

I would suggest a polite but firm call to Skoda Customer services explaining your problems & the disatisfaction you are feeling with your "Skoda" dealer

I would add that if its still the standard radio as fitted by Skoda that there should be no interference from the car at all & there is absolutely no way you should pay to remedy a manufacturers problem !! If a manufacturer fits something to a car then it should work under all circumstances. It would be interesting to see if other owners have the same problem, if they havent then thats more amunition to your argument.

It might also be worth having a chat with any other Skoda dealers that might be near you & maybe even changing dealers

Thanks for the advice. I'm on dealer number two already as the first one didn't have all the necessary equipment to deal with the ECU.

I've contacted the regional operations manager at Skoda - it's amazing what walking onto the SKoda stand at the motor show and saying "I'd like to talk to someone about a problematic fabia" will do. I had two or three high-ups listening to me quickly. That's why the car was in for so long in the first place.

Interestingly the dealer has twice tried to warn me off speaking to customer services as "they only contact us anyway". They were even less impressed when the regional operations manager contacted them after the motor show.

Fingers crossed that this will be sorted soon!!!

If you fancy the vRS theres always the "Dont I deserve a stonkingly good deal on the vRS after all Ive had to put up with" Angle of attack!!

Just swop it for a vRS coz dey is da' bomb