First off cheers to those who replied to my post worrying gear change 'knock' - it's great to find a forum where newbies such as myself are made to feel so welcome!

In a nutshell addressing that little problem has led to a whole host of others and possibly a world of expense for me and my Fabia 1.9tdi (2001)!

BRUN and devonutopia both suggested my knocking on gear changes could be down to worn bushes in the rear engine mounts. I don't have axle stands or ramps and no technical expertise to speak of so popped it down to my local main dealer this morning. They did the job no problems but found the following issues:

N/S steering arm / track rods end worn (they told me this needs sorting ASAP!) - £266 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

Both rear bump stops broken - £135 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

Rear brakes sticking on - new disc and pads - £205 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

Gearbox/driveshaft knocking, new driveshafts - £592 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

I bought the car 4 weeks ago as a private sale for £1850 with 150k on the clock. It's my first ever car and, predictably, the chap who sold it to me couldn't care less. It doesn't need to be said that I feel somewhat silly!

I'm pretty confident that there's a cheaper way to get these issues sorted.

So, what parts do I need to get these jobs done, where's the place to go to buy them and what do we think I should be paying a mechanic to do it for me?

Obviously there's the distinct possibility that this car is about to lead me on a journey of expense and pain even when I get these issues resolved. The main dealer is giving it a proper check over tomorrow (that seems like £40 well spent) and then I'll know if there's anything else I need to add to the list.

Edited 28 October, 200817 yr by dan1984

Are these prices quoted from a dealer? if so Price them up from a motor-factors as im sure you can get mmost of the parts alot cheaper.

£205 for new discs and pads on the rear?!

Very very expensive that

Yeah, those are from a main Skoda dealer in Worcester. They include parts, labour and VAT.

Is what I've listed (from their quotes) excactly what I order or do those jobs need other parts?

i know this is silly but different main dealers charge different prices, might want to ring a few.

Or go to a local independant and get some prices?

Worcester? How local are you to Malvern? I can recommend the work of RSM down on Spring Lane and also Straightline Performance (but they are allllllllways busy) again on Spring Lane.

Sounds like there trying to make some money up in light of this credit crunch!! LOL

Cheers missp - I'll give them both a call in the morning (I'm in St Johns).

Edited 28 October, 200817 yr by dan1984

That price for the driveshafts is £££, as is the rear brakes. Get to one of those independents.

Go to someone like Skoda Fabia Parts - Skoda Fabia Spares

Fraction of the dealer price and then get an independant garage to quote you for fitting.

HTH

Take the advice given and go to one of your independant tuners, they will set you up without ripping you off

It may appear expensive, but you have a good car, just need to sort it

DO NOT GO THE CREDIT ROUTE Get what you can afford, done at each time

You will be fine

I use my local "STAR PERFORMANCE", they are professionals and charge realistic prices

Not another MUG through the door routine

Regards National

First off cheers to those who replied to my post worrying gear change 'knock' - it's great to find a forum where newbies such as myself are made to feel so welcome!

In a nutshell addressing that little problem has led to a whole host of others and possibly a world of expense for me and my Fabia 1.9tdi (2001)!

BRUN and devonutopia both suggested my knocking on gear changes could be down to worn bushes in the rear engine mounts. I don't have axle stands or ramps and no technical expertise to speak of so popped it down to my local main dealer this morning. They did the job no problems but found the following issues:

N/S steering arm / track rods end worn (they told me this needs sorting ASAP!) - £266 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

Both rear bump stops broken - £135 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

Rear brakes sticking on - new disc and pads - £205 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

Gearbox/driveshaft knocking, new driveshafts - £592 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

I bought the car 4 weeks ago as a private sale for £1850 with 150k on the clock. It's my first ever car and, predictably, the chap who sold it to me couldn't care less. It doesn't need to be said that I feel somewhat silly!

I'm pretty confident that there's a cheaper way to get these issues sorted.

So, what parts do I need to get these jobs done, where's the place to go to buy them and what do we think I should be paying a mechanic to do it for me?

Obviously there's the distinct possibility that this car is about to lead me on a journey of expense and pain even when I get these issues resolved. The main dealer is giving it a proper check over tomorrow (that seems like £40 well spent) and then I'll know if there's anything else I need to add to the list.

IMO find a treasured local indie mech or garage. Can't be paying that amount of dosh to improve a 2001 car that cost less than £2K.

Get a 2nd opinion on the track-rod end and the driveshafts and brakes IMO. As they're either safety related or £££s expensive.

For the price they quoted for the rear brakes, it's almost worth undercutting them by £5, buying the specialist tool required and doing it myself. I'm no mech though, so you might have issues with that - LOL.

J.

i can only say excellent things about unit 18 automotive servies in northants, well worth the drive!!

search here for either unit 18 automotive services or a user named lummox

Or clicky through my sig to get to at least one of his posts

Good advice on places, prices. Even at the higher prices, you shouldn't be too depressed. These are wear and tear and nothing to suggest there is anything basically wrong with the car. At worst you have a car which cost under 3K and will give you a 100K miles. Enjoy knowing that the parts are replaced and you won't have to worry about them again. Having had a TDI since 2004, we bought a 2000 SDI last year for SWMBO. Paid £2.5K put a new cam belt on (not actually needed) and intend to keep it for years. She's still delighted with it. Many new cars (non-VAG of course) will have lost that much in depreciation during the year and have had teething problems. Keep happy.

Best of luck in getting sorted.

Go to an independent, why go to a dealer with a car that old? Theres no value to a dealer stamp at that age. Plus why did you buy a car with that many miles on in the first place without getting it checked over by the RAC/AA etc? Also wouldn't have paid that much in the first place, but i digress, and we live and learn.

I hope you manage to get it all sorted without it costing you too much

N/S steering arm / track rods end worn (they told me this needs sorting ASAP!) - £266 (inc. parts, lab, VAT) - A TRACK ROD ARM IS QUITE CHEAP TO BUY

Both rear bump stops broken - £135 (inc. parts, lab, VAT) - BUMP STOPS ARE ALSO CHEAP PARTS

Rear brakes sticking on - new disc and pads - £205 (inc. parts, lab, VAT) GO TO A MOTOR FACTORS FOR DISCS AND PADS. £50 AT MOST FOR PARTS.

Gearbox/driveshaft knocking, new driveshafts - £592 (inc. parts, lab, VAT) TRY SCRAPYARDS (or Cheap Car Parts, Engines & 4x4 Parts. Used Euro Car Parts & Spares From Online Breakers), A PAIR OF DRIVESHAFTS SHOULD BE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE - £150 I WOULD HOPE.

Rear brakes sticking on - new disc and pads - £205 (inc. parts, lab, VAT)

Am i also right in thinking that the boggo 1.9 TDi has drums on the back? My old SDI and MPI did and my new MkII Tdi does.

The brakes sticking is a handbrake issue, not the brakes themselves, dismantle them, clean them and then adjust the handbrake. The handbrake causes the backbrakes to stick, has this on both my old Fabias. Do you notice the handbrake being high when it bites?

Am i also right in thinking that the boggo 1.9 TDi has drums on the back? My old SDI did and my new MkII Tdi does.

Nope - comes with the same rear disc setup as the vRS.

Really? Well everydays a schoolday

Really? Well everydays a schoolday

Indeed. I'm still running my boggo standard TDI rear brakes the car came with in 2001.

Must be about the only thing that is standard then

I use Ned Potter in Hereford, cheaper than Skoda dealer but good - they cover all VAG. New shiny service dept as well.

Ned Potter, Hereford UK - New and Used Volkswagen Car Dealers

Cheers guys - you are legends! It stayed at the dealership on Wednesday and their final quote was £2000+ (I haven't seen the final list but that obviously includes some other issues). My family knows a guy who owns a garage and he took it in yesterday. I've spoken to him today this is what he thinks needs doing:

Gearbox - not complete replacement but something about planet discs and bits rattling around inside

Drive shaft gaiters - he reckons the actual shafts are ok for now

Side arms on steering rack - not the rack itself

Handbrake cable (relevant to those worn rear brakes?)

Clutch - He says I could live without this being done for now but as it's going to be exposed it'd be sensible to save on future labour costs here

A few other bits that will have a nominal cost/no charge:

Indicators - orange colour has worn off

Sidelights - just a bulb

Rear washer pipe leaking (badly)

Pollen filter needs securing

His worse case scenario (he said he might be able to save some money when he gets a better look at some of these issues) grand total: £1938.75

I could get some quotes from some more indies but to be honest we know this guy and after this whole episode that's worth a lot!

The car was sold as seen but I'm going to try and dig out the auto-trader ad and look at it's wording to see if I can persue this seller in the small claims court.

This has been a very expensive but well learnt lesson!