Hello all,

I have been following the forum threads with interest as a guest for a number of weeks now. Keep up the good work all. I have been generally satisfied with my Fabia's reliability though have experienced some of the problems people are reporting. I love the performance and handling and anticipate keeping the car for a while yet.

I have took the plunge with this post because I am curious what the function is of the substantial plastic engine cover on the Fabia 16v engine.

When I asked the Skoda dealership Service Manager he advised me it was an expander box. It appears to be linked via a downpipe to the exhaust manifold and has a pipe towards the air filter and I presume it has a function regulating air intake temperature or flow.

The reason I was so curious about it was after a service, it was returned to my house missing my plastic engine cover/expander box. When I called to ask if I could have it back, they told me no damage would have been caused by its absence and I could collect it. :confused:

If it is superfluous could we remove it for saving weight and fuel?

Anyone have any thoughts?

My take on these situations is thus...

It came from the factory with it fitted...

It went IN for service with it fitted....

Therefore, you should get the car back with it STILL fitted !

This smells of sheer laziness to me.

Get on the phone, tell em you want it re-fitting ASAP.

Whether its needed or not is irrelevant, your car should be returned to you in the same condition that you handed it over.

That's a good one, "sorry Sir we didn't think you would notice all the parts we removed from your car." But don't worry it won't affect you in any way!!!!!

You paid for the Fabia with all its parts the part was there before the service. Therefore it should be there after the service, they have probably used your engine cover on another Fabia.

Don't take any rubbish tell them you want your engine cover replaced without question. You could argue that they stole your engine cover?

Later

LLB

The Dealer should have apologised immediately and offered to refit the cover while you wait and at a time convenient to you. Period.

Hi all,

I have the cover back which they have refitted to my car and they have appologised profusely.

I would still like to know what its function is though. Apart from hiding the oily bits....

Plastic engine covers serve the same purpose as those star shaped screw things. They are there to put you off servicing, maintaining and generally fiddling about with your car so you have to take it to a fully qualified, highly trained automotive technician (don't call them mechanics).

Aarr ya cynic.

I see the stress is starting to set in then Rich?