I've just finished making a 2008 Fabia 3 1.4 tdi 80 but it seems a little underpowered when pulling away at low revs. Once its going its great but not having driven another Fabia 1.4 tdi I aren't sure that this is how they are or I need to tweak my driving style a little to suit.

It's not highly noticible but it just seems a little hesitant until the revs build up if ya follow me.

I'm not an idiot when it comes to small engined diesels after owning loads of them but it's niggling me that something might be amiss somewhere, or if its a characteristic with it been a heavy car with a small engine.

I'd also like to get it chipped if peeps can recommend one.

Knowledge and help appreciated

I have a 1.4tdi sport. It is funny when pulling away and takes a bit of getting used to. I read a review once when the guy said he either almost stalled or wheel spun when pulling away. Used to it now and it's OK. 1st gear is pretty useless.

Arr mine sounds normal then, I built the car out of pieces and was getting worried in case a pipe was on wrong or something, your description sounds exactly like how it drives, :thumbup:for that.

Arr mine sounds normal then, I built the car out of pieces and was getting worried in case a pipe was on wrong or something, your description sounds exactly like how it drives, :thumbup:for that.

You mean that you made a cake/fake Fabia.

Is it not that the car is long geared for economy. I have this car and I know what you are saying about 1st

You mean that you made a cake/fake Fabia.

Yeah, was a piece of cake

Take a couple of big pieces of sponge...

Bit of jiggery pokery, drop of icing sugar, then end up with this...

Fkn hell! Top job by the way , you'd never know that had been in a crash!

thought it was just me as well, mines the same as well, am quiet intrested in getting mine remaped as well, but dont seem like anyone on the website knows... :(

BTW -Mk1's were /are the same -almost brown trouser time first few times till I found out that you need a little extra revs before hand ,then it sort of slingshots along ( and don't forget to get it into second fast ) - and done just right will give the chavs something to think about ( number of times they try it on ,and fall for that -would just let them go ,but first corner down the road they'll be all brakes etc )

Knackers...as everyone else is saying, your car is normal. MIne is like it too. You soon get used to it. Essentially it's because the 3 cylinder engine has fewer firing (power) strokes per crank revolution than a four cylinder engine. It just means if you are in a hurry, or carrying a heavy load, give it a few more revs. It's amazing fast once you get used to it, and frugal too!

Enjoy! Oh...and don't forget these diesel engines only give maximum power once you've covered around 10,000 miles. They are incredibly tight from new.

i was going to get mine chipped after 10k miles

Mr Cheap! Let us all know how you get on when you chip your motor. I may look into it for myself sometime soon. Weigh up the pro's and cons etc...

Edited 30 August, 200916 yr by Estate Man

Sorry to drag up an old thread but thought I'd update this instead of starting a fresh one.

After 3000 miles of heavy motoring since its rebirth the home made fake 1.4 tdi fabia has proved itself faultless, so today I had it remapped for a bit of fun.

The difference is fantastic, the characteristic low down torque issue is still apparent but is now far easier to manage.

Once its bridging over 2000 revs you can really feel the difference, 3rd gear is by far the champion of it all, the midrange has improved astonishingly.

I have no idea of the mpg figures at present but judging from the performance increase I can't see them shining in my favour, nor do I care :P

Sorry to drag up an old thread but thought I'd update this instead of starting a fresh one.

After 3000 miles of heavy motoring since its rebirth the home made fake 1.4 tdi fabia has proved itself faultless, so today I had it remapped for a bit of fun.

The difference is fantastic, the characteristic low down torque issue is still apparent but is now far easier to manage.

Once its bridging over 2000 revs you can really feel the difference, 3rd gear is by far the champion of it all, the midrange has improved astonishingly.

I have no idea of the mpg figures at present but judging from the performance increase I can't see them shining in my favour, nor do I care :P

Right am going to throw a few questions at ya if you dont mind :P

1. Were did you get it from?

2. How much?

3. Has it made a MASSIVE worth the cost improvment?

4. Is your clutch now in tiny itty bitty bits?

5. How much bhp?

Thank you

:rofl:

Right am going to throw a few questions at ya if you dont mind :P

1. Were did you get it from?

2. How much?

3. Has it made a MASSIVE worth the cost improvment?

4. Is your clutch now in tiny itty bitty bits?

5. How much bhp?

Thank you

:rofl:

1. A mobile mapper from Leeds.

2. Was quoted £150 per car but had 3 done at the same time so got a discount.

3. Yes.

4. No, but if it does either Skoda warranty or myself will bob another one in.

5. As close to a 40 increase it would safely and smoke freely go to.

I was contemplating ripping the 1.4 engine out and putting the 1.9 engine in I still have left over out of the silver car, but now I'm not so sure.

I was delighted with the car before, now I am even more so

Funny reading this

I own a 2007 Seat Ibiza Refrence Sport 1.4TDI ( BNV 80BHP)

I had it for first 12k miles and then decided it was boring so fitted PD160 intake + Green Panel filter and then had it Phase1 Mapped by a local tuning company using Custom Code software

It feels alot better and definetly has alot power the estimated power is now between 110bhp-115bhp from a standard 80bhp.

I was looking at going phase2 on it ( FMIC, EGR bypass , De-Cat and straight throught Exhaust ,Uprated Clutch and a custom remap) but ive read that the Lump and Box are only food for 120bhp so i dont want it to blow up

1. A mobile mapper from Leeds.

2. Was quoted £150 per car but had 3 done at the same time so got a discount.

3. Yes.

4. No, but if it does either Skoda warranty or myself will bob another one in.

5. As close to a 40 increase it would safely and smoke freely go to.

I was contemplating ripping the 1.4 engine out and putting the 1.9 engine in I still have left over out of the silver car, but now I'm not so sure.

I was delighted with the car before, now I am even more so

thank you knackers, sounds like you got a bargain. Im intrested to feel the improvments with a remap in 3rd gear

You're more then welcome to come up and have a run in it anytime m8 no problem, I am just outside Leeds on the m62.

You're more then welcome to come up and have a run in it anytime m8 no problem, I am just outside Leeds on the m62.

cheers mate

Great thread, has saved me asking a lot of questions, cheers folks

It's amazing what you can do with 'T Cut' and a bit of elbow grease eh! Seriously though, you've got yourself a nice motor hopefully at a bargain price. Thanks for sharing the photo's and other info.

It's amazing what you can do with 'T Cut' and a bit of elbow grease eh! Seriously though, you've got yourself a nice motor hopefully at a bargain price. Thanks for sharing the photo's and other info.

No problem m8, thanks for the kind words

I got the red level 3 1.4tdi for £1250 and the silver 1.9tdi level 3 for £675, spent around £700 on things that were knackered on both and hey presto.

I have been left with a lot of spares that I have punted on ebay and made back around £1000 but still have the complete 1.9 engine and other bits left over.

If I play my cards right and sell the engine and the rest of the parts at the right money the car will stand me at around £500.

Bargain I'd say

thank you knackers, sounds like you got a bargain. Im intrested to feel the improvments with a remap in 3rd gear

TBH 3rd is the rubbish gear in my ibiza

The fake Fabia 'Fab Estate' said I didn't make was so good I decided to fake another one, this time a 11 plate 1.6 diesel version.

This one is the same colour and as it was involved in a yet another fatal accident 'Mr Cheap' gets another cracking bargain.

It only arrived today and after spending ages cleaning the blood off it I'll gladly post pics of it in various stages of repair should anyone give a toss.

Are you serious about the blood? eurghh