Hi.. am new and wonder if you knowledgeable people can help.

My daughter has a 2004 Fabia... custard yellow (can you tell I'm a woman and judge cars by colour!!) 37k.. it was originally my fathers.

Anyhoo.. it went went when he had it - went into local Skoda Garage in Cambridge in May/June 2008 and was returned.. fixed.. in January 2009 (yes Jan 2009 iit took them that long!!!!!)..

It broke down a week or so ago - AA said it was the cam sensor and local VW garage (same as company that has Skoda garage but closer) fixed it and agreed it was the cam sensor.. that was last Tuesday - today it's happened again.

I'd asked the Skoda garage for a breakdown of what they did previous as they didn't supply the full paperwork when they returned the car.. it says in June 08 they did 'engine management light on vehicle, carried out diagnostic check and found work piston rings and cylinder bores. replaced complete engine block incuding pistons, gaskets and assodiated parts including rear main oil seal flange under manufacturer's guidelines'... what exactly does that mean - did it have a new engine? if so shouldn't there be some kind of warantee?

In June 09 they did this (bearing in mind that it wasn't June 09 but beginnign of May 09 but will take that up with them tomorrow) - engine management light on, carried out diagnosis and traced fault to exhaust gas recirculation value. replaced valvue and road test vehicle... (it took them two weeks to do this.. world shortage of gas reciruclation valves!!!)..

It's a great pity as it's a nice car with very low mileage.. but it's a friday afternoon machine..

Am at a loss as to what to do - she wants to sell it - understandably....

Any advice you can give would be really appreciated as to how to approach garage.

ta muchly

Lyn

sounds like they fitted a short motor , which is basically the engine less the head

so that really shouldn't have affected the cam sensor or the EGR valve

if the vehicle is ok now after it has been repaired , then why do you want to sell it ?

because it keeps going wrong.......

apparently now it's the crankshaft sensor that's up the swannee... and because the car is on the 'cusp'.. it could be one of two types and they won't now until they pull it apart.. and one of those types - there's a world shortage!!! (exaggeration there by me... but it's on back order).. you can bet it's not the one that they can find..

have had enough of the car myself... fed up with ferrying daughter around when it's being fixed...

arghhhhhhhhhhhh

have got it back.. £145 lighter.. and luckily it was the se nsor they could get hold of BUT...... on putting the sensor on the technician noticied that one of the bolts that connects the manifold to the engine was loose.. tried to tighten it and he couldn't - thread was gone.. as was one on another of the bolts.. it's driveable at the moment but they will go.. and it then means a new manifold which, I gather is around 700-800 pounds.... I asked the guy at the garage if they would've disconnected the manifold from the engine when they replace the lower engine block - he said there's a 90% chance they would've - it is possible to do it without but it would take a lot longer.... so it's back to Skoda to see if they'll fix it... the only other thing he suggested was to sell it before it goes..

this car is useless.. I'd say it was a Friday afternoon machine but my father got this one because the one he had previous they couldn't fix either...

its not really a Friday afternoon car , as it was a previous garages work that has caused the manifold problem now ,

speak to Skoda , but they might suggest you return to the dealer that did the engine job