OK, the forum has been really great but now I would like to take my Felicia to somebody that knows these cars and will be able to pinpoint some of the issues I have with it. A decent mechanic and or diagnostic chappie is what I'm looking for. Then I can spend money on what needs doing rather than guessing.

In the Bath or Bristol area is preferred. Cheap or free is even better

Decent people are rarely cheap, and even fewer are free!

Have you run VAG-COM on it or had a code reader on it, just as a matter of interest?

Decent people are rarely cheap, and even fewer are free!

Have you run VAG-COM on it or had a code reader on it, just as a matter of interest?

Didn't really mean it, but not really looking to spend any money on a wild goose chase either. Don't mind spending it to fix a problem though.

As far as VAG COM, nope never used that, seen it or know what it is. :S Is a code reader available at any garage or only Skoda one?

OK, a cheap solution is having a VAG-COM compatible serial cable to attach to a laptop (but it needs a -real- (i.e. built-in) serial port), and the free version of VAG-COM. You can then do a fair bit of stuff, including checking what faults the ECU thinks are present. Some can be spurious, momentary things, others can be real problems (it correctly diagnosed a faulty fuel pump that stopped me finishing a rally, for instance), so it pays to check them. You can get fault code readers as standalone devices too - no doubt someone on here will have used one, there are plenty on eBay....

I might try my local tuning chap, the one that said my engine was one of the best he had heard. I'm sure he will have some kit to get some codes, then we can see what they mean.

Maybe do that tomorrow if I can, it's really doing me in now and I would love the car to be right as everything else is in good nick. :'(

Yeah, but remember if you have to pay him once to read the codes, it may cost the same to get the gear yourself and then at any point you're worried about it you can check it.... plus if he said that was one of the best engines he's ever heard then he's either deaf or stupid.

(no offence)

Yeah, but remember if you have to pay him once to read the codes, it may cost the same to get the gear yourself and then at any point you're worried about it you can check it.... plus if he said that was one of the best engines he's ever heard then he's either deaf or stupid.

Yes I know, but I'll find out the charge first. He's usually been OK about it all in the past.

Regarding his hearing, this time he had one his apprentices give the car a once over, so didn't properly hear it himself. When the comment was made, I took it as a comparitive statement regarding Skodas in particular. Unfotunately, with my experience so far, I am still of the opinion that Skodas seem to be lesser cars and not too much should be expected of them

I would love to be proved wrong.

(no offence)

Edited 1 March, 201016 yr by myjalopy

Well, I think this proves otherwise.

Well, I think this proves otherwise.

Certainly better MPG than mine anyway!

Yeah, even with 1200 miles of thrashing it flat out on motorways in France and Spain (trying to keep up with others cruising at 85), and driving 300 miles in the sand of the sahara, it managed over 40mpg. And that was running on what passes as petrol in Africa, which is often ropey and was leaded once we got to Western Sahara.

once we got to Western Sahara.

That was you? I didn't realise. What an adventure. Don't think my car would like it.

Yes, it was me! Trip of a lifetime and I didn't want it ruined by mechanical failure. That's why I took a Felicia. Apparently when we were banging through some of the dunes, I bounced out of one of them about a foot in the air at the front, and there was sand coming out of the grille and everywhere where it had pushed through the dune, and it looked really good. Wish I had a pic of it, I just remember nailing the throttle and hoping not to get stuck!

Edited 1 March, 201016 yr by djaychela

If you have a laptop try this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190329451002&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT To get the full version of the shareware 409.1 version, which is the only one that will work with this cable, it's about £60. The free version will give you code numbers and you can search online to try find out what they mean.

If you have a laptop try this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190329451002&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT To get the full version of the shareware 409.1 version, which is the only one that will work with this cable, it's about £60. The free version will give you code numbers and you can search online to try find out what they mean.

Thanks for that, are these code numbers easily found or is there a specific website that it best to look on.

Yes, it was me! Trip of a lifetime and I didn't want it ruined by mechanical failure. That's why I took a Felicia. Apparently when we were banging through some of the dunes, I bounced out of one of them about a foot in the air at the front, and there was sand coming out of the grille and everywhere where it had pushed through the dune, and it looked really good. Wish I had a pic of it, I just remember nailing the throttle and hoping not to get stuck!

Yes, bet somebody somewhere has a pic or video of it. Unless you were in the middle of nowhere I suppose.

Thanks for that, are these code numbers easily found or is there a specific website that it best to look on.

I just googled for the code numbers and added other key words such as skoda, vag-com etc and found the 4 or so that came up on the Fabia.

OK, cheers.

Apparently they should all be on here too http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Category:Fault_Codes but googling may help interpret what the code means in practice better

Yes, bet somebody somewhere has a pic or video of it. Unless you were in the middle of nowhere I suppose.

Nope. It was quite empty out there, there were only the 5 cars in our group, and no-one else to be seen, and they'd only just got out of the cars to watch us turn up....

It was roughly here:

Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=20.388400,+-16.251526&sll=20.40642,-16.193848&sspn=1.737523,2.438965&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=8&lci=com.panoramio.all

As for the fault codes, VAG-COM tells you the most common ones (even the free version), and the uncommon ones it still gives you the code, just no explanation so you can look them up.

Edited 3 March, 201016 yr by djaychela

The other problem with a garage is if you get a fault that throws a vast number of side effect codes, and they just say "most of these are nonsense" and bin the lot rather than reading them and saying "this lot could al be caused by a fault here, therefore we need to fix this specific code".

The other problem with a garage is if you get a fault that throws a vast number of side effect codes, and they just say "most of these are nonsense" and bin the lot rather than reading them and saying "this lot could al be caused by a fault here, therefore we need to fix this specific code".

If I was to use a garage, then i would maybe ask for a list of the codes before he deleted them. Then i could look them up at home if the problem persisted.

Got the car plugged in today at the tuners, no faults logged on the ECU.

I mentioned that it was as lumpy as hell on tickover when cold and not too stable when warmed up either, so they are planning to re-calibrate the throttle next week, after giving it a thorough clean with carb cleaner and 'a brush'.

if you fancy a trip i am back at work from monday and dont mind having a listen to it for you and plugging it to recalibrate the tb etc

ludlow shropshire so a decent run but i wont charge you for looking at it

also we er may just have any bits you needed too

100 miles, 2 hours. Hmm, not sure she'd make it. Either that or my patience wouldn't. Thanks for the offer though.