hey peeps,

I've got some quick Q's

I'm going to service my fabia vrs on Monday I have ordered the following:

Pagid Disks & Pads all round

Oil filter

Fuel filter

Air filter

Oil

Q1 : Do i need any special tools to do my brakes eg- Brake Caliper Rewind Tool ?

Q2 : Where is the fuel filter located ?

Q3 : Do I need anything else for the oil change apart from the oil and filter?

Is there any step by step guides to doing these tasks as this is going to be the first time I service a car any other service tips would be great thanks........

Andy

Q1 : Do i need any special tools to do my brakes eg- Brake Caliper Rewind Tool ?

front brakes no. (caliper just pushes back, just dont push it back to fast or it can damage the seals, nice and slow

rear brakes u will need a caliper rewind tool. as the piston needs to spin while pressure is on to push it in, (because of the handbrake)

Q2 : Where is the fuel filter located ?

fuel filter is located near drivers side front headlight, has 3 pipes on. best to fill the new filter with diesel before fitting, (takes about 5mins to change)

Q3 : Do I need anything else for the oil change apart from the oil and filter?

nope, just a socket for the filter housing and remember to change the seals on the filter housing.

Thats great!

best to fill the new filter with diesel before fitting- why? sorry im a noob to servicing :|

seals on the filter housing- Will i get new seals with the filter ?

yea u should get the new filter housing seal with the new oil filter. wen u unscrew filter housing u will see rubber seal (big o-ring), use small screwdriver to remove and just place new one in same place, simples

if u fill new filter with diesel just makes it easier to start the car. will start first time and wont stall or take ages to get going. if u dont then u gotta fill the new filter with diesel from the car which means car doesnt start for a while, just quicker

Big thanks to boro86 for all the help!

Great folk on this site……

Hope the servicing goes well lol I take it changing the air filter is no bother?

unless u got a front strut brace then its abit tight to remove air filter lol

otherwise its 2 screws and lifts up, very easy

its really dead easy to service the vrs just take ur time :yes:

winding the rear calipers is hardest part out of everything u listed, but with proper tool its fine

good luck, if u get stuck feel free to pm and ill try best

Q1 : Do i need any special tools to do my brakes eg- Brake Caliper Rewind Tool ?

As the others have said, a calliper rewinding tool is useful for the back. You can fashion a DIY-one using a G-cramp and something y-shaped with a prong on the two stalks on the Y, but it's a bit of a pig (guess who found this out the hard way!). Oh, just be sure to fit the pads the right way 'round (one should be marked "piston" - the people who serviced my car for the previous owner [either National Tyres or the Skoda dealership] got this wrong!). I was told to apply a small amount of copper grease to the wheel hub when fitting my discs. Obviously, give everything a good clean whilst you're in there.

Q3 : Do I need anything else for the oil change apart from the oil and filter?

Common advice is to replace the sump plug, as the washer's captive, and they're about 87p, although I'm not sure how necessary this is. Something I found, was to "crack" the seal on the sump plug, and then undo it by hand slowly (note: you should be doing this on a warm engine, so obviously it will be hot), applying light upward pressure up as you do so - when it's most of the way out, oil will start to run out, and due to the upward pressure, will run out under the sump plug, hopefully making it a bit easier to control. Obviously the oil will be hot, so be careful not to burn yourself! Also, lube the seals on the oil filter with oil before replacing it in its housing, as this will stop them getting snagged.

Is there any step by step guides to doing these tasks as this is going to be the first time I service a car any other service tips would be great thanks........

Can't find one on the fuel filter or brake discs (Haynes manual is probably a good buy), but here's one on the oil change:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/21318-how-to-change-the-engine-oil-and-filter-fabia-vrs/

Never done the fuel filter, but the others are easy, just take your time!

Edited 2 June, 201016 yr by martinch

Can I pick up a replacment sump plug at skoda (local dealers) or do I get it at a motor parts place?

Thank you

Dealership should be able to supply it.

Picked up plug 1.85 from dealers along with quantum oil 5l for 18 quid and popped along to see my m8 that's works in halfords and got this for the price of on the house!

will this be ok for the back brakes?

Picked up plug 1.85 from dealers along with quantum oil 5l for 18 quid and popped along to see my m8 that's works in halfords and got this for the price of on the house!

Is that for the Quantum Platinum (5w40) oil? If so, that's pretty cheap (RRP's £25, basic trade price is about £19).

You didn't mention a 'POLLEN FILTER' sits above front passenger foot well in a housing.

Slide back sliding type retainers/guides, withdraw filter downwards into footwell, (still a DIY job)

It is quantum synta m8 and my pollen filter is fine as it was replace by dealer not that long ago

It is quantum synta m8

If that's the "Z" (5w30) or "ED" (0w40) then I guess that should be OK (the vRS takes 5w40). The basic Synta is 10w40, which isn't right.

It is 10w 40 … should I take it back? As I said it was for the fabia vrs and he took my plate…

It is 10w 40 … should I take it back? As I said it was for the fabia vrs and he took my plate…

Hmm ... I was under the impression it needed 5w40 (or optionally 5w30), from this thread (my non-VRS driver's manual says the same). Quantum's oil selector says to use their Platinum oil (5w40): http://ew5.earlweb.com/recommendations.php?site=44&keywords=fabia+vrs&vehicle=7648. The full chart's here - Synta's only really recommended for pre-PD diesels and petrols (note: that chart's slightly out of date - if you go into a TPS, the ones they have list Platinum as the one for standard protection, and LongLife III for enhanced). If you're unsure, I'd either phone Skoda customer services to check, or perhaps your local TPS might tell you over the phone (they are trade only, but might answer a question if they're not busy). Personally, I would take it back and get a different oil...

(NB If you're not aware, Quantum are part of VW, as are TPS, and their Platinum oil is the new name for their PD Oil oil)