I have a coolant leak on my 1.4 MPI Fabia. I'm not losing much but enough for me to have a look. I think the leak is from the radiator fan switch which is located just above the radiator drain plug, I think. Unfortunately I don't seem to have a spanner to fit. Can somebody please confirm the required size (I think it is 1")? The other problem is access. Space is very tight. Do I have to remove other parts to make enough space. I think that the switch just needs turning a small amount to re-tighten if I can get the spanner on. Thanks for any help.

Apparently they were not originally fitted with a washer and are a common leak spot. There is a washer designed to fit around the radiator fan switch in order to seal it - I would do this instead of simply tightening it. If you're quick enough you won't lose much coolant. It won't be 1" (imperial) it will be a metric size, not entirely sure of the size though.

Edited 25 June, 201016 yr by anewman

Pretty sure it's 30mm, ptfe tape worked for me!!

To fit a washer or use PTFE tape will require removal of said switch. Does the coolant have to be drained first. I guess the special washer needs to be bought from a main dealer?

If not changing the coolant I'd do it with the coolant in and stone cold. You can either try and plug the hole with a clean cloth once you have removed the sensor, or just pull out, stick washer on and screw back in as quick as possible. You may need to top up the coolant and bleed the cooling system (running engine with expansion tank cap off). The washer doesn't cost much (if memory serves well under 50p) and when I got one the dealer had it in stock - so I hope most others do too.

Thanks for your help Briskodian, I've only had the car since Feb and records show no coolant change in last couple of years. I will change coolant and sort fan switch/washer at the same time.

One more thing in case you missed elsewhere on the forums a common issue on the Fabia 1.4 mpi is the thermostat case breaking internally, leading to slow warm up etc. To check for this remove the temp sender on the thermostat (remove wiring connector, and slide horseshoe retainer out then pull - it may be a good idea to renew the o ring) if the thermostat can be moved it needs replacing. You can get an improved version of the thermostat from www.jorily.com who also trade on ebay which is designed such that the clips in the thermostat won't break. Definitely worth checking while giving the rest of the coolant system a going over.

You are not talking about the fan switch, which is also a thermostat, now are you? Is this thermostat located on the block somewhere? Sorry for my basic understanding but my Haynes manual is on the way from Amazon now.

Thermostat is on the right hand side of the engine at the top as you face it.

Here's how to get to it with some pics http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/61178-fabia-coolant-temp-sensor-how-to/

I asked in the OP for the size of spanner that I will require and expressed concern to the lack of space to fit and turn the spanner. Then I had the idea that if I could remove the electrical connection then I could use a socket with an extension. I borrowed a 30 mm socket so have had a go this evening. No matter how hard I pulled, twisted or attempted to turn, I could not remove the electrical connection. Is this supposed to separate from the temp switch main body and if so am I missing a trick for removing it?

A guy at work suggested that if I went to the main dealer to buy a washer and then explained how this is all down to Skoda's original poor design I could ask them to fit it free. What do you recon?

Never removed it myself. There may be a clip somewhere that needs pushing in before it will pull off (just like there is on the thermostat temp sender as described in link above). As for getting Skoda to do it I guess their official line is it's not a known problem. There's lots of threads here involving door leaks and there is even a "repair kit" available but I still don't think Skoda ever admitted this to be an inherent fault of the cars. With the amount of money they're likely to ask for it's easier to do it yourself

Edited 28 June, 201016 yr by anewman

When I couldn't move the electrical connection I too thought there must be a clip or similar keeping it in place but could see nothing obvious.

Of course one of the reasons I want to do this myself is to save money and it should be very simple, if you know what you're doing, of course.

An update.

I wrote that I couldn't seperate the electrics from the temp switch but when I looked at other electrical connections under the bonnet it was obvious. I spoke to a guy at the local main dealer about getting one of the special washers and he said they don't use them, they just tighten it up a bit! I asked if I could drop off my car to tighten my switch but he said I'd have to book it in for 30 mins at £35. So I declined and bought myself a longer 30 mm socket for £8 and tweaked it myself. It didn't need much to move it and then seemed to loosen up so I thought I may have striped the thread! Thinking about it again I think the initial resistance was probably to overcome any thread locking/sealing compound. So I ended up only turning the switch about 1/4 turn and it didn't feel tight. I'm taking the car out tomorrow night so I'll see if there's any leak when i get home.