Well finally done my first service 50k service, oil filter, fuel filter,and pollen filter Oh and the oil, 1.4tdi 70bhp final cost £80 approx with the oil castrol edge 5w-30 difficulty easy peasy!, why I had'nt done this before saved me a packet easily £100 and she goes so much better, fuel economy much improved used a oil vacuum pump to remove the oil, an absolute breeze but I will let dealer do the scary bits cambelt and brakes though

Thinking of doing a DIY service myself on my mk1 vrs. Do you know exactly what needs to be checked and what needs changing???

Thinking of doing a DIY service myself on my mk1 vrs. Do you know exactly what needs to be checked and what needs changing???

not sure with the vrs mk1, depends on with service how many miles this should be on your service book, its going to be all the filters including cabin(oil and fuel), air filter and the oil ( don't skimp on the oil) good oil is OK but best oil is better, I've not done the mechanical side yet i.e brakes but i wil learn, she'll go to mates for this he's a skoda specialist so she'll be well looked after

Awesome cheers mate, ive done the front brakes myself already, cant be too much harder for the rear brakes. Its 90,000 miles but ill just give everything a change that i can.

Awesome cheers mate, ive done the front brakes myself already, cant be too much harder for the rear brakes. Its 90,000 miles but ill just give everything a change that i can.

Ahhh for you no rears will be the same process however both my furbys have drums on the back, so these will be rather more of a handful

Why didn't you just drop the oil out of the purpose built plug in the sump?

Why didn't you just drop the oil out of the purpose built plug in the sump?

You can empty the sump without even getting underneath just pump the vacuum and have a cuppa will the sump empties itself, easy peasy the best thing I've bought for a long time, even the major dealers empty there engines this way easier and cleaner way to change engine oil

Fabias are well known have had sump threads damaged as a result of stripping it when the plug is removed without care.

I used a vacuum pump on my MK1 vRS and will do the same on my new vRS as-and-when required.

Attached my list of my last DIY service on the 2005 MK1 Fabia VRS.

Special splined tool to remove gear-box filler plug, c/o E-Bay.

Same goes for wiper, rear caliper tools, and self-bleed kit for 2 yearly brake-fluid change.

Greases and steering /gear-box oils will usually do for the next service too.

As to the brake pads, I renew mine every two years with new rear discs as well.

The rear brake discs and pads work-out a bit less than £29.00, so cheap really.

Good luck.

2011 CAR SERVICE 53000miles copy.rtf

Fabias are well known have had sump threads damaged as a result of stripping it when the plug is removed without care.

I used a vacuum pump on my MK1 vRS and will do the same on my new vRS as-and-when required.

I like the idea of a vacuum system to remove the oil just never heard of the before. Where do you get them from and how much do they cost?

That's the thing - without care. You'll damage everything if you do it without care!

I'll stuck to the sump plug, methinks... gravity > vacuum

I like the idea of a vacuum system to remove the oil just never heard of the before. Where do you get them from and how much do they cost?

Screwfix or Pela. Normally used for hard to reach sumps e.g. boats. I think there's a thread on here for one around £18 but I can't remember where that was sourced or the make.

Awesome cheers mate, ive done the front brakes myself already, cant be too much harder for the rear brakes. Its 90,000 miles but ill just give everything a change that i can.

You'll need a tool to screw the rear pistons back in to the caliper, the adjuster for the handbrake stops the piston from being pushed in.

Screwfix or Pela. Normally used for hard to reach sumps e.g. boats. I think there's a thread on here for one around £18 but I can't remember where that was sourced or the make.

You mean this one?

You mean this one?

Spot on!

That's the thing - without care. You'll damage everything if you do it without care!

I'll stuck to the sump plug, methinks... gravity > vacuum

dont knock the vacuum pump until youve used one, for anyone does not want to crawl underneath they are awesome, also less chance of crossing the thread and having a permanent leak underneath when you havent done the sump nut properly,I for one will do it the modern way "suck it", and if you go to most of the high class garages and look how they empty sumps you will be amazed to find they use sump vacuum system with a electric pump, as it saves time and cleaner the oil gets pumped directly to a 55 gallon drum which is picked up for recycling, Audi, Merc,BMW all these use the vacuum pump system so good enough for them

Sounds like a good way of changing the oil if i could borrow one id do it but sump plug technique is free.....times are hard haha.

dont knock the vacuum pump until youve used one, for anyone does not want to crawl underneath they are awesome, also less chance of crossing the thread and having a permanent leak underneath when you havent done the sump nut properly,I for one will do it the modern way "suck it", and if you go to most of the high class garages and look how they empty sumps you will be amazed to find they use sump vacuum system with a electric pump, as it saves time and cleaner the oil gets pumped directly to a 55 gallon drum which is picked up for recycling, Audi, Merc,BMW all these use the vacuum pump system so good enough for them

Agreed. It's quite surprising how much of the oil is removed when considering the official capacity quoted.

dont knock the vacuum pump until youve used one, for anyone does not want to crawl underneath they are awesome, also less chance of crossing the thread and having a permanent leak underneath when you havent done the sump nut properly,I for one will do it the modern way "suck it", and if you go to most of the high class garages and look how they empty sumps you will be amazed to find they use sump vacuum system with a electric pump, as it saves time and cleaner the oil gets pumped directly to a 55 gallon drum which is picked up for recycling, Audi, Merc,BMW all these use the vacuum pump system so good enough for them

They are used simply because they are quicker, but quicker is not always best, if they can save 15 mins per service then they can do an extra service every day, thus potentially earning them more money.

By removing the drain plug all the crap in the oil will flow out of the hole with the oil, by pumping it out you are dragging all that crap back up through the engine.

.

If you can't refit a sump plug without damaging the threads then you really shouldn't be doing the job yourself anyway.

The other benefit of having the undertray off is you can make a visual inspection of the all the hoses, CV and steering rack gaiters and look for leaks which would otherwise have to go undetected without removing the undertray.

They are used simply because they are quicker, but quicker is not always best, if they can save 15 mins per service then they can do an extra service ever day, thus potentially earning them more money.

By removing the drain plug all the crap in the oil will flow out of the hole with the oil, by pumping it out you are dragging all that crap back up through the engine.

.

If you can't refit a sump plug without damaging the threads then you really shouldn't be doing the job yourself anyway.

The other benefit of having the undertray off is you can make a visual inspection of the all the hoses, CV and steering rack gaiters and look for leaks which would otherwise have to go undetected without removing the undertray.

+1

Hoorah!!!.....another person who talks sense!.......there's doing a job quickly......but if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly!!!!

Anyway you will never get all the oil out by suction as the thicker sludge will stick to the bottom (and all pumps have a minimum "puddle/immersion depth")......where it needs to drain out!!!

Edited 14 November, 201114 yr by fabdavrav

+1

Hoorah!!!.....another person who talks sense!.......there's doing a job quickly......but if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly!!!!

Anyway you will never get all the oil out by suction as the

thicker sludge will stick to the bottom (and all pumps have a minimum "puddle/immersion depth")......where it needs to drain out!!!

Well the sludge came up no problem ! , suction pump does a great job, I have done the sump plug for many years, however I agree the removal of sump plug is the best way, I change oil every 5 k miles so hardly any sludge will be there, I did check by removing the sump plug how much was left at the bottom and it was about half a dozen drops of oil, so not to bad eh?, most people would never think of doing a home service due to the removal of the sump plug, so this way not only will they save £ by DIY oil change, the car will thank you for it, will I ever open a sump nut again ? Will I use the sump vacuum again "Hell Yeah"

+1

Hoorah!!!.....another person who talks sense!.......there's doing a job quickly......but if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly!!!!

Anyway you will never get all the oil out by suction as the thicker sludge will stick to the bottom (and all pumps have a minimum "puddle/immersion depth")......where it needs to drain out!!!

This. Sump plug off every time for me.

+1

Hoorah!!!.....another person who talks sense!.......there's doing a job quickly......but if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly!!!!

Anyway you will never get all the oil out by suction as the thicker sludge will stick to the bottom (and all pumps have a minimum "puddle/immersion depth")......where it needs to drain out!!!

The vacuum pump sounds good but I agree about the sludge, with oil flowing down it should wash most of it through. Also still think you've got to get underneth to get at the filter, at least I had to the last time I did it.

Does anyone have any pics of where the pollen filter is located on 1.4 tdi and how to change the diesel filter . about to service my mams 07 fabia and to be honest havn't looked under the bonnet yet. i want to change the above ^^ and also the oil and oil/air filters . any recomendations of oil? what will i need to remove the sump plug and is it worth getting some new retainers for the sump / inspection cover. any help will be much appreciated. also pattern or dealer filters? john