Been Fabia Mk1 classic owner since 2001 on an X.

Never had any problems bar the usual power steering going and forking out £600 to fix it and then get fixed again for free.

Was on a trip to Derby today from Birmingham along the A42, Wife driving hears some popcorn popping sound under the bonnet, sound stops and battery warning light comes on. Drives fine for few miles was going to stop but no hard shoulder on A42, get onto A50 and there is smoke/steam bellowing out of the underside and bonet of the car, scared the misses and your kids. Found safe place at a quary works entrance.

Plenty of smoke/steam coming from the car proper covering it. Done my usual checks for a long journey noticed the coolant was 1-2mm below the min thats it, oil fine, types fine, fan belt all fine.

Got RAC out said it was the fan belt had gone which was really strange, he got another one fitted and found that the coolane system was buggered and looks like the problem with some compression under the head gasket as running it idol is fine but when the fan kicks in and it then makes a fountain out of the water in the coolant bottle he had put in.

Now the car is nearly 10 years old and has genuine only done 45000 miles on the clock and was well surpised the belt went with such low mileage especially since cars sits in a garage when not used. Running all the other stuff as well that belt's gonna cost me and im well frustrated that it went at 45000

How much would a replacement head gasket be to replace& fit. I dont want to get ripped off as Sokda have been asking me for ages now to come in a buy a new one, which I cant afford and might find that the repair is priced up to try and pursuad me to buy one. Would it give me some bargaining that the belt went with such low mileage ? and it shouldnt do so soon ?.

Just wondering if anybody had this before ? as I dont want to get ripped off.

Edited 11 July, 201114 yr by Boomycol

Cost will depend if the cylinder head needs skimmed, or even replaced if there are cracks in the head. Also depends which engine you have fitted (fuel type and size of engine.)

Cost will depend if the cylinder head needs skimmed, or even replaced if there are cracks in the head. Also depends which engine you have fitted (fuel type and size of engine.)

The engines the one below 1.4 mpi petrol

1.4 MPI 1999–2003 I4 AME/AQW/ATZ 1397 cc 50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) @ 5000 rpm 120 N·m (89 lb·ft) @ 2500 rpm

Do you think I have something to moan about the fan belt going after only 45,000 miles ? wich basically took everything out by the looks of it.

How long would this job take to do ? as I need to go and do some 2nd viewings on some houses I might be moving to on Friday and I dont have access to a 2nd car, ggrrr.

The engines the one below 1.4 mpi petrol

1.4 MPI 1999–2003 I4 AME/AQW/ATZ 1397 cc 50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) @ 5000 rpm 120 N·m (89 lb·ft) @ 2500 rpm

Do you think I have something to moan about the fan belt going after only 45,000 miles ? wich basically took everything out by the looks of it.

How long would this job take to do ? as I need to go and do some 2nd viewings on some houses I might be moving to on Friday and I dont have access to a 2nd car, ggrrr.

Belts are also age Dependant as well as mileage, so unless the belt was changed at 4 years, nothing to complain about at all.

Head gasket job time will depend of extent of work required, but head should be checked for warping and cracks.

You need gasket, new head bolts (bolt are single use.) Torque wrench and angle gauge. Figure 4 hours, or a week if the head needs machining.

There are plenty of VAG specialists around, some of which advertise on this forum. Ask them for a price if you don't have the time.

The engines the one below 1.4 mpi petrol

1.4 MPI 1999–2003 I4 AME/AQW/ATZ 1397 cc 50 kW (68 PS; 67 hp) @ 5000 rpm 120 N·m (89 lb·ft) @ 2500 rpm

Do you think I have something to moan about the fan belt going after only 45,000 miles ? wich basically took everything out by the looks of it.

The fan belt is just an auxiliary drive belt. The rubber deteriorates with age. Unusual for one to let go completely though as they're reinforced. Engine uses a timing chain and is over-head valve arrangement, so this shouldn't have damaged any part of the engine. It's relatively easy to change the headgasket on the MPI as there's no need to mess with timing. Probably rather daunting for the first timer with no previous experience though.

Are you sure that the water pump hasn't disintegrated internally, it sounds like the engine is still overheating despite replacing the drive belt.

Belt could have let go when the pump nipped up as the impellor came off the shaft.

You may still have warped the head through overheating it so badly.

Edit: It's not the mileage but the AGE which is killing your car, moaning about it is utterly pointless.

Edited 12 July, 201114 yr by sepulchrave

Was just checking to see if it was worth it.

Well called them today and they called back about 2, they said there was thermostat and housing damage, they left it running for an hour no probs, went for test drive, left it running for another hour and then samething happened and out came the coolant.

Heads now gone so they are having to send it away to as they cant do it at the dealer, not coming back for a week until monday now. Touch wood there isnt anymore damage, cost £500 so far.

Going to get service done at the same time because its due anyway in 8 weeks so might as well get it done now seeing as we are going on holiday next friday in it.

I'd be interested in knowing if the HG change stops the coolant flowing out. I have the same issue and was under the impression it was normal.

I'd be interested in knowing if the HG change stops the coolant flowing out. I have the same issue and was under the impression it was normal.

It is.

Been Fabia Mk1 classic owner since 2001 on an X.

Never had any problems bar the usual power steering going and forking out £600 to fix it and then get fixed again for free.

Was on a trip to Derby today from Birmingham along the A42, Wife driving hears some popcorn popping sound under the bonnet, sound stops and battery warning light comes on. Drives fine for few miles was going to stop but no hard shoulder on A42, get onto A50 and there is smoke/steam bellowing out of the underside and bonet of the car, scared the misses and your kids. Found safe place at a quary works entrance.

Plenty of smoke/steam coming from the car proper covering it. Done my usual checks for a long journey noticed the coolant was 1-2mm below the min thats it, oil fine, types fine, fan belt all fine.

Got RAC out said it was the fan belt had gone which was really strange, he got another one fitted and found that the coolane system was buggered and looks like the problem with some compression under the head gasket as running it idol is fine but when the fan kicks in and it then makes a fountain out of the water in the coolant bottle he had put in.

Now the car is nearly 10 years old and has genuine only done 45000 miles on the clock and was well surpised the belt went with such low mileage especially since cars sits in a garage when not used. Running all the other stuff as well that belt's gonna cost me and im well frustrated that it went at 45000

How much would a replacement head gasket be to replace& fit. I dont want to get ripped off as Sokda have been asking me for ages now to come in a buy a new one, which I cant afford and might find that the repair is priced up to try and pursuad me to buy one. Would it give me some bargaining that the belt went with such low mileage ? and it shouldnt do so soon ?.

Just wondering if anybody had this before ? as I dont want to get ripped off.

Might be worth calling APS in Brackley if you're in the vicinity.

It really is worth finding a good indie with a car as old as your Fabia. Rather than pay main dealer labour prices.

J.