Greetings! Have just bought a 2000 w registered Fabia 1.4 16v no service history so got it serviced straight away. My mechanic tried fitting the Fram fuel filter supplied by me but couldn't get it to fire up, as soon as he put the old one on - it worked. I ordered a genuine VAG filter - same problem. Then took it to a VAG specialist in Derby, they had the same problem - said it could be a faulty filter or the wrong one. I went to my local VAG parts branch, they said that there were two different ones fitted to my car, one for cars with fuel return system, one for cars without. I purchased the other part assuming that this was the problem, it still doesn't work. So that's a good quality aftermarket filter and two genuine ones. Has anyone got any ideas?

Cheers - Chris

Bleed the fuel rail, it must be airlocked

I'm not doing the work myself, my mechanic has done this each time though - the car will not start with new filter - but fires up straight away as soon as the old filter is fitted back on. Any ideas!?

Yes there are two types of fuel filter, 3 bar and 4 bar.

You will need the one with no return line and the regulator built into the filter.

Is the filter around the right way?

Yes there are two types of fuel filter, 3 bar and 4 bar.

You will need the one with no return line and the regulator built into the filter.

Is the filter around the right way?

All three filters so far have been 3 bar, the Fram one has the number '3' stamped on the same end as the genuine ones so that must be 3 bar. They all look identical - 1 x out pipe on one end (centre), 2 x in pipes at the other - return (centre) and in (around the edge) with what appears to be a locating peg opposite the in pipe. The first filter I got from TPS is a 6Q0201051H the second was a 6Q0201051B, I'm assuming that my mechanic isn't trying to put it on the wrong way round - it would appear that that wouldn't be possible. Should I try TPS again and do you think getting some numbers off the old one would help - it has Skoda/Seat markings on it?

Just been told by a Skoda technician that the pipes are often made the wrong way round on many of the new filters and that more often than not, they simply swap over the pipes and it's sorted, it's definately the correct filter, so we'll see what happens when the connections are swapped over.

It will be interesting to find out how you got on.

Just been told by a Skoda technician that the pipes are often made the wrong way round on many of the new filters and that more often than not, they simply swap over the pipes and it's sorted, it's definately the correct filter, so we'll see what happens when the connections are swapped over.

A few years back the head Tech at my Local Skoda told me to watch out for this as they had found the same problem!! And yes the three pipe with built in regulater was the direct OEM for my car (AUB engine).

A few years back the head Tech at my Local Skoda told me to watch out for this as they had found the same problem!! And yes the three pipe with built in regulater was the direct OEM for my car (AUB engine).

Well I've been in the car parts trade for over twenty years and I've never come accross this, it's strange that the qc on these parts isn't better, the filter I've got is a genuine part - 'Made in China' by UFI filters, the Fram one was just stickered with it's part number so I wonder who 'made'it? I will post the result on Monday - cam belt, drive Belt, slight oil leak and fuel filter being done. Fingers crossed ;-)

Well - would you believe it! My mechanic has completed the rest of the work on my car and guess what? He swapped the pipes around on the 'geniune' fuel filter and the car fired up straight away!! So much for 'they fit first time so it keeps labour charges low'!! At least I think that's what it said on the flyer I picked up when I bought it. So - if you've got a Fabia 1.4 16v or similar and your fuel filter doesn't work - just swap the 'inlet' and 'return' pipes over and it should work fine!! ;-)

It will be interesting to find out how you got on.

Filter works! Pipes fitted the 'other' way round. So much for genuine parts 'fitting first time'.

A few years back the head Tech at my Local Skoda told me to watch out for this as they had found the same problem!! And yes the three pipe with built in regulater was the direct OEM for my car (AUB engine).

Well my mechanic has fitted the fuel filter at last - and he followed the advice of the Skoda tech - it works, with the 'in' and 'rtn' pipes connected the opposite way to the original one. Amazing eh?

Bleed the fuel rail, it must be airlocked

Filter needed fitting the other way round. Advised by a local Skoda tech, a lot of filters are made with the 'in' and 'rtn' pipes a different way round to the original.