hi everyone, i got a fabia 1.4 mpi 8v and its started to run really rough, the engines become sluggish and lost almost all power when it dips under 1500 revs. when the engine dips under 1000 revs theres a rattle from under the gear stick and there is almost no throttle response when the car is in higher gears. a few months a go the car was running with close to no oil in the engine so i dont know if thats caused any damage to the engine.

i did notice that after driving home from uni (about 15 miles) the engine cleared up and started sounding a lot better, but it would become sluggish the next day.

thank you so much for your response, really appreciate it!!

Have a look at the throttle body, it might be gunked up and in need of a clean.

Have a look at the throttle body, it might be gunked up and in need of a clean.

Agreed.

In order: Throttle Body, MAP Sensor, Sparks, Coil Pack, Injectors, lambdas.

Make sure there's no oil in the coolant else it'll more than likely be head/head gasket.

Fault code checker might be useful to work out whats going on.

Past that point... If all those check out it potentially might need a proper engine flush if it's not ran with enough oil - could be gunked up.

Thanks really appreciate the replies!! I'll check it out today

could someone instruct me on where the fuel filter is located, iv been looking all morning and had no such luck. im gonna clean the throttle body tomorrow, changing the air filter and new spark plugs are on the way too.

Fuel filter (if the same as mine) is under the rear drivers door area...looking for a silver coloured cylinder about 14cm long by 8cm diam...also re the engine flush...check out this link to my post on this

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/208388-why-you-should-use-wynns-engine-flush/

Yup - literally look just in front of the rear drivers side arch under the sill. Can't miss it.

As for the lambda... The front one can be got off (might take a bit of effort!) and if you soak the sensor itself overnight in distilled white vinegar giving it a little brush now and again with an old toothbrush... You should notice a much improved experience in general. Unless the sensor had had it of course... Note that obviously coke does a similar thing (ever cleaned a penny with it?) but I prefer using something distilled lol!

If your car had been overfueling for any reason previously, cleaning your lambda is generally a good idea. Overfueling = carbon deposits = bad lambda = more overfueling... Kind of a vicious circle.

awesome! thanks a million everyone! im gonna sort it out as soon as the parts arrive, will update as soon as its done! thanks again really appreciate it!

No worries. And if you need anything, let us know. I'm only 'ovver t'hill' so i'm sure a little tinkering could be done

cheers pal! problem solved! changed the spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter, cleaned the throttle body and the lambda and now the car runs smooth as silk! couldnt be happier,

thanks a lot!! really appreciate it!

No worries.

I'll let you grab me a beer when i'm ovver t'hill another time

And welcome

any time pal. owe you one

Yup - literally look just in front of the rear drivers side arch under the sill. Can't miss it.

As for the lambda... The front one can be got off (might take a bit of effort!) and if you soak the sensor itself overnight in distilled white vinegar giving it a little brush now and again with an old toothbrush... You should notice a much improved experience in general. Unless the sensor had had it of course... Note that obviously coke does a similar thing (ever cleaned a penny with it?) but I prefer using something distilled lol!

If your car had been overfueling for any reason previously, cleaning your lambda is generally a good idea. Overfueling = carbon deposits = bad lambda = more overfueling... Kind of a vicious circle.

You seem to know your stuff Chris, your post has been a great help for me. I'm going to try and clean my throttle body to get my engine running smoothly, as it is not quite perfect, just abit jumpy on idle still, and I think I have a bad head gasket, or blown/ cracked w/e I don't know, my mechanic has used steel seal to fix it, I'm just waiting to see if the coolant disappears again. If it does it's a steel seal money back, and a head gasket fix.

Basically I have gone all out on this car, and put everything I've got into it (money wise) so I'm at a point of no return now, I'm just going to keep putting money into it, even if it comes to buying another of the same car, and swapping engines, or buying another engine.

I just wish you was closer Chris, I would pay you more than a few beers for help and to pick your brains to get to know this engine inside out.