It is the only way I can travel I work 26 miles away from home alternative transport is no option hence the reason I try to look after my car the best I can. No as both courtesy cars are out at the moment they didn't even try to sort anything for me. They rang me at 3.30 today saying that they ran into a problem with a bolt which slowed car been done which they said it will be done for 2 moz I understand they may run in to problems but when iasked about a courtesy car they said both cars r out til thursday so I explained I needed a car get to work and I'm losing money is there anything you can do but they just didn't seem helpful at all .all I got was we understand and see what we can do will ring u back later let u know. I never received that phone call. Its not my fault that part failed if anything they ahold be trying there hardest to keep me going and not at loss they won't be at loss as they r claiming. But at the moment I am at loss.

Maybe give trading standards or citizens advice bureau a call, as they might be better placed to advise on your position legally?

Well, that was a hell of a long day! The Fabia is NOT an easy car to service it seems - the oil filter is in a totally ridiculous place! After a couple of attempts we decided it simply couldn't be done with what we had, so it's had new Pollen and Air filters - and the new oil of course. We consulted Euro Car Parts and they reckoned the filter would be OK.

Oh...and the oil decided it preferred to pour itself all over the road as opposed to in the container we wanted it in :(

So the new oil...I'll need more time to check it out properly. It does seem to have had some sort of positive effect though - the car seems a little less lethargic and a little quieter, and seems be a bit smoother. Nothing too radical in the changes, but just enough to notice. I can't comment on fuel economy yet though!

Edited 4 July, 201213 yr by andrewkeith5

this info sounds positive at the moment when i get my car back will do the same to see the difference myself. yeah i no wot you mean with the oil filter what did you use a oil filter belt or use a socket on it my filter as got a 28 or 29m socket as i can remember but easy to do once sockets on, just awkward to get to. You will have to let me know what your mpg is like when you get chance to take ur fabby on a run. I rang trading standards today as they are still working on it apparently i can claim conseqential loss but try to reason with them first but if they dont want to be reasonable i can send a letter and if still no response then its a small claim court but i hope it doesn't get that far.

Sadly we only had a belt which we couldn't get to stick, and I wasn't confident we'd get a new one in! Unfortunately his sockets ran out a couple of mm short, so the existing filter is still there...I'll keep hold of the new one until the new service (might as well, not really worth taking it back for 6 quid or so).

I have a longer run due this weekend for a wedding. I'll have a couple of others in the car but that should give some sort of indication on MPG.

Pleased to hear that you at least have some leverage towards compensation- I hope they get your car back to you soon! The threat normally kicks most small businesses into some sort of response, especially if they can claim it from a supplier or whatnot - let's hope they carry on being reasonable!

These engines always make a slight tappety noise when cold...........and I run mine on Mobil 1 (0w40) spec oil.........and it needs it....with the way I drive it!.......

As for problems with tensioners.........I had a brand new tensioner fail on me (just driven the car 3miles down the road from the Skoda dealership after new cambelts/tensioners etc fitted).....thankfully no belt slip as it started to sound like a lumpy drag car.....so managed to limp the car back to the dealership.....there was a known problem with some faulty batch parts in the OEM kits.....but that was 5yrs ago......so you are unluckY....if the car is put back in first class condition then great!!!!

My 1.4 16v sounds exactly the same strange little engines