Hi guys, found this great site after my recent fabia purchase. Not quite 2 weeks ago I bought a 2005 fabia 1.2 with 70,000 on clock. Seems to drive fine, if a little vibration on idle which apparently is usual for these?. After 4 days engine light came on and having taken it back to the trader he turned the light off and told me that if it came on again then the lambda sensor might need changing. I was not impressed as he didn't give me the fault code etc and to just turn the light off is not solving the issue. Anyway it stayed off for another 3 days and has come on again. I have taken it back again and demanded to see the codes which are showing as P0420 catalyst system below efficiency and P0172 fuel trim too rich. Trader has told me it could cost loads to find problem and fix it and its down to me to fund it. I am intending to make a claim against the trader but in the meantime any ideas? All I keep thinking is burnt valves and loads of cash wasted.

Cheers...

I take it no warranty was given with the vehicle? Sounds like they aren't really interested in helping.

 

Few things to check,

 

Check for vacuum leaks,

Clean your MAF Sensor./check harness

Check your manifold and exhaust for leaks.

Check Oxygen sensor harness.

 

 

It could well be an Oxygen sensor but id have a good check around before chasing parts willy nilly.

 

People read a fault code and think its one thing.. they don't understand the other factors.

Thanks for the reply. I will have a check of those things you mention in the daytime tomorrow. The trader is not interested in helping me but fortunately I paid for it on a credit card then paid off the credit card so I am getting help from the card company to resolve my issues with the trader. I was not given any warranty and the trader told me it was all wear and tear, I said to him that its not wear and tear after 4 days of ownership!

Part of my problem is having read so many reports of burnt valves etc on the 1.2 I'm paranoid that any little problem is going to be major work.

If it's been running rich for some time then the cat  and probes are probably sooted up, rich running is often caused by a faulty ECT sensor, start by replacing the sensor (cheap) and resetting the ECU by disconnecting the battery and shorting the battery terminals together, then take the car for a really good long run to clean up the cat and sensors and allow the ECU to readapt.

 

Or you could just take the car back and get a refund.