Hi guys new to the forum and skodas in general.

 

Got a new fabia 1.4mpi (don't know if its 8 or 16v) its a 2002. Was driving home last night and the engine oil light came on so looking on this forum thought it was the engine oil switch which on confirmation today from a few garages seems like its the oil switch as they said the engine would of seized by now and its still running perfect when i fire it up. Also get the coolant light come on when starting from cold and on looking in the expansion tank which is full looks a bit sludgy. Don't look like oil but more of a sludge like a dark sludge thats sticky. looks like the coolant has not been changed in a while.

 

Just want some thoughts on what i need doing to it if possible. Sounds like its running great not using any oil and not using any coolant has a lot of power. On cold start ups a bit of white smoke from exhaust and a few drips of water is that normal?? Don't smell sweet and the drops just look and smell like water.

 

Thanks guys

Hi. If it's mpi, it's an 8v engine. I've had the same problem with the oil warning light.  In my case, after the engine was re-started, the alarm went off, but going on again once the rpms were increased over 1200. An engine can run with little oil (pressure) but not for long. After I received the alarm, I turned off the engine and had the car towed to my garage. It was a faulty wire that caused it, but imho it's better safe than sorry, right?

Secondly, the coolant might have an alienish texture if you or one of the previous owners tried to stop a leak with some of that brown powder. I'd drain the engine, have it cleaned .. radiators also .. and top it out with fresh antifreeze. 

Thanks for the reply. Yes the mpi engine least i know its defiantly the 8v now as well so thank you for that. Well i gave it a fair run and started and restarted a few times still no noise from engine and its done about 200 miles now since it came on. Only thing i can think of is the switch or like you have said the wire. What wire could cause that?? No leaks from it at all which is good news, but i have asked the garage to change the expansion tank as i think that sensor inside it is faulty so while that is off i asked them to drain flush and put new g12 in. Its kind of weird its not oil but more like a black or brown goo but very watery.

 

Drives perfect tho so I'm guessing thats a good sign correct??

 

Thanks for the reply its a very good forum

Also just to point out the oil lamp only comes on above 1800rpms then goes off at idle. After 3 times of coming on it then stays on. Any thoughts??

That was exactly my problem ... but I thought it was over 1200rpm... my brain is too tired at this late hour I believe. As for your previous question, the oil pressure sensor/switch is the item 3 from the following scheme. You should be able to visually inspect it without having the engine cover unmounted, but for further investigation you should have a multimeter at hand.

 

I wouldn't be too tech savvy on unplugging and testing it. I popped the bonnet yesterday and saw 2 plugs/sensors. 1 above the oil filter then one to the right of that so I'm guessing number 3 is the one with the single wire coming from it. Didn't see any oil around it would the oil be inside the actual plug causing it to go haywire?? Yeah triggers at 1800rpms below that and its fine nothing happens when i fire it up its when i drive it, it goes off.

 

Also got a bit of oil coming from the dipstick area and from the front of the actual engine block is that a cause for concern because I'm not actually loosing any oil??

 

Also oil seems very thin its dripping when i take dipstick out is that ok or should it be a bit thicker??

 

Thanks guys

Also the temp gauge never seems to fully hit the halfway mark unless I'm in traffic or idling. While at cruising speeds it drops to a quarter but since i have had it it has never overheated. Any ideas guys???

Also the temp gauge never seems to fully hit the halfway mark unless I'm in traffic or idling. While at cruising speeds it drops to a quarter but since i have had it it has never overheated. Any ideas guys???

 

The thermostat might be stuck open. Mine has always hit the half way mark after just a few miles driving and stays there, so it sounds like yours might be faulty. They are partly plastic and are known to fall to bits. You can buy a complete unit consisting of thermostat housing, thermostat and temp sensor.

 

Like this http://www.theskodashop.co.uk/product/Thermostat_Housing_1.4_8v_MPI_-_Fabia_00%3E07_047121111S

 

Please be sure that yours is the MPI model. You can easily tell as they have no HT leads as the coil pack fits directly onto the spark plugs. There is also a sticker under the boot carpet with the engine code on it. Same sticker is in the front of your service book if you have it.

 

MPI engine codes are usually one of the following:

 

AQW

AME

ATZ

I will get them to check that as well. How expensive will the oil pressure switch, expansion bottle, coolant flush and change and new thermostat and coolant sensor that sits on top cost???

 

New to fabias i know they have small quirks was expecting a few on a 12 yr old car just don't want or need to be racking up big bills :(

I will get them to check that as well. How expensive will the oil pressure switch, expansion bottle, coolant flush and change and new thermostat and coolant sensor that sits on top cost???

 

New to fabias i know they have small quirks was expecting a few on a 12 yr old car just don't want or need to be racking up big bills :(

 

Coolant expansion tanks are under £20 for a proper Skoda one.

 

The coolant sensor comes with the thermostat housing (I posted a link above).

 

Genuine Skoda oil pressure switch is £6.44

 

All bits available here http://www.skodaparts.com/product-finder

Good news then. Im based in Ireland so parts will add to about 50 euro how long would a garage take to do these jobs?? Got to factor in labour costs as well as I'm no mechanic lol.

 

Thanks once again

Good news then. Im based in Ireland so parts will add to about 50 euro how long would a garage take to do these jobs?? Got to factor in labour costs as well as I'm no mechanic lol.

 

Thanks once again

 

I never use garages apart from MOTs so not sure TBH. However,  I could easily do all of that in a few hours I reckon.

 

The part number for the oil pressure switch is 047919081B

 

Part number for header tank is 6Q0121407B

 

Part number for thermostat assembly  047121111S

 

And you're welcome

If its only going to cost me about 100 to 120 il be a happy man. Worried about the oil for some reason tho its not milky but seems very thin also it seems to have a small leak for example the front of the engine seems very dirty and i have noticed a few drips near the oil dipstick and from reading on here that could drip onto the coolant hoses and make its way into the coolant hence why I'm getting a gunky coolant. Its very watery but theres a bit of gunk in there.

 

Like i said not loosing oil or coolant tho so cannot be the head gasket can it??

 

Very happy with the car just hoping i don't have to fork out for the most expensive of all jobs tho :(

Check your head gasket to see if it has the word TEMAC on it on the small corner that pokes out of the front right side of the cylinder head. That indicates whether it has an uprated head gasket or not. Earlier ones were known to fail.

 

I checked this area once again was a bit sludgy/oily cleaned it but could see no marking there. If its not team is it defiantly going to or already failed??

I checked this area once again was a bit sludgy/oily cleaned it but could see no marking there. If its not team is it defiantly going to or already failed??

 

The rocker covers do tend to leak a bit, so it might just be that causing the oil on the engine. It's hard to say without being able to see the car. If it hasn't got the TEMAC head gasket it's a little worrying though. Are you sure you cleaned and looked at the right bit as in the pic above?

Yeah checked yesterday. Will have another look tomorrow if its not raining. Do i have to take the plastic engine cover off to check properly.

 

Yeah a little worried but it has service history until 2008 so should of been changed i would of thought in that time.

 

No oil and coolant leaks is another good sign hopefully.

 

Rocker cover a big job??

 

Thanks buddy

Yeah checked yesterday. Will have another look tomorrow if its not raining. Do i have to take the plastic engine cover off to check properly.

 

Yeah a little worried but it has service history until 2008 so should of been changed i would of thought in that time.

 

No oil and coolant leaks is another good sign hopefully.

 

Rocker cover a big job??

 

Thanks buddy

 

Rocker cover is very easy to remove. Just two nuts and a couple of hoses.

 

I think you can see the TEMAC marking OK with the engine cover still on...... or maybe not, I can't remember. I actually don't run an engine cover on mine. They are only there to look pretty and are a nuisance.

 

Thanks mate thats good to know i shall keep mine on looks good lol:P. If its not on a temac gasket and its not loosing anything should i replace anyway even tho i know its going to be costly??

Thanks mate thats good to know i shall keep mine on looks good lol:P. If its not on a temac gasket and its not loosing anything should i replace anyway even tho i know its going to be costly??

 

Haha

 

If it's a 2002 I would have thought it would have the TEMAC gasket TBH. Have another look when you can and let us know.

Haha

 

If it's a 2002 I would have thought it would have the TEMAC gasket TBH. Have another look when you can and let us know.

Will do cheers mate thanks for your time. Going to chuck it down here tomorrow all day so not hoping to check tomorrow.

 

But yeah its a 2002 with service history at a main skoda dealers until 2008 so hoping its done but will check in due course.

 

Thanks and will keep you posted

Will do cheers mate thanks for your time. Going to chuck it down here tomorrow all day so not hoping to check tomorrow.

 

But yeah its a 2002 with service history at a main skoda dealers until 2008 so hoping its done but will check in due course.

 

Thanks and will keep you posted

 

No probs mate

Well, this might get interesting. If your thermostat is stuck on open, you might have gotten fuel in the oil, causing it to get thinner, followed by a low pressure. Change the thermostat, oil and the oil filter. The oil pressure switch might be working fine after all. I wouldn't replace anything else beside the ones mentioned. 

 

L.E.: try not to drive it for a long time before doing this ... 

Edited 9 December, 201411 yr by Alexandru

Haha

If it's a 2002 I would have thought it would have the TEMAC gasket TBH. Have another look when you can and let us know.

Just had a look mate defiantly says TEMAC in red just poking out the corner you can just about make it out is that correct?? That's put my mind at rest does that mean I should have no problems with the head gasket and that gunk in the coolant is from where it's not been flushed.

Could fuel in the oil cause the thin oil alexandrou?? Thanks guys

Just had a look mate defiantly says TEMAC in red just poking out the corner you can just about make it out is that correct?? That's put my mind at rest does that mean I should have no problems with the head gasket and that gunk in the coolant is from where it's not been flushed.

Could fuel in the oil cause the thin oil alexandrou?? Thanks guys

 

Yes the letters are red! That's good news. Doesn't mean the head gasket can't fail but it's the uprated one so less chance. Not sure about the gunk. Might be just in need of a flush. Let's hope so. The garage should tell you if the gasket is OK or not.

 

What Alexandru means about thin oil is that if the engine's been running cold due to a stuck thermostat, the car's computer will have been letting more fuel into the engine as it thinks the engine is in cold running mode. The fuel can dilute the oil and make it thinner.