Skoda fabia 16v 1.4 automatic transmission fault

[emijomo89]

Hello everybody, this is my first post. (Before making the post I was sure to use the search feature to try to find a solution for my problem but didn't find any, so my apologies if this problem has been talked about before.)

 

So I have a 2002 fabia sedan automatic 1.4 16V, have owned it for a year now and I am satisfied with it. I've experienced the normal faults (according to the internet) that this model comes with, for example the electric front window mechanism breaking down (my solution was to buy the original parts on ebay to make the front windows manual instead of electric) and the thing about how the rear door leaks (haven't fixed this yet but I've seen how it's done), plus other normal things for a car this age.

 

Ever since I bought the car, it did something when I first start it in the morning (or when the car is cold), that it takes a couple of seconds for the transmission to "engage", and when it does you sort of feel a small bump in the engine, but when I purchased the car I investigated on the internet and found out that this is normal and also happens to other cars in the VW group with automatic transmission and I shouldn't worry about it. After the engine is warm, this doesn't happen anymore though, so it's only early in the morning when I go to work, and if I haven't left my office all day (which I usually do) by the time I go home it happens again. If I use the car during work hours, which I sometimes do, it doesn't happen. I guess the car doesn't have time to get "cold". 

 

The thing is that, over time, the delay time has grown from around 2 seconds to +/-15 seconds and I've grown worried. I have taken it to a few different mechanics and they all have told me something different about it so I don't know who to trust. The last shop I took it to was the official skoda one in my city (I don't usually take it there for servicing cause they are quite expensive) and what they did was replace the transmission fluid and filter, which only marginally cut down the delay. Other mechanics have told me things ranging from "it's normal, don't worry about it" to "you have to replace the transmission" and I don't know who to believe. Should I just leave it alone or what should my course of action be? will this end up ruining my transmission?

 

Some googling led me to a post in a VW forum describing a similar problem to mine on a 2004 Jetta, and a member of the forum said that it could be related to the rubber clutch piston seals, that when they get cold they hardened and some transmission fluid leaks, and that when the engine warms up it gets corrected, and that the "condition worsens as the car gets older" but it didn't offer any solutions and didn't even specify if this was a problem that needed to be looked into or not.

 

Thank you for reading this, I know it's long, but I wanted to explain myself with detail to try to get a better response. Also I have minimal knowledge of the inner workings of  engines and transmissions so I hope that I made myself clear!

 

I should mention that If when cold I let the car idle for a few minutes before going, it doesn't happen or the delay time is reduced greatly. Also, other than this fault, the transmission works flawlessly as verified by several mechanics. I should also mention that this only happens when I set the shift to "drive", but when I put it in "reverse" it works just fine, no delays. 

 

TL;DR

• Skoda Fabia 2002 sedan 16v 1.4 classic automatic 4 speed
• When cold, the transmission has delays (+/- 15 seconds) to engage the first gear.
• When the car has been going on for a few minutes this gets corrected and doesn't happen again until the car gets cold again.
• Different mechanics have different opinion as to what causes this and what should be the course of action.

 

thank you very much in advanced for your responses!

 

 

 

 

 

[SKYHAWK]

I got everything to convert it to a 5 speed manual if interested

[KenONeill]

It's not hugely cheap, but if it had done over 80_000km when the fluid was changed, try treating this as a flush and changing the fluid again. I know several people who've had good results with shift issues on other makes by doing that.

[emijomo89]

It's not hugely cheap, but if it had done over 80_000km when the fluid was changed, try treating this as a flush and changing the fluid again. I know several people who've had good results with shift issues on other makes by doing that.

 

The car was nearing 90,000KM when it was changed. Since I bought it a year ago I don't know if the fluid had been replaced with the previous owners so it could be related to this. I'm going to try this, thanks for the advice.

[czechmait]

You may want to read of my previous experiences with 1.4 MPI Fabia auto on

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/331092-fabia-mk1-automatic/

 

I have have two 2001 Fabia 1.4 automatics,one a saloon and one a combi, but both with the AUA engine.

 

I still have the combi I refer to in the listing as having similar characteristics as your car. Recommendation don't throw a lot of money, as I have done.

 

It still drives well, once it's warmed up.

[emijomo89]

You may want to read of my previous experiences with 1.4 MPI Fabia auto on

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/331092-fabia-mk1-automatic/

 

I have have two 2001 Fabia 1.4 automatics,one a saloon and one a combi, but both with the AUA engine.

 

I still have the combi I refer to in the listing as having similar characteristics as your car. Recommendation don't throw a lot of money, as I have done.

 

It still drives well, once it's warmed up.

 

Thank you for your reply. So from my understanding, what you're saying is that I should just leave it be? that's what my regular mechanic said. I was just worried if it would result in more damage over time.

 

Thanks again for the reply. I just thought I'd ask, because I know virtually nothing about engines or transmissions and I don't think I can trust the mechanics when they all say something different, so someone impartial like you guys here would be more trustworthy. 

[emijomo89]

UPDATE:

 

A mechanic in another city about 2 hours away was able to fix this by replacing the rubber clutch piston seals. was done for about €250 which I thought was a steal including parts and labor. I had it done in august but I wanted to leave it be for a few weeks before declaring victory. Very satisfied! now back to enjoying my baby.