Hi all,

 

 

So as I mentioned in the introducing topic,i have an X reg 1.4 MPi Classic Fabia.Bought it from a friend it has only done 68k.But it does not mean it is faultless. I have read some before posting or asking stupid things.My problems seem to be very common in Fabia area.These are the following:

 

- flickering lights

- PS icon often comes on the dash 

- expansion tank (replaced - had the temp icon on every morning)

 

As I have read the flickering lights and PS problem can be caused by faulty angle sensor.How can I be sure? Obviously i would not like to spend hundreds on parts I dont need.

 

Other thing is,the engine does not get warm.I post up a pic that show how the temp gauge sits after 16miles driving.The picture was taken early morning,outside temperature was around 4.On the afternoons on the way back from work,the engine temp goes higher a little bit, but the gauge reaches the vertical only if i sit in the traffic.If I can drive 30-40mph countinously or get out on the motorway it cools down again. Is it a thermostat problem?IIRC my friend replaced that about a year ago.Also fuel consumption...I am not really happy with it.You can see on the pic how much miles i have done since i have filled it up.On the way back from work the fuel light came on as well at 300 miles.Is this normal?I expected better mpg .

 

Thanks for all the help.

 

This site does not accept my dropbox or photobucket so I just leave the link here for the pic:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ioawx7nddqr6nw9/IMAG0483.jpg?dl=0

 

 

 

Cold running will be a broken thermostat - part number 047121111S.  Get the fault codes read for the steering and look at the live data for the angle sensor, though from the symptoms that you describe it could be battery related.  Does the battery light come on? is it charging correctly?, how old is the battery?

 

The MPi is an old Skoda design engine, so fuel consumption will not be as good as the more modern designs.

Fuel consumption will be worse if the thermostat is stuck open as more fuel will be injected if the computer thinks the engine is cold. However, they are not particularly economical engines anyway as they are very old-fashioned.

 

I had the flickering lights issue which turned out to be a poor battery. A small amount of flickering when moving the steering wheel is normal even with a good battery as the steering pump consumes a lot of current.

I have not checked the age of battery yet but the car always starts fine,turns over fast and the battery light only comes on when the key is in ignition position.It goes off if the engine runs.The engine surely gets warm as it starts to blow warmish air after 3-4 mins.

Yes that is my thought as well,if the ECU thinks the engine is cold it gives more fuel.

That is not a small amount of flickering, i can see it in the dark on the motorway even when i dont turn the wheel but only drives straight.The  power steering light comes on regularly but most of the times it goes off if I restart the engine.

If it's flickering when going straight it could be the steering angle sensor.

My Fabias headlights dim quite a lot when steering and all the dash lights do aswell, is this normal? Battery seems fine and it also charges fine?

 

Sorry for hi-jacking your thread by the way mate.

Just went to petrol station to fill it up and did the math I got 29mpg.Hmm,that is not so good .

Drove it 1 mile and checked the radiator and it was warmish already so the thermostat could be open and that is why the engine does not get warm enough.