I`ve just put an item on the Roomster thread but thought I`d bring it to attention here, as both models share the same front end. Mine suffered some sort of f.o.d. damage probably a stone which went straight between the gaps in the plastic grille, situated under the number plate, and put a hole in what looks like the radiator, but I`m led to believe is the A/C condensor (expensive)..Has been patched by Skoda assist on call out. Now looking at some threads on the Octy forum its seems to be a quite common fault there as well, as Skoda have produced a mesh to fit behind the grille to protect the radiators etc from this kind of damage..

 

    Just interested to see if any MK2 Fabia owners have suffered the same incident....Ran a MK2 estate in the past without any incident..More info on the Roomster thread..Many thanks for any help you can give

I posted a reply in that thread.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/357566-an-expensive-design-flaw-on-skodas

I was thinking the exact same thing the other day. I have to change my commute route in the colder months to avoid poor roads which break up. I have dents in the ac condenser/radiator but luckily no puncture!

I'm about to have a search on amazon for some grill mesh,halfords only sell cheap looking stuff!

A lot of cars suffer the same "design flaw". The Octavia included.

 

I just bought some of this;

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291200584095?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

And installed it behind the lower grille of my Octavia;

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uVTTE6wVxAnCwRt5OU8nc7_7cejLILDV7w/view?usp=sharing

Unfortuantely mine has suffered exactly the same damage! :(

 

I got a quote from Skoda for the replacement part - £640 which is an absolute joke! Simply clever, I think not!

My next Fabia will be having some of the mesh Phil mentions above applied.

I think radiators can be found under £100 on ebay although its knowing how to fit it.

Looks good and reasonably priced.

Is it a bumper off job or undertray off and work from below?

No idea on the Fabia I'm afraid. On the Octavia there is sufficient access from above without removing anything.

 

Things may be a little tighter on the Fabia.

 

Phil

Unfortuantely mine has suffered exactly the same damage! :(

 

I got a quote from Skoda for the replacement part - £640 which is an absolute joke! Simply clever, I think not!

My next Fabia will be having some of the mesh Phil mentions above applied.

I think radiators can be found under £100 on ebay although its knowing how to fit it.

 

My sympathy...I take it yours is like mine under warranty...Faced with such a bill I think I`ll have a spurious part fitted by an independent and then get some of the mesh fitted..All the best

Unfortuantely mine has suffered exactly the same damage! :(

 

I got a quote from Skoda for the replacement part - £640 which is an absolute joke! Simply clever, I think not!

My next Fabia will be having some of the mesh Phil mentions above applied.

I think radiators can be found under £100 on ebay although its knowing how to fit it.

 

£70.00 at eurocarparts. Needs to be done ay a trained a/c chap as system will need to be drained and then vac tested after fitting. About £100 plus rad 

Yep Paully - it was the warranty has run out now.

 

Thanks Wakey. I had been debating about whether I could do the fitment myself. There is absolutely no air con gas in it, takes less than 2 weeks for it to leak out completely.

I have bought some mesh to place behind the lower front grill and will let you know how I get on.. Pics to follow (if all goes well!)

I have bought some mesh to place behind the lower front grill and will let you know how I get on.. Pics to follow (if all goes well!)

cool thanks look forward to seeing the pics 

Anyone managed to claim on insurance? A bit like windscreen damage. Suppose a half brick was thrown up from a truck's twin back wheels and trashed your bonnet - that would be covered! Similar problem, smaller stone.....