Hello. I just bought from a friend this Skoda Felicia LX, 2001. It runs fine (as I can judge from my short experience).

The issues I am facing now is that after driving it, I smell gasoline inside. Someone suggested that it may be the gas cap.

I checked and found it is loose. I need to change it. But in that area it doesn't smell to gas, only inside.

 

Also the dashboard gauges don't work. The speedometer gauge, the gas gauge only goes half the way, RPM gauge is dead as well.

The horn is disconected.

 

When I turn on the air conditioning, it smell to gas.

 

I have attached some pictures hoping you can give me some advice.

 

I know that some will tell me 'hey, go to the car shop and have it checked there...'

But if there is something DIY, I would like some advice. Please check out the pictures.

 

I really appreciate any help you can provide. In the meantime, thank you so much for your attention and participation.

 

(NOTE: I will be posting other missing pictures later as I have to compress them to be able to upload them)

 

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by ObedP

Briefly.

 

Pic number 1. Get a new set of HT leads, as those are shot.

 

Pic number 2. Inspection hole for the flywheel at a guess.

 

Pic number 3. Rev counter/speedo cable by the look of things.

 

Pic number 4.  err...

 

Pic number 5. No idea.

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by Rustynuts

Picture 5 looks like the LP test/fill point o the AC system but the valve has been removed, the air con will definitely not be working

Picture 4 looks like a breather hose maybe that somebody has plugged with a spark plug.

 

Looks like its been botched to high heaven. You need somebody with a bit of knowledge to go through the car and sort it out. I don't think there's much anybody can do online easily without looking in the engine bay and seeing where everything goes

 

You say it smells like gas inside, it could be an exhaust leak you can smell

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by SuperbTWM

The hole in the gearbox (pic 3) looks like the speedo drive is missing. Pic 4 is the speedo drive cable that should be attached to the bit missing from pic 3.

My first impression is: Oh my God! Did you PAY money for this poor Felicia? From a FRIEND?? How many kilometers has on board?

 

Now that I am out of shock, a few things first. Judging by the air conditioning and tachometer, this is a GLX. Unless your 'friend' found a GLX donor car and installed the optional extras.

 

The car looks like has been sitting a LONG time after it was beaten to death. Like I said, it is a miracle the car is still running... I would give the car back immediately.

 

I know that some will tell me 'hey, go to the car shop and have it checked there...'

Wrong assumption. We avoid giving people such 'advice'. Unless they have no tools or no repair skills.

 

The photos:

1. You need new set of spark plug leads.
2. The hole is for the crankshaft sensor on cars with fuel injection. On your engine the hole should be covered with a rubber plug.
3. That is the speedometer cable. Or better said, what's left of it.
4. Your friend cut a piece from the carburettor coolant hose and plugged the hole with a spark plug. A botch.
5. In that hole there should be a Schrader valve for servicing the air conditioning. The A/C system is empty (as in hoses missing, not functional.

The smell of gas: under the back seat there should be a hatch for access to fuel sender. The seal is bad.

The tachometer: can be multiple reasons. Bad wiring from ignition coil to dashboard or bad gauge.

 

My advice: dump the car.

 

The hole in the gearbox (pic 3) looks like the speedo drive is missing.

Wrong.

Pic 4 is the speedo drive cable that should be attached to the bit missing from pic 3.

Wrong.

Thanks for the replies! I wasn't expecting them so fast! 

How can I add more pictures, as the system tells me that I only can upload up to 2MB? I have 5 more pictures to shock Ricardo even more.

 

But I apreciate comments like the one from Rustynuts: "Get a new set of HT leads, as those are shot". That's the spirit!!

I know that the car is in bad condition, but I know that if I replace the parts in need of that, take away the useless cables liying around, and

make some other improvements, the car can be in better working condition. Here in Dominican Republic we don't dump cars so easily. It was sold to me for a really low price. I knew what I was getting into.

 

So how can I upload some other pictures?

Edited 25 February, 201610 yr by ObedP

This forum allows to attach maximum 2 MB of photos in total. If you want to attach more photos, you can upload them to a hosting server and then insert the link to them in your message.

 

PS

The idea is to read my answers carefully. You will find correct answers to all your questions. Also it would be a good idea to answer to my questions.

 

As for replacing the parts that are bad, I would first make sure that the engine is mechanically healthy. The car was sold to you cheap for a reason. Yeah, everything is repairable in theory. But some cars can be very expensive to repair. I believe you didn't buy this car because you have unlimited money to spend. So do yourself a favour and at least make a list with everything you have to buy or repair. Don't buy anything yet.

Edited 25 February, 201610 yr by RicardoM

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ap70tcal5riqr6e/Slide6.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3eynz7dy8mng6pl/Slide7.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t81dynwr9e9y0xc/Slide8.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/clyp2dn6v9lar0z/Slide9.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s8ac1e3n96yu2fi/Slide10.JPG?dl=0

 

The rest of the pictures, for your pleasure.

 

Thank you guys. At least I will go to the shop knowing something before hand. I will be posting pictures as I make changes to the car.

Ricardo, thank you for taking your time to answer. Yes, I will follow your advice about not rushing into buying parts before the car is looked by an expert.

The engine is working fine. Motor oil was changed few months ago and it is clean and clear. I drove the car like 20 kilometers without problems, even selecting the fourth gear. Yes, as you said, it's like a miracle. Only the gas smell when I parked it.

 

I'll keep you posted.

Edited 25 February, 201610 yr by ObedP

The more I see, the more I am shocked. The car l9oks like had been abused to death, hacked, parts ripped from it then the car was buried underground or underwater (flood?). If you go to a car shop, ask them to measure the compression of each cylinder. If that is bad... you can put the car out of it's misery.

 

Explanation of photos:

6 - that is... what is THAT? Mud or epoxy resin blocking totally the air intake for the blower?

7 - yes, a long part of the air duct is missing

8 - that is the fuel pump. UNATTACHED. Probably the previous owner adapted an electric fuel pump.

9 - no idea what is that for. Maybe part of headlights height adjustment.

10 - total disaster

 

For reference I will post below high resolution photos of a well maintained Felicia on carburettor. The only difference is NO air conditioning. The car is 21 years old.

 

 

 

Oh dear that's a bit of a mess all round.. in pic 8 you can just see the end of the electric fuel pump towards the rad. No idea why the heater inlet would be blanked off.

Pic 9 is the pipe for the headlight adjuster. Just tuck it out of the way and ignore that judging by the rest of the pics it's the least of your problems.

Ooooh  my Gooodd!! That is a car that has been well treated, well-maintained. 21 years?? Can't believe it. That's my goal. I know I have a long way to run. We'll see. Thanks Ricardo for the hi-res pictures. I really apreciate that. This is really a comunity!

 

I will keep you posted as I improve the car's condition. If I have more question I'll let you know.

 

Thanks all of you.

If the engine is mechanically sound, you will have to cough 800 - 1,000 USD to get the car back to its original condition. Avoid VIKA parts. They are cheap, I know. Low quality too.

OK then, so far I've been doing some improvements to the car. I've changed the spark plugs and cables, removed all not-working cables that were liying around, changed the engine oil and filter, and the air filter. Next I will stop using water in the cooling system and switch to coolant, as previous owner was using water, something very common  here in my country. The car works fine, too bad it wasn't well mantained before. I also need to check the transmission, as I have to push the clutch pedal all the way to the bottom to disengage gears. It is difficult to select reverse gear. I read that if the clutch isn't disengaging correctly, it will make and ungly noise when changing gears and eventually will wear the pieces down.  I saw on youtube some videos about adjusting the clutch cable so to disengage at a shorter distance. By the way, the clutch pedal feels kind of heavy to push, my feet hurts. Another thing: when I try to start the car early morning, it won't start right away. instead it starts then turns off. Try again like two more time and finally it starts fine, and also at anytime during the day after being driving it. The problem is each morning after the car has been sitting the whole night. So, questions:

 

1- Any suggestion about cleaning the cooling system before switching to coolant?

2- May be the starting issue be a problem with the fuel pump or filter?

3- Can I adjust the clutch cable myself? is there a way to make it more smooth?

4- How can I change the transmission oil on this Felicia?

5- How can I change the fuel filter, as I suspect it hasn't been changed since long ago?

 

Looking forward to hear from you with your suggestions.

Edited 13 March, 201610 yr by ObedP

1- Any suggestion about cleaning the cooling system before switching to coolant?

Flush it with water first, then with a commercial solution designed specifically for that. There is a drain plug in the engine block right above the oil pressure switch. Use it for better cleaning the block.

2- May be the starting issue be a problem with the fuel pump or filter?

Yes.

3- Can I adjust the clutch cable myself? is there a way to make it more smooth?

Yes. You need Skoda service manual. See PM.

4- How can I change the transmission oil on this Felicia?

See PM.

5- How can I change the fuel filter, as I suspect it hasn't been changed since long ago?

See PM.

Adjusting a clutch is easy. Just put a socket on the end of the clutch cable and hold the round thingy on it steady and either loosen or tighten the cable. Then push the cluych a few times and check if it needs more adjusting