Hi, would appreciate your advice please. My Fabia 1.4 Elegance 03 Plate has done just over 40K miles and has suddenly developed lots of problems. 

 

To get through the MOT it needs new front bushes and new front brake disks and pads which is fine but it has developed other problems.

 

The clutch is right at the top so this needs replacing

 

1. The back door lock was stuck shut but suddenly unlocked the other day so I have pulled the fuse out. Already replaced this once before.

2. The front driver door only opens intermittently. If it does not open then you have to lean over from the passenger side and pull the inside handle. Then it unlocks

3.  found the passenger window sightly open the other day. I pressed the button to close it. There was lots of crunching and now the window just flaps around. I have wedged it up with cardboard.

4. The EPS light has come on a few  times. The RAC chap said the code said there was a wrong voltage going to the control unit. He said it was a badly conditioned battery due to short trips or could be the engine

management unit playing up. He suggested charging the battery for 24 hours to condition it. It has not happened again since doing this.

 

So the car needs:

New front bushes (quoted £170+vat)

New front brake disks and pads (quoted 150+vat)

New brake fluid (quoted £50+vat)

Oil change and filter (quoted £50+vat)

New clutch (not got price yet but assuming it will not be cheap)

Sort the two door locks (quoted £500+vat) - garage said no guarantee because it could be wiring loom problem if intermittent or the engine management unit.

Sort the door window (not had quote yet)

 

Is it worth sorting all this on an 03 car or should I call it a day. Had it for 11 years so cannot complain too much.

 

Thanks

 

 

Those prices are CRAZY, find a good VAG independant garage near you and get another quote for all the work. The lock units need replacing as does the window regulator.

 

There's a lot of standard service work in your list and I'd ignore the clutch completely until it actually starts slipping.

 

Run away from that garage as fast as you can because any morons that mention the engine management unit in relation to a central locking issue deserve no money whatsoever.

 

It would help if we knew where you are, then you might get a recommendation.

Agreed. I actually think the door locks might well be wiring, but I think the price for the door looms is more like £50.

As above, post your location so you can get some recommendations on a VAG indy specialist.   I would avoid the garage who've quoted those prices and given that information at all costs. 

 

Based on your quote for the brake fluid change alone that garage is x3 more expensive than what I've just paid (£20.83). I dare say their other prices are inflated just as much.  

 

Get a diagnostic scan on the car done by a local indy specialist and go from there. Most garages won't trust the diagnostics done by others anyway.   Expect to pay ~£50 for a scan.   

 

We have a '03 Golf GTI and locking modules and window regulators seem to be a nightmare for VAG cars of this vintage and one common bit of advice I've found when it comes to replacing them is to buy OEM or used OEM parts, the (much) cheaper copy parts are cheaper for a reason, a false economy.   BUT... 2 x new OEM door locking modules + fitting still won't come to £600! 

 

EDIT:  Also, if the rest of the car is in good working order and has been well maintained then try keep hold of it.  Get those problems sorted (hopefully for much cheaper) and you'll have a car that should only require MoT and service costs for the next few years.  Most of the parts you're having problems with are just failing due to old age and after recently scouring the market for 2000-05 VAG cars it seems these are all common 'wear and tear' issues; 15 years seems about right.   You also have 11 years worth of history with the car, if you sell this then you're going to buy another car where you have no idea what type of life it's had or what type of money pit you could be taking on. 

Edited 29 August, 20187 yr by penguin17

I also suggest looking at the VCDS members map here on briskoda to find a helpful local member who has VCDS & may be able to help with the door locks (fitting new) for beer money....

 

I'm not one to just jump straight on the "scrap break/sell" route if its low miler car otherwise but something else to consider ?
With that shopping list of faults, even at DIY it can become a bit of a headache, but if you have the perserverance to fix on what is otherwise a good car then good luck to you ( I'd aim to DIY myself).

Its just those old engines are sadly utterly ridiculous on tax hit versus their actual perforamnce, so maybe factor that in. I know as I had one before my next purchase my Fabia 1 vRS which seemed a gift from heaven in comparison ! Endless performance and was £120 odd tax initially.

Whilst the 1.4  cost 230 p/a makes for £2300 over a decade given away to the gov't :/

If you are planning to keep a car for a decade you might find a low tax car like a good used Citigo 1.0 ( to 2015) is giving you £2300 in effect towards a replacement low emissions car ( pre 2017 due to GOVT SCAM) over 10 years - just a thought on the "give it up" direction ?

If you were lucky you might find one for not much more than that and then it will pay for itself against you keeping the 1.4, sorry but true.

Drive really well for a 1.0 too make the 1.4 seem really dated, although that said those engines seem to be pretty solid and bullet proof not sure the same can be said yet for the smaller 3 cylinder as I haven't heard much for/against yet but they have been out a while and not heard of anything too bad yet ( if so enlighten me).

 

I’m my opinion from working in the trade move it on.

you obviously have some electrical faults and with all the other faults it’s just getting expensive on a car worth not a lot of money. Then if you do repair it what if something else fails it just never ending. 

I don’t think the pricing is that bad tbh. 

The brake fluid like mentioned I assume you mean brake fluid change? We charge 45+vat now by the time you supply 1l brake fluid remove all the wheels connect brake bleeder bleed brakes rebuild road test all said and done it’s 45 mins. 

I’d look at p/x buy something newer and cut your losses doesn’t make sense throw money at it. Clutch your looking at £300 min. Best of luck 

Could be a reasonable car for someone for sure.

Trouble is the archaic engine design and high tax bracket sadly will put a lot of people off doing it, but these cars would otherwise last forever with the right love.

 

But in comparison -
Just sold my 2009 46k Fabia 1.2HTP used by my wife and only 1 previous bought direct from Skoda ( with £140 odd tax) and reasonably decent car for £1650, just to put it into perspective ( in favour for a Citigo)

( Just wish now I'd got the PRE face lift Citigo £20 VED tax rather than the one we just got that is £145/year lol - with no PID option just a bracket for a phone - and £7k ligher - feel like I've been done lol ).

56 minutes ago, vRSAnt said:

Could be a reasonable car for someone for sure.

Trouble is the archaic engine design and high tax bracket sadly will put a lot of people off doing it, but these cars would otherwise last forever with the right love.

 

But in comparison -
Just sold my 2009 46k Fabia 1.2HTP used by my wife and only 1 previous bought direct from Skoda ( with £140 odd tax) and reasonably decent car for £1650, just to put it into perspective ( in favour for a Citigo)

( Just wish now I'd got the PRE face lift Citigo £20 VED tax rather than the one we just got that is £145/year lol - with no PID option just a bracket for a phone - and £7k ligher - feel like I've been done lol ).

 

Jesus, where have we got to that £50 a YEAR more for road tax is a deal breaker for some people!

 

That's a POUND per week, are you serious?

17 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

Jesus, where have we got to that £50 a YEAR more for road tax is a deal breaker for some people!

 

That's a POUND per week, are you serious?

 

I am just wondering where on earth did you pluck £50 more a year from ?

 

Just trying to work it out, so far badly.
Assuming this is about cars I have mentioned/own/owned/commented on

2009 Fabia 1.2 htp to 2017+ 1.0 citigo - nothing in it about same boo :(

Fabia 1.2 htp to 2016- citigo - £145-20 saving a year = £1250 a decade
Citigo 2017 to 2016- citigo - £140-20 saving a year = £1200 a decade

Fabia 1.4 to 1.2 HTP - saving £230-140 a year = £900 over a decade

Fabia 1.4 to 1.0 citigo etc - saving £210 a year = £2100 over a decade ?

( personally, I think thats nothing to be sneezed about, its like a nice deposit on your NEXT car )

Those foolish people saving pennies on things like VED, its not like these cars are intended at frugal owners or anything with their meaty high performance engines
Care to elaborate the source of the £50 a year figure ?

Edited 30 August, 20187 yr by vRSAnt

£20 tax wont stay that low for 10 years though.

And your buying a newer car anyway which will depreciate massively in 10 years so you aren't gaining anything

True, could be maybe or not ?

They seem to roll out changes more on new years rather than cause upset by suddenly forcing taxes overnght for older cars so to see a dramatic change I'd expect this to maybe take longer as its easier to penalise those with the money ( buying newer cars) it seems lately.....

Not necessarily buying that much newer though either? Does it really have to be huge depreciation ?
Couple of citigos on ebay for £27-3k ish mark, though finding non CAT cars seems a minefield on older cars

But for the prudent buyer looking for a good example and low tax bracket could be a winner.

Anyway - Cars are about using and getting the most from them and enjoying them too, hardly any appreciate or stay still anyway so loss of value is just a fact of life of cars ?

All my Skodas so far have depreciated to not cost me more than £1k a year in loss for their benefit of having very reliable cars generally.

 

( +initial benefit of warranty and reliability even beyond this, without the scratting about and russian routette that many do by buying at the low end/older end of the used car spectrum ).

Get a 2nd opinion on your repairs,and decide if you can afford to fix it and run it.

 

You have a 15 year old car with 40K miles on it - thats less than 3k miles a year, perhaps time for a tradein.