Hi folks,

I have been running my Fabia Mk2 64 plate 1.2tsi Monte Carlo for about a month now. I have to say I was only out “looking” at cars when I found it or it found me. Told my son I didn’t want a black or white car as they aren’t colours, but contrasts. My son thinks it’s highly amusing my car is white with black roof, but I like it. This thing drives like a go kart.

I tried the base Fabia Mk3, but found there is more cabin space in the Mk2, of course I didn’t have the money for a Mk3 anyway and the seats are much better in the Monte.

 I like looking at other people’s Fabia’s (Oft caught the spell checker on time there changing the F to an L, it could have been bad!). I especially like the cars with the big stick on vinyl sun visors at the top of the windscreen. I would like one myself, but I have found that it’s the top of the windscreen I look thru. Even the standard internal visors when flipped down can impede my view.

So I am looking for advice. My Monti is rather noisy when driving. I ran a dB sound app on my phone and it peaks at 83dB when doing anything over 50mph. The car idles almost silently at lights etc, there is no audible exhaust rasping and it was MOT’d at the end of September with no advisories. There are no error lights on the dash.

I was wondering if this is normal? Does everyone’s Monti roar like hell? I put some carpet underlay under the boot floor and it made a slight difference. In fact the best sound deadening I got it was when I had three full shopping bags in the boot. I cannot do that every day though, may end up with earplugs in at this rate. It is nice being back in a Skoda and will be better when I can quieten it down inside. Any relevant advice welcome.  

Cheers Alan

Please advise what tyres are fitted. Are they Bridgestones?

Hello xman

 

No the tyres are 205/40 17 continentals.

Even though through the MOT with no advisories it might have the exhaust modified, maybe the resonator stripped out, or the back box modified.

They are not a noisy car really.

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& Have you tied changing the tyre pressures up or down a few PSI?

Usual complaint is road noise which comes from the tyres. You have the widest and lowest profile tyres possible which will give you the hardest and noisiest ride.

 

Different tyres help but won't eliminate one of Skoda's perennial weak points.

 

Search for a low noise tyre (eu db ratings)

 

https://www.camskill.co.uk/m54b0s13p0/Car_Tyres_-_MPV_Tyres_-_People_Carrier_Tyres_-_17_inch_R17_inch_-_205_40_17_205_40R17

 

As ski says, the exhaust may be modified. In standard form, the 1.2tsi is very quiet at speed, dominated by road and wind noise.

Edited 27 October, 20187 yr by xman

Hi xman,

Thank you, hmm oh that will impress the boss. So a nice set of ugly 15 in steel wheels with normal tyres on it are the way forward!? Damn they don't look as nice. Oh well looks like the ear plugs option. Thanks for your help. Cheers Alan

If you see another similar car for sale at a dealers maybe have a drive of it.

205/40 R 17's are the standard fit on all Mk2 Monte Carlo and vRS Fabia and are not noisy really, brand  / tread dependent, neither are 215/40 R 17.

But then that might be down to what people are used to.

 

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So have you tried adjusting the tyre pressures?

Hello Offski,

No I have not tried adjusting the tyre pressures. I will try bumping it up a bit to see if that makes a difference. It's a bit of a nusiance. So worth considering sound deadening pads?

Do you know what they are before thinking on bumping up, and have you ever set the TPMS?

 

There are threads on here from those that have added sound deadening from thinking their Fabia was noisy.

People try that but generally limited success.

 

Again as Ski says, try another similar car, its quite possible an owner has modified the exhaust system. Simple check, look for centre box midway under car, is it missing?

Hi Offski, 

Dear goodness it is a minefield. I think I will just turn up the basic radio as it has a thumping bass so my son tells me and then leave everything else alone. 

Hi xman,

Hmm okay will run my phone on video under the car tomorrow to check the exhaust. Was mildly concerned it may have been the turbo packing up. Cheers Alan

?

Just nosy, but where are you in Scotland and who sold you the Fabia?

 

PS,

on the driving like a go-kart, if it does not look like it is on stilts there might be lowering springs fitted as well as an exhaust mod.

Maybe an alignment check might be in order.

Edited 27 October, 20187 yr by Offski

I got it from Parks Skoda Hamilton. So near there.

LOL.

I used to have a son lived up the road.

He had a Mk2 Fabia vRS.

 

So Parks will never have even noticed if the exhaust was modded.     Was it a local car.  There are some members here local to you, one with a very modded White with Black Roof Monte Diesel.

Another good friend is near with a Fabia vRS. 

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/34819-parks-hamilton/?page=2

 

Edited 27 October, 20187 yr by Offski

Mine is petrol and I would like to know more history, but don't particularly want it to disappear if you know what I mean.

Did you get the Service History and any Warranty History?

Just ask Parks at the Service Desk to print off what is on the system or ask Skoda UK Customer Services.

http://skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us

 

I checked the exhaust this morning and it has a tubular mid box and a rather big rectangular back box.

Oh well ear plugs are cheaper than new wheels and more rubber. 

The Mid Box can be stripped internally.  Some do that....

So probably standard exhaust. Some heavy carpet in the spare wheel well takes the edge of the rear roar. A boot full of duvets is even better...

Okay dokey Offski and xman

 

Just looking at reusable ear plugs at the moment. Better get some spares for future passengers!.

 

Thanks for your time.

 

It's been reassuring that at least the noise is normal due to the wheel/tyre choice etc. Maybe look at picking up some steel wheels when I win the lottery!

Car runs and stops fine so cannot have everything.

I don't think I will bother with the sound deadening pads as Jury still seems out.

 

I definately noticed a tonal/pitch difference on the noise with the three shopping bags in the boot, but stuff going shopping every week!.

Hmm a big roll of bubble wrap in the boot... no too distracting. 

Cheers Alan

 

If Steel Wheels and winter tyres interest you then check out Briskoda 'For Sale' ads they come up on occasion, and maybe local to you.

I finally got the answer to the deafening noise in my car.

 

It was a knackered drivers side front wheel bearing!.

I have only had the car for 6 weeks and have only done 2000 miles in it.

I bought it on 1/10/18. 

It had been MOT'd on 27/9/18 with no advisories.

I have never heard of a wheel bearing going in 6 weeks/2000 miles,, but according to the service department a wheel bearing is a consumable. 

 

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When did you hear they go, how many miles or months from new, or from someone buying a used car?

 

If they are going to go it has to be sometime, and if you knew when that was you would replace wheel bearing before they go.

 

A wheel bearing can go anytime, you maybe went over a speed hump too hard / fast as an example and that was its last hoorah.

 

?

Was the MOT test station at the Dealership that sold the car? Is the MOT Examiner a Dealership Employee?   

EG, Arnold Clark Dealership sold car that was MOT'd at a Arnold Clark MOT Test Bay.

Or Evans Halshaw, Parks, Henrys, West End, John Clark, Ingrams, Bridgend etc etc.

Edited 11 November, 20187 yr by Offski

The noise had been getting worse since I got the car, thus i presume the wheel bearing was going when I got the car.

So if it was MOT'd on 27/9/18 surely an MOT checks for wheel bearing play movement? 

The car then sat in the forecourt until 29/9/18 when it was driven say 20 miles to the garage i bought it from. I pick it up on 1/10/18 and its making a fair bit of noise - sporty roar it was described as. 83dB of noise almost constantly-louder when accelerating.

 

Well that was the culprit and its fixed now thank goodness.

Now its just lovely quiet road noise.