Hello everyone hope you're all doing great.

I received a 2005 Fabia from my parents and despite it's very low milage (25k) the car has been abused over the years.

Here is a list of issues that are present in order of importance. Please provide some insight as to what those issues are a result of.

1. Engine shaking when car is stationary (engine also stalls when in park or neutral)

2. Drop in power (also accompanied by slightly different engine note)

3. Unsteady idle (eventually leads to a stall)

 

Please let me know what you think is going on

 

Can you tell us what the badge on the back says regarding the engine type?

@M_eissa - I can't say more without knowing which engine and gearbox are fitted (I'm guessing it's an automatic from (1)?) but this sounds like it could be an idle control fault. Does it run better hot or cold? Do you know anyone who could read engine faults from the Engine Management System? Is an orange light showing a picture of an engine (Check Engine Light) illuminated when the engine is running?

I'm going with a failing coil pack unless it's a diesel, which I doubt.

Agreed, if it's a petrol, but with no other details (including owner's nation of residence) we can't rule anything out yet, so I was trying asking general diagnostic questions.

4 hours ago, Wino said:

Can you tell us what the badge on the back says regarding the engine type?

It's the 1.4 naturally aspirated engine

2 hours ago, KenONeill said:

@M_eissa - I can't say more without knowing which engine and gearbox are fitted (I'm guessing it's an automatic from (1)?) but this sounds like it could be an idle control fault. Does it run better hot or cold? Do you know anyone who could read engine faults from the Engine Management System? Is an orange light showing a picture of an engine (Check Engine Light) illuminated when the engine is running?

Well it's the naturally aspirated 1.4 petrol engine and it is indeed an automatic. It runs better when hot and I do plan on taking it to a service center however I just wanted some insight before then. There are not engine lights flashing on the dashboard.

42 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Agreed, if it's a petrol, but with no other details (including owner's nation of residence) we can't rule anything out yet, so I was trying asking general diagnostic questions.

My nation of residence is Egypt. According to my limited understanding, the 2005 fabias in Egypt have been manufactured to Egyptian standards which are definitely lower than international standards.

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

I'm going with a failing coil pack unless it's a diesel, which I doubt.

If I'm not mistaken I believe the car is currently running on 3 cylinders so my guess is perhaps the spark plugs

4 minutes ago, M_eissa said:

If I'm not mistaken I believe the car is currently running on 3 cylinders so my guess is perhaps the spark plugs

I'd think spark plugs or coil pack(s) then. The usual test  if you can't borrow a known good coil pack is to identify which cylinder the misfire is on, and swap that coil pack with one of the others. If the misfile follows the suspect coil pack you need a new coil pack and if it stays put, replace all 4 spark plugs (they're usually only available in engine sets).

 

The reasons for asking about nationality are that vehicle specifications and trim, and consumer rights legislation, very from nation to nation.

2 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

I'd think spark plugs or coil pack(s) then. The usual test  if you can't borrow a known good coil pack is to identify which cylinder the misfire is on, and swap that coil pack with one of the others. If the misfile follows the suspect coil pack you need a new coil pack and if it stays put, replace all 4 spark plugs (they're usually only available in engine sets).

 

The reasons for asking about nationality are that vehicle specifications and trim, and consumer rights legislation, very from nation to nation.

Thank you so much for your input. I've also been told that Skoda models starting from 2003 onwards have been manufactured in Egypt which unfortunately has resulted in a large batch of Skodas which aren't as well put together as international variants.

1 hour ago, M_eissa said:

Thank you so much for your input. I've also been told that Skoda models starting from 2003 onwards have been manufactured in Egypt which unfortunately has resulted in a large batch of Skodas which aren't as well put together as international variants.

 

That may be but the complete drivetrain is still built in Germany.

 

You may also have an EGR problem, you should check that the CEL comes on with the ignition and then goes off once started.

I suspect it's been tampered with.

2 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

 

That may be but the complete drivetrain is still built in Germany.

 

You may also have an EGR problem, you should check that the CEL comes on with the ignition and then goes off once started.

I suspect it's been tampered with.

You are 100% correct. I will definitely mention that when I get the car inspected. The CEL does not come on at all though. 

6 minutes ago, M_eissa said:

You are 100% correct. I will definitely mention that when I get the car inspected. The CEL does not come on at all though. 

 

There will be codes, post those codes here and we can tell you what needs doing so you don't waste money on work you don't need.

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

 

There will be codes, post those codes here and we can tell you what needs doing so you don't waste money on work you don't need.

Will do, thank you so much.