Picked up the VRS Fabia just over a week ago (Wife calls it the LABIA 😊)

It is a fun car to drive for sure – nibble handling and keen acceleration. It’s the opposite of my ford galaxy even though it has the exact same engine in it !

 

I think I’m going to enjoy it as the daily hack to work.

It has a number of issues I’m working on, some I can fix others I may need assistance.

 

2006 model 128k miles Black

Was owned by my car numpty Brother in law for the last 2 years = Only ever put fuel in it, no oil changes (roll eyes smiley)😨

This weekend I did all the routine servicing, I’m sure I heard the car give a small sigh of relief as the new oil went in.

Change the pollen filter – I think the old one was probably last changed in 2009 when the 3 year servicing was last done; I think a small bird family has lived there previously. Surprisingly the air con still works 😊

 

I noticed that it was losing water too. About a litre per day, of course BIL says he never had to top it up. It took me a while to diagnose the source of the leak – the two rubber O rings where the heater matrix connects to the two aluminium pipes inside the engine bay at the back.

It was a bit fiddly to remove all those clips but got the job done and now all good. Cost 8p for two O-rings 😊  those aluminium pipes are very soft and can squash easily, be careful how you clamp the clips if you do this (don’t ask how I know this!)

 

EGR valve – I always give these a good clean on all my diesels, they are usually very mucky and sometimes 50% blocked, this one was no exception. With the current MOT regs I decided to have it clean and working rather than blanking/removing. Its easy to do and will probably only need doing every 2 years or so.

The car is very clunky over bumps – I have not had time to check this out yet but I suspect (and hope) it’s Drop links – It this a common wear point on these? Or are they quick at wearing out other suspension components?

 

It sounds like 1 or 2 wheel bearings are a bit noisy – I will need to investigate and replace these

 

The brakes are very poor – both in performance and balance. I will be buying a full set of Brembo brakes and pads and making sure all callipers are working fully and go back like new. I will also bleed out the old brake fluid.

 

Drivers window, the switch is a bit broken and the window is very squeaky on operation ?

 

Central locking – the drivers door always opens, but sometimes you have to press the button 3 or 4 times before other doors unlock – the locks stay down sometimes – is this an easy fix?

 

The drivers seat belt retracts poorly – is this common – is there any easy fix?

 

Also the seat has a hole – apparently they all do – can you buy a new seat skin or is it worth removing it and having it repaired/sewn up?

 

It’s a fun car I can see why people enjoy them – I may keep it for a while.

8 hours ago, Mr-Tickle said:

Quote

The car is very clunky over bumps – I have not had time to check this out yet but I suspect (and hope) it’s Drop links – It this a common wear point on these? Or are they quick at wearing out other suspension components?

 

Yes.

 

 

 

Quote

The drivers seat belt retracts poorly – is this common – is there any easy fix?

 

 

Pull it all the way out and polish it with Mr Sheen or similar. Usually works great.

Edited 23 July, 20196 yr by TMB

Remove oil under tray. Have a good look around radiator / coolant hoses. Look around bottom corners of radiator for dripping coolant. Or it could be various places it leaks from. Mine leaked and needed replacing.

 

Full suspension replacement probably needed at 128k. Springs shocks droplinks , ARB bushes. Console bushes to Cupra ones. Mine did 80 ISH and all 4 shocks were shot. Top mounts too. If doing front struts, you might as well replace wheel bearing whilst hub out.

 

New calipers probably needed? Check condition of rubber seals.

 

You will probably need to upgrade boost pipes too if it smokes on acceleration.

 

£££

 

505.01 pd oil. 

 

9 minutes ago, bmbmdmb said:

Remove oil under tray. Have a good look around radiator / coolant hoses. Look around bottom corners of radiator for dripping coolant. Or it could be various places it leaks from. Mine leaked and needed replacing.

 

 

 

 

He's already fixed the coolant leak.

Oh yes the 8p rubber o rings. Skim reading...

On 23/07/2019 at 10:19, Mr-Tickle said:

Picked up the VRS Fabia just over a week ago (Wife calls it the LABIA 😊)

It is a fun car to drive for sure – nibble handling and keen acceleration. It’s the opposite of my ford galaxy even though it has the exact same engine in it !

 

I think I’m going to enjoy it as the daily hack to work.

It has a number of issues I’m working on, some I can fix others I may need assistance.

 

2006 model 128k miles Black

Was owned by my car numpty Brother in law for the last 2 years = Only ever put fuel in it, no oil changes (roll eyes smiley)😨

This weekend I did all the routine servicing, I’m sure I heard the car give a small sigh of relief as the new oil went in.

Change the pollen filter – I think the old one was probably last changed in 2009 when the 3 year servicing was last done; I think a small bird family has lived there previously. Surprisingly the air con still works 😊

 

I noticed that it was losing water too. About a litre per day, of course BIL says he never had to top it up. It took me a while to diagnose the source of the leak – the two rubber O rings where the heater matrix connects to the two aluminium pipes inside the engine bay at the back.

It was a bit fiddly to remove all those clips but got the job done and now all good. Cost 8p for two O-rings 😊  those aluminium pipes are very soft and can squash easily, be careful how you clamp the clips if you do this (don’t ask how I know this!)

 

EGR valve – I always give these a good clean on all my diesels, they are usually very mucky and sometimes 50% blocked, this one was no exception. With the current MOT regs I decided to have it clean and working rather than blanking/removing. Its easy to do and will probably only need doing every 2 years or so.

The car is very clunky over bumps – I have not had time to check this out yet but I suspect (and hope) it’s Drop links – It this a common wear point on these? Or are they quick at wearing out other suspension components?

 

It sounds like 1 or 2 wheel bearings are a bit noisy – I will need to investigate and replace these

 

The brakes are very poor – both in performance and balance. I will be buying a full set of Brembo brakes and pads and making sure all callipers are working fully and go back like new. I will also bleed out the old brake fluid.

 

Drivers window, the switch is a bit broken and the window is very squeaky on operation ?

 

Central locking – the drivers door always opens, but sometimes you have to press the button 3 or 4 times before other doors unlock – the locks stay down sometimes – is this an easy fix?

 

The drivers seat belt retracts poorly – is this common – is there any easy fix?

 

Also the seat has a hole – apparently they all do – can you buy a new seat skin or is it worth removing it and having it repaired/sewn up?

 

It’s a fun car I can see why people enjoy them – I may keep it for a while.

 

Rear brakes can be improved slightly by fitting calliper springs as the rears are known for sticking. I've put MTEC disks and EBC Greenstuff pads on mine and they've done me well for over 2 years now no issues. 

Switch packs are notorious for stopping working, people press the switch harder assuming it does something then break the plastic surround - I was going to investigate new switches but you can now buy the boards on ebay much cheaper than getting the switches and swapping things over. 

Central locking - again, likely that switch pack as mine does it too, I just unlock and lock on the key and use the button for the alarm - you get used to it, it works now and again, oddly enough when it's damp...

Never had an issue with my seat belts although they are slowing - I may give the sheen trick a try.

Keep an eye on your rear footwells, rear doors leak water in. 

If you have issues selecting reverse and 1st, see threads on "Shim Mod"

There's a thread on here you may want to check out - the really useful mk1 fabia thread or something like that, it's pinned in the guides.