OK , had the car just over 3 years now, and plan to start servicing the car myself.

The engine is a 1.2 TSI 4 Cylinder petrol. I haven't had a petrol engine for 25 years.

 

It is due it's 4 fixed service at 60,000km / 37,200 miles but only 38 months.

Are the long life spark plugs due at 40,000 miles? Might do them at the same time.

 

Do the spark plug leads need a tool to remove them properly?

It looks like there is a coil pack for each cylinder which is held in by a bolt?

 

Anything else worth knowing? I can buy from TPS.

 

Thanks AG Falco

At 4 years plugs and air filter are due to be changed.  The connector on the coils is released by the usual VW Group method, ie push the connector firmly into the coil socket, then tilt the locking tab to lift it clear, then while keeping it tilted pull the connector off the coil. Remove the coil retaining bolt and ease the coil up using a large screwdriver under the coil.  I have the correct tool to withdraw these coils, but unless you have extreme strength, I found that you still need to lever/help the coil up.  These cars use newer style of plugs so I could not use my Laser Tools plug socket as it would not fit down onto the plug's hex end, instead I had to use an old plug socket - which worked okay, but now I've drilled out my Laser Tools long slim socket so it now fits these plugs as well as still fitting the "normal" plugs!  My wife's 2015 Polo had NGK plugs fitted at factory and replaced with same, the NGK website might have messed up the actual plug model reference and it showed the 90 and the 110 having different plug types, that is wrong, VW Group parts listing has them both using the same plug, it is just that NGK missed a single letter off the 110 version, ie a typo which has caused an error in their online cat.

To reach all 4 plugs you will need to remove the air filter which means removing both the inlet and outlet plastic ducting, to make life easier I removed the turbo outlet ducting to get better access to the air filter outlet retaining band as I was trying to use a proper release tool, using pipe grips would probably work just as well and mean that you could reach that band without removing the turbo ducting.

Air filter, could be easy to break the cover retaining clips, as per normal for VW Group cars, you just grab the filter box and pull it up and so off its 3 mounting points, remove the push on small crankcase breather pipe first. There are 2 screws to remove before opening up the filter box, I fitted a Mann filter ( wrong, I fitted a VW Group filter bought cheaply online but again it was just a Mann filter) as that is what VW Group fit at factory. It was just these filter housing cover retaining clips that slightly confused me, I can't remember exactly how they worked, but well worth going easy until you have sussed that out!

Engine oil, you will need a new plug sealing washer and the plug gets reused, I fitted a Mann oil filter as that is what VW Group dealership use and supply over the counter but with the VW Group numbers added and a VW Group box. Oil, well my wife's car came with a 3 year service plan so 5W-40 basic VW group fixed service oil was used during that period, now that I have started doing the servicing I've changed to 5W-30 and using Mobil One ESP 5W-30 as my other car uses that and I can buy my yearly oil as 10 litres from Opie Oils with free carriage. Oil capacity is anywhere between 3.6 and 4.0litres,it was under 4 litres that I loaded back in. I bought the correct version of oil filter removal tool, but access is good so any basic removal tool should reach the filter.

 

Edit:- actually when I ordered these NGK spark plugs online, they came as NGK plugs in VW packaging probably as few marques use that type of plug yet.

Edited 27 July, 20196 yr by rum4mo

Thanks rum4mo for the detailed reply.

I keep my cars a long time. The Fabia replaced a 13 year old Diesel.

So I will do both the spark plugs and air filter at this service. I can order from TPS no problem.

Never had a VAG car before.

 

13 hours ago, rum4mo said:

At 4 years plugs and air filter are due to be changed.

 

The oil my other car uses also matches what the Fabia can use.

I removed the Diesel fuel injectors out of the other car recently. I just haven't removed a spark plug in years.

I think for the Fabia Mk II you used a spark plug lead removal tool as well as a coil removal tool?

Like these below any use?

 

 

Thanks AG Falco

 

 

 

 

Just to mention my cars just under 4 years 30k and had an inspection and oil change service last week at a main dealer. Only other thing they recommended was pollen filter no mention of plugs. They said an air con service in Sept is recommended for £75 but that's it. Guess if its 40k for the plugs that will be next year for me. Have to say they treated me and the car better than other dealers/independants I've used before but obviously for a price. 

No the first tool is for earlier coils, and the second is for the next generation of engines that curiously went back to a "multi coil" with HT leads.  The correct tool for these engines and similar VW Group aged engines, has an expanding dowel arrangement that gets pushed down into the coil's retaining bolt hole, then expanded using a tapered pin that is threaded and has a knurled nut at the top - then the idea is you pull the tool+coil up vertically, at least first time round you would need a bit more body strength than I have as well as the inclination to apply full strength at that height angle and distance away from where you body is located at the front of the car, so that is why I used a large screwdriver to give a bit more initial help to jack the coils up and out. When I bought that tool, there were quite a few cheaper ones one ebay, but I wanted a better quality one so bought Laser Tools offering - which turned out to not be what their online cat showed, and was exactly the same as what the cheaper ones looked like, if I had known that I would have gone for the cheaper rougher cruder offerings!

 

Edit:- I'm sure that the recommendation for plugs and air filter is 4 years/60K miles, so that Skoda dealer was being generous, I changed both items as the car was at 4 years, but only 28K miles and will do so again at 8 years regardless of mileage as it will be lower than 120K miles, the plugs that came out looked okay no visible signs of wear etc, but most modern plugs do look like that if the engine is okay and used as intended.

Edited 27 July, 20196 yr by rum4mo

@Confused_Cheese

What was the price that you paid.

On fixed Servicing Pollen Filters are on the 2nd service (Major Service as they were called.) 

@ 4 years which is the 2nd Major Service the Pollen filter would be due again, and the spark plugs and air filter, 

but that would be if mot already changed, but then the Air Filter should be checked and if checking you put in a new one.

Same with Spark Plugs, if you are removing to check you are as well to fit new ones.

If anyone charges Fixed Prices and then do not fit the parts someone is doing well and is not the customer.

Edited 27 July, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

This is the sort of coil removal tool design required:-  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323805132536

 

@Roottootemoot As they're a franchised dealer they advised me they don't offer fixed price servicing. I paid around £200, with everything itemised on the bill. £75ish for labour then parts, oil plug, screen wash (pah), cleaner?, oil, filter, pollen/dust filter. They also tested the air conditioning for free apparently. Can't see any mention of plugs on the service history, although it had a "brake fluid service" back in July last year. They guy had to call me back to check what was needed first before I booked it in and he could give me a price.

So they just did the Interim Service that Franchised Dealers participating in the Fixed Price Servicing do for £179 but charge more.

 

3 minutes ago, Roottootemoot said:

So they just did the Interim Service that Franchised Dealers participating in the Fixed Price Servicing do for £179 but charge more.

 

 

Looks like it 😛 I miss having a printed service schedule outlining exactly whats supposed to be done when for this particular engine. Even that skoda website says "These items will be replaced, if required. This will be determined by the manufacturer's service regime data." but then, how do you know what the regime is 😕

7 minutes ago, Confused_Cheese said:

manufacturer's service regime data

I can look it up on Autodata.

 

38 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

This is the sort of coil removal tool design required

I saw that and wondered if that was what was required. 

 

Thanks AG Falco

 

 

 

@Confused_Cheese

The point is.  The Manufacturers Recommendations are at 40,000 miles or 4 years for Spark Plugs and Air Filter.

But some pay for a 'major Service' at the 2nd Major Service and a Technician decides without checking.

 

The Brake Fluid recommended schedule is clear, but Wet Clutch DSG Oil Changes at 40,000 miles and Haldex @ 3 years are to be found but buy a Service Plan and they are not done at the Services. Pay extras.

 

V 

@Roottootemoot Maybe as mines 2-3 months shy of 4 years they treated it as a 3 year service. I know they did some extra stuff like replacing the tyres and refilling the air con when they got it ready for sale and they're not itemised. I'm also 10k short of 40k so might be why they left them this time. Looking at the basic service interim item list is a few things extra they checked that are not mentioned so maybe its something in between 🤷‍♂️ Will drop them an email/call and ask about when/if the plugs/filter were ever changed and when they recommend.

Just had a poke around on erwin, air filter is apparently every 6 years / 90KM for the 1.2 TSI... only every 4 years / 60KM for the 1.0 MPI. Spark plugs every 4 years / 60KM. Already ordered an air filter so will fit regardless. Sorry for hijacking your thread a bit @AGFalco

Fair enough, but in the case of this engine, the air cleaner assembly must be removed to reach all the plugs, so especially for DIYers it makes a lot of sense to open that box up while its off to check the condition of the filter, and so why not just plan to replace it. The probability is that with an average annual mileage of 10K miles, both the air filter and the plugs would be good for 6 years or 60K miles, but as I'm a DIYer, for my wife's car with an annual mileage of 8K miles, I'll stick with plugs and air filter every other major service and an inspection every year.

An air filter can be annually based on location location location.  eg Edinburgh sitting behind polluting buses and taxis and the filter can be filthy, 

or countryside areas with lots of stour. 

So air filter should be looked at at every service.

 

If Spark plugs are each 2nd major service and Air Filter at a 3rd major service it just shows the rip off the Fixed Price Service is @ £289 where parts are not getting supplied.

Parts in the stock room, no labour checking the Plugs or Parts not being changed but the bill including 20% VAT is the same.  

Edited 28 July, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

20 minutes ago, Confused_Cheese said:

Sorry for hijacking your thread a bit @AGFalco

 

No, I am asking the same questions so good for me.

 

Just looked back through the service history on mine.

Three services, three oil filters and two pollen filters so far.

So, as planned will change the plugs and air filter this time.

 

Thanks AG Falco

10 minutes ago, AGFalco said:

 

No, I am asking the same questions so good for me.

 

Just looked back through the service history on mine.

Three services, three oil filters and two pollen filters so far.

So, as planned will change the plugs and air filter this time.

 

Thanks AG Falco

 

👍 Also says brake fluid change after 3 years, then every 2 years after that. Pollen filter every 2 as stated. Euro car parts on ebay had the mann air filter for just under £12 delivered. Only other this is the cam belt, which says 120000 km if i'm reading it correctly, not super clear.

look here for more confused info on cam belt change.

 

Thanks AG Falco

Ha yeah I saw that, why can't they just be straight up about it. Oh well.

 

Just taken a look at the guide to change the air filter. The decision to put the screws underneath, requiring two hoses to be disconnected and pulling off some dodgy clips is crazy. Never had to do anything more than a few screws on previous marks.