I am new here so not sure if I'm in the right place! Have recently bought a 2002 Fabia 1.4MPI Classic estate to replace my 1992 VW Polo in regular use ( this needs bodywork now, which will get done when I can, its all very original). The simplicity of the Classic trim drew me towards one, no electric gadgets, just as I like it. It has done just short of 60000 miles, and been stood a year or so, bodywork is excellent and underneath too. Its been serviced, and last week  I took it on a 300 mile round trip, on a mix of motorways and normal roads, to collect some purchases. This revealed some problems that I had hoped a good run would cure. 

Although a pleasant car to drive, it seems very low on power and hesitant until it reaches about 60mph. The idle is also uneven and feels ready to stall. I know the car is a lot heavier than my old Polo, but it struggles on anything but the slightest incline without changing down. In all my cars I always tend to change up early ( about 2000rpm) and thus don't expect fierce acceleration but this feels very flat. Its had a diagnostic reader connected, that said " Fuel Bank 1" but that doesn't mean much to me! I'm more familar with contact breaker points and carburettors! The diagnostic also showed " intermittent immobiliser fault" which I had discovered after the car refused to start a couple of times with the immobilser light on - I didn't even know it had one as it doesnt have central locking. Has its proper Skoda keys though. Has anyone any suggestions, at present I am unwilling to trust the car any distance, and I bought it for longer runs that are unpleasant in my van ( 2005 Citroen Berlingo diesel)

5 hours ago, Reliantman said:

Its had a diagnostic reader connected, that said " Fuel Bank 1" but that doesn't mean much to me!

There should also have been an alphanumeric code associated. That would mean more than a vague narrative hint that you appear to have a fault somewhere in the fuel injection system.

If you don't have that code, get the car scanned again, using VCDS or OBD II and make sure you get the code rather than just the text this time.

It sounds to me like the car may have a misfire, change the spark plugs and the ignition coil pack, also check the vacuum pipework for splits between the brake servo and the inlet manifold plenum.

Further to my post I now have some codes

Engine running fault shows as: Fuel Trim Bank 1 Malfunction P0170

Immobilser fault: Engine start blocked by immobiliser P157Q Intermittent. 

Any advice as to what these codes actually mean will be gratefully recieved!

Immobilizer fault will be dry solder joints on instrument cluster main connector at PCB, simply reflow them, do a search if you need details, it's been covered many, many times before on here.

The other fault is still most likely to be a leaking vacuum line but your MAF may also be faulty, simply unplug it it and drive without to see if power improves.