Hello Škoda owners.

I’m new here, so sorry if the my topic a bit raw. As the title says i would like to have some of your much appreciated opinions and advices about the following:

In February 2024 i inherited a Škoda Fabia from my Grandfather. He bought a new car so i was the lucky one to get the mentioned Škoda. He was the first owner of the car and drove it like everywhere, almost 289000 KMs on the clock. For engine manitanance point of view he changed the oil in it recently, pollen filters etc but not any big services. Also dont put much effort to cleaning it, and drove the car on dirty roads many times.

After a paperwork was done i’m now a (sligtly) happy owner of a Škoda Fabia Mk2 Estate 1.4 16V.
I spent hours to clean, try to get out the dirt form the engine bay, wheel arches etc. Also i went to the mechanic an ask of they can do a service check. I got a chunky list about the stuff wich needs to be serviced. (I indicated „+” what was changed recently from te list)
- Tires, (I have bought new ones for the winter so thats covered) +
- Rocker arm silent (also changed) +
- Holes ont he flexible pipe in the exhaust system
- Transmission oil change
- Brakes are at 80%
- big muffer change in 2 year left or at least the mechanic said that
- front two sprigs 2 year left or at least the mechanic said that
- Timing belt, (it have more 10000 miles left on it.)
- Serpentine belt (changed) +
- Fuel filter
- And some minor stuff wich changed by me, like light bulbs.

Since i have the car noticed that after a cold start it sounds like a tractor. It maybe casued by the hole ont he exhaust wich will be repaired soon. Also the car have a very strong i think hydro tappet sound of course after the engine warms up the noise decreases, but in during normal driving you can hear it.

And i almost forget the rust, well it have that amount of rust wich a 2009 car have, but actually bad. The car’s body itself have small dents i assume form parking.

Overall the car is running fine, and i’m not gonna lie but it stole a piece from my heart. But i have to make a decision and that is the part where i ask your advice, opinions. Should i spend a lot of money to it and get the stuff reapaired form the list or just fix the necessary stuff and use it as it is?

To be honest i'm a new driver, and this is my first car but i think that car might deserve more than just to be a "learn to drive" car. 

 

I’m planning to use the car 5 more years.

 

I will include video from the cold startup, and pictures about a car later.

 

Thank you for your opinions in advance!

 

Arnold.

 

Edited 18 December, 20241 yr by ArnoldCs

1 hour ago, ArnoldCs said:

Since i have the car noticed that after a cold start it sounds like a tractor. It maybe casued by the hole ont he exhaust wich will be repaired soon. Also the car have a very strong i think hydro tappet sound of course after the engine warms up the noise decreases, but in during normal driving you can hear it.

The exhaust won't help.

 

That said, VAG hydraulic tappets are always noisier if the engine is cold and an oil change is due.

A small update since i have posted, the car got a full service, oil, filters etc.

I got the exhaust fixed, that made the car a bit less noisier and cannot smell the petrol inside.

I decided to keep this car, so when it reaches the timing belt change interval, will change the hydraulic lifters too.

Other than that i have minor issues wich i'll fix later.

Thank you for your inputs.

32 minutes ago, ArnoldCs said:

A small update since i have posted, the car got a full service, oil, filters etc.

I got the exhaust fixed, that made the car a bit less noisier and cannot smell the petrol inside.

I decided to keep this car, so when it reaches the timing belt change interval, will change the hydraulic lifters too.

Other than that i have minor issues wich i'll fix later.

Thank you for your inputs.

Probably unnecessary to replace the hydraulic valve lifters, as @Paws4Thot suggests, the noisy lifters may purely be due to neglected oil servicing. They will possibly be fine once the oil is changed.

The noisy flexi exhaust hose can be changed cheap and easily. Cut the old one from the exhaust and fit a clamp on on.

Yep the flexi part was changed, and had a full service. It's nice and smooth now, at leas a BXW engine could. Thanks!