hello all,

just registered, have a Fabia Classic, and I wonder if anyone can help with the following:

1/ is it me or do the elec windows swap sides - r button suddenly drops l window, then when you check it's reverted to correct?

2/ air recirc. button (no aircon) - pressing this does absolutely nothing - no light, no change in fan or other noise - is it broken? - fuse?

3/ are there grundig alternatives to the 'factory' 202 stereo? - the skoda cd unit is insanely expensive for what it is, and most jvc's, sony's, kenwoods etc will look like mission control panel on the Fab's acres of plain dashboard.

Blank looks from dealer on all above - do they go to VW dealer training?

btw if anyone wants a laugh, ask an audi spares dept for stereo removal keys (also grundig). when they look puzzled, say, "well, they're all the same family" at this point the spares man reaches under counter for button to call security . . .

Thanks in anticip.

Welcome to Briskoda!

1. Heard about this recently. Seems to be a common-ish problem on Fabias. Do a search. 'Advanced Search' button to the left.

2. Sounds like a fuse. If it's anything like my last Golf a light should come on and you should be able to hear a noise like the outside vents shutting. Actually, just had a thought. Are your air direction jobbies set on screen demist? If so, the air recirc. doesn't work. Try having them pointed at your face.

3. Have a look in the 'For Sale and Wanted' section. Alot of people have ditched their Skoda units. You might get lucky.

Gosh, I'm being helpful today. And he's a Fabia owner.

Welcome to the forum, to answer your questions.

1/ is it me or do the elec windows swap sides - r button suddenly drops l window, then when you check it's reverted to correct?

This has been reported here on a number of occasions, the windows are controlled throught the canbus computer, although the exact cause is still unknown. Like you say it seems to fix itself.

2/ air recirc. button (no aircon) - pressing this does absolutely nothing - no light, no change in fan or other noise - is it broken? - fuse?.

I would say its broken, perhaps a furby owner would like to comment.

3/ are there grundig alternatives to the 'factory' 202 stereo? - the skoda cd unit is insanely expensive for what it is, and most jvc's, sony's, kenwoods etc will look like mission control panel on the Fab's acres of plain dashboard.

Grundig do make aftermarket stereos, but some of those are as in your face as Alpine, Pioneer and so on. Some manufacturers do have simpler looking stereos or ones where you can turn all the fancy gizmos and graphics off. Blaupunkt and Sony spring to mind. To fit these you will need a facia adaptor.

3. Have a look in the 'For Sale and Wanted' section. Alot of people have ditched their Skoda units. You might get lucky.

eg http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8100

on regards to question 2 is your fan set on just the windscreen demister if so try setting it to a different possition the pushing the button, this had me confused for a bit too

Welcome Karlovy !

thanks, now I have recirc air - why do czechs assume that you don't want to recirc air onto the screen to demist it - if you're following a smelly bus, the smell reaches you just as fast on screen setting as on face?

also thanks all re the swopping-side elec windows - it never lasted long enough for me to check, so easy to assume I was imagining it!

at risk of appearing v anorak - is there a known source for Skoda WRC screen stickers & such?