My fabia is a special one i think. I have had it for 3 and a half months now, and so far i've had it in a garage 5 times, my 6th on tuesday. 1st time was for the headlights flickering, starter motor spinning after ignition, and faulty window switchs.

2nd time was the anti roll bar bushing in the front had gone so i had a very loud clunk on the smallest of lumps, and the engine warning light. I was told that the rear O2 sensor failed.

3rd time the drivers window had stuck down, and the circuit and motor got changed.

4th time the engine light came on, changed the upflow O2 sensor, cost

it could be piston rings !

It could be fooked!

well the car idles fine most of the time, but every now and then it gos a bit funky, falling and revving between 500 and 1100 rpm. also, on the bottom of the last invoice i got, it said that if the car comes in for the same fault again they will need to check to see if oil is leaking past the rings. what would cause that to happen at 30k, and how would it be affecting the EGR?

Sounds like to me that the cause of the engine light hasnt been sorted if they are throwing sensors at it randomly.

Oil passing the rings is fairly common on the AUA and AUB 1.4 16v engines, it is caused by faulty piston rings (have since been modified). Oil gets injested into the intake system due to excess crankcase pressure, the collects in the intake manifold and clogs the breathing and EGR system. In particualr the EGR port under the throttle body. I have seen many EGR valves changed for this which makes naff all difference.

Im so sorry to hear of all your problems. I think if it were me Id have a word with Citizens Advice as even if it is now out of warranty, when you have bought a car you dont expect this number of faults with it. My little Fabia has had no problems at all in over 2 years (same age as yours). Apart from the power steering light coming on occasionally but i read through this forum and it seems to happen if your battery is low.

Do go to the CAB - there shouldnt be so many on going faults.

already spoke with them, im in every right to take the car back for a refund under the sales of goods act, due to the fact that the goods are to be deemed to be unsatisfactory at the time of sale.

To be honest, i like driving the car. with ins group 5, its power and its economy, it is the perfect car. to get an Audi A3 1.8 for example, is more expensive on insurance, fuel, tax and buying the car!

Got Fabia 1.4 16v 100bhp 2001 reg .

Had Same problems.

Had Egr Valve replaced under warranty first time engine management light came on.

A week later the Light came back on again.

Took it in to the dealer and after checking everything they couldnt find the problem.

They reset the engine management again to clear fault.

Bloody light came on again driving home.

Took it in again!!!.

This time after extensive testing they traced problem to a gasket.

Too much air on the intake affecting the sensor.

Fingers crossed still ok after 2 weeks.

Hope this sheds some light on the problem.

Big thankyou for ALex Lawrie for sorting it.

already spoke with them, im in every right to take the car back for a refund under the sales of goods act, due to the fact that the goods are to be deemed to be unsatisfactory at the time of sale.

To be honest, i like driving the car. with ins group 5, its power and its economy, it is the perfect car. to get an Audi A3 1.8 for example, is more expensive on insurance, fuel, tax and buying the car!

You may like the car but if you don't get the problems sorted it will become a very expensive car to run. I would say that if you have the option to return the car, but want to keep it, make the garage aware of your situation as seek a written agreement of warranty repairs until resolved.

well car is in the garage now, hopefully get a phone call soon.

I have warranty with a company called warranty direct. has anyone else used them before?

Did you get it sorted?

My daughter's 2001 Fabia Comfort 1.4 16v (AUB) with 56000 miles has similar problem.

Engine management warning light comes on - so far it has had 2 Lambda sensors, EGR (twice), plug leads and piston rings replaced.

3 different garages have checked it over including Skoda dealer, resetting diagnostics etc. Each time the light comes back on again - sometimes after 30 miles, sometimes sooner.

Skoda dealer's last suggestion is new engine!

Engine runs fine. Oil consumption low. Emissions well within spec (no prob with MOT).

Any fresh thought on the problems?

Have the throttle body an the EGR pipe underneath it cleaned out, quite a straight forward DIY job.

Check the breather where it fits to the air filter. This weather they can get blocked with oil emulsion, particularly if the car is only doing short runs.

Try removing the engine cover to access the air filter, remove the air filter element and clean out the pipe inside. Mine runs better now that I have done this (2002 1.4 16v AUB with 52,000 miles on the clock).

I've had my 1.4 16v Furby for 4 months/2000 miles and I've have had 7 trips to the garage so I'm none too impressed either. So far:

Front anti-roll bar + drop links + all associated bushes, rear suspension bushes.

New battery

New Starter motor

Major service + cam belt

Front wheel bearing

I too have a 2001 Fabia 1.4 petrol and am tearing my hair out with all the problems itsa had since I bought it with 55k on the clock in mid 2006.

UNder the one-year warrant I've had the electric windows fixed after they jammed in the down position, a new cam belt, new battery, new steering pump and sensor, and two new alternators.

All the problems seem to stem from the car losing power more and more often then ultimately failing to start and the battery warning light coming on.

Alternator was only replaced last week and already the same old symptoms have returned.

Car's now got 80k on the clock and I'm seriously looking at getting rid and picking up something more reliable, since my Skoda obviously isn't!!

does charging the battery up fix it then?