i have had to fill up my coolant twice now since I got my 2nd hand fabia. I've had it just over a year.

is this normal? my mate who knows more about cars than me, says the coolant part is a 'closed system' and you normally don't need to top it up ever.

also, i thought I was meant to get some kind of warning light on the dashboard when I got to a level under the 'min' marker, but I have not got any warning what-so-ever. Is this normal? Am I meant to get a warning light?

Here is a small photo of how low it was:

Any advice appreciated...

It will either be leaking from the fan switch on the radiator, the water pump or the head gasket has failed.

All pretty common.

Yep , ive had the fan switch done on mine. It didnt cost much to have done (in fact it was under warranty , but it's not a dear job) and have had no leaks since. (touches nearest availible bit of wood)

Ps what colour is your car? I don't regonise that blue!

Ps what colour is your car? I don't regonise that blue!

it is 'Internet Explorer blue'

well, actually it is 'metallic lagoon blue' I think it is in the registration card, but that is a translation from Swedish.

But surely I should get a warning lamp on the dashboard when the coolant is that low?

I would have thought you'd get a warning , yes. Either it is set to go on when there is next to no coolant left , or there is a problem with the sensor on your car.

But surely I should get a warning lamp on the dashboard when the coolant is that low?

No you get an amazingly loud beep which scares the $hit out of you first time it goes off. (Like the low fuel warning but 3X as loud)

No you get an amazingly loud beep which scares the $hit out of you first time it goes off. (Like the low fuel warning but 3X as loud)

haha. yep, i know that low fuel warning noise, and that always scares the hoad out of me when i hear it. but I have not had a signal about this low coolant (no warning lamps, no beeps).

I 'occasionally' go in the bonnet now and then to check the basics, and was a bit shocked when I seen the coolant that low...

IIRC, you can see where the coolant level sensor attaches to the side of the expansion tank, so wherever that is will be the approximate trip level for the low coolant alarm. I see you've had the lid off - have a look inside to see if you can see the sensor from the inside. If it's not covered with coolant, and the alarm's not gone off, then you'll have a fault with your coolant level sensor...