Hey guys just a quick 1!!!:confused: My octys just clocked 42k and i'd like to give her a service, i'm tryin to weigh up whether to go to main dealer or DIY. Can anyone give advice on what a service at this point involves. My mechanical knowledge isn't basic but major work (cam belt etc.) will be a bit out of my league. Thanks in advance for any feedback. :thumbup:

Hi mate, its straight forward, Oil, Filter change, air filter, Pollen filter change, Brake fluid change, New spark plugs, Fuel filter and general grease/check underneath things like suspension bushes, shocks steering arms, brake discs / pads, etc.

check the cambelt by removing the top cover and visually checking no cracking, fraying etc but it should not need doing until 60K along with the water pump.

I've just had a 40K service done on my car ( at a dealer ) and I got a job list page ... I'll scan it tonight and post it up.

Barney

Brake fluid should be done on age (every 2 years) irrespective of mileage.

The fuel filter is also a life time part so doesnt need changing

Air filter and plugs are two items worth replacing before the factory recommended intervals, a visual inspection of the air filter is very easy and it can make a lot of difference to a tired-seeming engine.

The fuel filter is also a life time part so doesnt need changing

I can't understand that, it's just a ploy to imply that on paper servicing costs are cheaper. In the late 1990s Skoda introduced free servicing through VW Financial Services, at the same time the air filter replacement interval changed from 20000 to 40000 miles without any design changes to enable this and now the fuel filter is no longer a service item. I know that the dealers don't remove the wheels to check the brakes and the owners discover an immovable wheel when they have a puncture, how do they check for seized or leaking wheel cylinders?, seized caliper slides?

Here's that scan for you.

Ok file too big ...working on it ... done

service_sched.zip

Hey guys just a quick 1!!!:confused: My octys just clocked 42k and i'd like to give her a service, i'm tryin to weigh up whether to go to main dealer or DIY. Can anyone give advice on what a service at this point involves. My mechanical knowledge isn't basic but major work (cam belt etc.) will be a bit out of my league. Thanks in advance for any feedback. :thumbup:

Basically no servicing is particulary challenging, *if* you've got the manual (and understand the words), the tools and the time

I'm not taking the **** with the "words" bit, but if you don't know what a flange is or a spiggot, then you may need a grown-up to help

Though many will diss it (blimey, listen to me getting down with the kids:rofl: ), the Haynes manuals are pretty good and lead you through most tasks in a straight forward way. You could do worse than to buy it (or find a library with a copy), and read through the maintenance bits and see if you're up to the task.

Ideally if you can find someone that's done servicing work in the past they can start you off. As with most things, you have to learn as you go. A while back, next-doors daughter bought a 205 and wanted it serviced, so I stood back and talked her through a full service of oil & filter, air filter, plugs, pads & drums, gearbox oil, cambelt and she performed all of them with no problem.

She learnt what was involved, and I got to roll around smothered in oil with an 18-year old girl for a day ;)

The fuel filter is also a life time part so doesnt need changing

Are they serious??!!! :eek:

That's plain crazy.. anyone who has cut open a fuel filter with reasonable mileage under it will agree

Restricted fuel filter will make the pump work much harder and run a good risk of making the engine run lean.. make your own mind up if that is worth the few pounds saving.

The only reason the service intervals are getting extended to such ridiculous periods is so the punters dont get scared off (due to the equally crazy dealer hourly rates)

DIY servicing all the way I've never paid proper money for someone else to make a mess of it yet.

I change my fuel filters every 20k, never heard of a fuel filter being a life time component though?

Haynes manuals use to be good, but the Fabia one isn't brillant, it lacks certain amount of tech detail, poor quality pics etc., I would regard it as a useful guide rather than a manual

Haynes manuals use to be good, but the Fabia one isn't brillant, it lacks certain amount of tech detail, poor quality pics etc., I would regard it as a useful guide rather than a manual

Agreed, if you know what you're doing, they fill in the gaps

Even the Haynes "star markings" aren't what they once were. (in terms of evenness of indication of increasing difficulty).

I change my fuel filters every 20k, never heard of a fuel filter being a life time component though?

Haynes manuals use to be good, but the Fabia one isn't brillant, it lacks certain amount of tech detail, poor quality pics etc., I would regard it as a useful guide rather than a manual

I dont see the point really though.

I changed my fuel filter at 55k because the metal clip the holds it in had worn a hole into the side of it and the fuel was as clear as it was coming out of the pump at the petrol station

I dont see the point really though.

I changed my fuel filter at 55k because the metal clip the holds it in had worn a hole into the side of it and the fuel was as clear as it was coming out of the pump at the petrol station

It's not about how clean the fuel is after the filter it is about how much restriction the filter introduces to the flow of fuel ... think of a dirty air filter ... the air is just as clean but there is much less of it.

The diesel fuel filters are changed every 40K.

Barney

I dont see the point really though.

I changed my fuel filter at 55k because the metal clip the holds it in had worn a hole into the side of it and the fuel was as clear as it was coming out of the pump at the petrol station

cut open the 55k filter and see what you find inside on the tank side

mm, I have my fuel filter from my ~80k service somewhere.... maybe I should cut that open....

I binned the filter ages ago now.

Plus do you lot remember how expensive petrol is! I cant afford to keep wasting it like that ;)

Bloody 'ell!! all this info sounds technical. Think i'll go to the main dealer this time, and do the easy bits (oil changes) in-between services. What about magnetic sump plugs- are there any views on these?

cheers guys

Bloody 'ell!! all this info sounds technical. Think i'll go to the main dealer this time, and do the easy bits (oil changes) in-between services. What about magnetic sump plugs- are there any views on these?

cheers guys

It ain't that difficult mate, If I can do it so can you, don't worry