At the weekend I will be driving just over 300 miles in the past I would just jump in the car and off I go but I have many concerns at the moment and no confidence in the car so need to do a few checks before I go.

Bear with me guys but here goes:-

Firstly the brake light has gone (just one) so am I safe to pressume it is just the bulb and nothing more serious. I will change the bulb over is this quite simple or is there anything I need to be aware off?

Secondly if I need to top up with oil which oil should I use for a Fabia 1.4 MPI? I have never had to top up a car in the past so haven't a clue about all the different types.

Coolant - If I need to add some coolant in the past I would always just top up with water and maybe a dash of antifreeze do I need to use anything special as I notice the current struff is pink and wondered if I needed the same stuff.

From reading on here I pressume I need to check my coolant tank for any brown or odd looking stuff and the oil cap for mayonaise like stuff (which knowing my luck will be there).

Also current issues I have with the car:-

Brakes are noisy in the morning like a grinding noise

When I steer to the right at 20mph+ like going round a roundabout the steering screetches every now and then but then goes away.

Big judders at 2.5k revs in second gear like the car is hitting a brick wall although seems to have died down over the past week but this seems to have settled the idle down (strange)

hmm think thats about it but I am sure as soon as I get in the car tonight there will a few other things up with it.

Oh and I still have my power sterring problem (sensor) but it is not playing up as much as it was.

At the weekend I will be driving just over 300 miles in the past I would just jump in the car and off I go but I have many concerns at the moment and no confidence in the car so need to do a few checks before I go.

Bear with me guys but here goes:-

Firstly the brake light has gone (just one) so am I safe to pressume it is just the bulb and nothing more serious. I will change the bulb over is this quite simple or is there anything I need to be aware off?

Changing the rear bulbs is dead easy - just peel back the boot lining and the bulb holder comes out (there might be the odd clip, but nothing tricky!)

Secondly if I need to top up with oil which oil should I use for a Fabia 1.4 MPI? I have never had to top up a car in the past so haven't a clue about all the different types.

I put Castrol GTX in my wife's MPi - you can get it almost anywhere, and it's approved for the MPi engine.

Coolant - If I need to add some coolant in the past I would always just top up with water and maybe a dash of antifreeze do I need to use anything special as I notice the current struff is pink and wondered if I needed the same stuff.

If you're just topping-up, then distilled / demineralised water will be fine - the VAG coolant is OK in any ratio from 40:60 to 60:40, according to a thread on another forum...

From reading on here I pressume I need to check my coolant tank for any brown or odd looking stuff and the oil cap for mayonaise like stuff (which knowing my luck will be there).

The easiest place to check for 'mayonnaise' is under the OIL filler cap - any discolouration of the coolant should be visible through the sides of the expansion tank.

Also current issues I have with the car:-

Brakes are noisy in the morning like a grinding noise

The brake discs are made of cast iron, which rusts extremely quickly - any grinding when you first start off is most likely the rust layer being scrubbed off. There are some issues with Fabias fitted with rear discs, but your MPi will have drums at the back.

When I steer to the right at 20mph+ like going round a roundabout the steering screeches every now and then but then goes away.

Don't know about this one - if memory serves, you've already looked at the steering pump and the angle sensor - hopefully someone like Ross will be able to help...

Big judders at 2.5k revs in second gear like the car is hitting a brick wall although seems to have died down over the past week but this seems to have settled the idle down (strange).

Don't know about this one, either - try to avoid 2.5k in 2nd???

hmm think thats about it but I am sure as soon as I get in the car tonight there will a few other things up with it.

Oh and I still have my power sterring problem (sensor) but it is not playing up as much as it was.

As above, then - I reckon you have a candidate for your screeching noise!

Hope all this helps!

Great stuff you are an oracle thaks very much.

So if I just bought some bottled water would that be better to top up with than tap water?

For future ref where can you get the pink coolant from?

Will be intresting to see what mpg I get over the weekend I have been managing to get up to a staggering 275miles from a tank round town 30ish mpg which I still think is rubbish but an improvement on what I was getting.

Although with school holidays on my run to work has been a lot quicker normally I am sat in traffic for 45-50mins where as past few weeks it's a 20 min run not much stopping.

So if I just bought some bottled water would that be better to top up with than tap water?

Bottled water as in spring water? Probably not any better as it still has a high mineral content. Best bet would be distilled water, but if you're going to get that you might as well just get proper anti-freeze.

For future ref where can you get the pink coolant from?

Any VAG dealer will sell it, it's about

Was thinking of still bottled water.

Was thinking of still bottled water.

Yeah, might as well just use tap water if you're going to do that...

Rob.

Yeah, might as well just use tap water if you're going to do that...

Rob.

:agree: You can get demin. at most petrol stations, and any supermarkets / DIY stores that stock car stuff - it's probably as cheap as bottled water, anyway...

I do tend to just jump in mine.

However, before the trip this weekend I will be checking oil & tyre pressures.

Before the trip to Czech, I will be checking the above as well as the air filter. The one issue I do have is all 4 tyres are approaching the end of their lives, and I'm in 2 minds whether to get 4 new ones before the trip (which is a bit of an ask) or get 4 new tyres in ready and just swap them after the roadtrip.

At the weekend I will be driving just over 300 miles in the past I would just jump in the car and off I go but I have many concerns at the moment and no confidence in the car so need to do a few checks before I go.

On this occasion why not hire a car for the weekend, just for peace of mind.

Dont get your brake light bulb at Halfords , thats my advice! I got one last week , the correct one , according to their fitment book , and it was wrong! It had 2 fillaments (ie brake/rearlight bulb combined) , whereas the correct bulb has only the one.

On this occasion why not hire a car for the weekend, just for peace of mind.

Yup, I second that, it seems that you have knowingly been using your car without taking the time and effort to resolve any problems - and now you want us to say "don't worry everthing is okay - drive on". This might seem a harsh and unfriendly bit of advice but at least it would keep you and probably others out of trouble. Unfortunately when we decide to take on the responsibility of owning and running a car we must make sure that it is kept road worthy for everyone's safety - and to stay legal.

The one issue I do have is all 4 tyres are approaching the end of their lives, and I'm in 2 minds whether to get 4 new ones before the trip

I guess it depends how close to the end of their life they are but you might just want to make sure they're legal in all the countries you will be driving through

Chris

I guess it depends how close to the end of their life they are but you might just want to make sure they're legal in all the countries you will be driving through

Chris

Approx 2mm on most of the tread. But you can tell there's a little less on the shoulders.

I think I will pump up the tyres fairly hard for the journey - perhaps 36 to 38psi, so this will give better economy, and increase wear on the part of the tyre which has the most tread left.

It is kept road worthy MOT and full service 3 months ago and Skoda say there is no problem with the steering!!!It's been in and out of the garage just about every week for something different there is not much more I can do.

It type of defies the point of buying a better more reliable car 3 months ago if i went and hired one thats the reason I traded my old car in for the fabia I have now.

Hello. I have a 1.4 Mpi (Y reg). If yours had a full service three months ago, I wouldn't have expected that either the oil or the coolant needed topping up. Are you saying you have checked the levels and found them to be short? You say "if" I need to top them up... If they are OK, then leave well alone methinks. If you put too much oil in, it will need to be drained out. I don't know what happens if you overfill the coolant, but I guess it's better not to.

I know very little about cars. Just happen to have one. The brake fluid has to be sorted every two years, so hopefully they did that within the service?

The power steering light can mean lots of things - it could be nothing, or that the sensor needs replacing, or more serious things. Fingers crossed on that. If it's staying on all the time, there's deffo something that needs sorting.

Have you checked that you have a decent charge in the battery?

By the way, the tyre pressures devonutopia refers to are for his car, not for a 1.4. Mpi.

Best regards

Mo

The one issue I do have is all 4 tyres are approaching the end of their lives, and I'm in 2 minds whether to get 4 new ones before the trip (which is a bit of an ask) or get 4 new tyres in ready and just swap them after the roadtrip.

C'mon Jason - get some sense and some new tyres on.

You're going on a damn long trip, a trip to be savoured and remembered - and you're thinking of going on 'approaching legal-limit' tyres.

Duh, a defo no-brainer :thumbdwn:

Fabia 1.4 - seems you've been a bit too lax regarding 'car essentials'.

You really do need to be sure your car is in tip-top condition all the time, not just for a long journey.

Do some serious reading up (turn the telly off :P ) and then check your car regularly - not just for long trips

Remember, you are driving what is a potential killing machine.

C'mon Jason - get some sense and some new tyres on.

You're going on a damn long trip, a trip to be savoured and remembered - and you're thinking of going on 'approaching legal-limit' tyres.

Duh, a defo no-brainer :thumbdwn:

Fabia 1.4 - seems you've been a bit too lax regarding 'car essentials'.

You really do need to be sure your car is in tip-top condition all the time, not just for a long journey.

Do some serious reading up (turn the telly off :P ) and then check your car regularly - not just for long trips

Remember, you are driving what is a potential killing machine.

Mr A - please engage brain before speaking and apologise to Fabia 1.4. If you read his post, he's already said he's done all he can. I would rate the reliability of mine as top dollar having "gone through" known faults and had them fixed as my Y-reg is now a few years old.

I have found that a service at a proper Skoda garage is better for my car as they understand their quirkiness. I read that Fabia 1.4 did have his car serviced by a Skoda garage.

The sensors IMO are a weak point for two reasons - one, that they don't seem to have a long life span, and two, that they are not always directly related to a specific problem - they seem to be inter-related, so a light coming onto the dash can mean something else

So, I have confidence in mine, although I do know the history of it. I know nothing about cars, so dunno if things change with high mileage on these cars.

Regards

Mo

Approx 2mm on most of the tread. But you can tell there's a little less on the shoulders.

I'm sure 3mm is the legal requirement in a few places you will be passing through.

I'd change them before you go, myself, or maybe while you are out there after the airfield. Bet they are cheaper in Cz

I'm sure 3mm is the legal requirement in a few places you will be passing through.

I'd change them before you go, myself, or maybe while you are out there after the airfield. Bet they are cheaper in Cz

I agree, change 'em or I'll tell the ferry company that there is a dangerous Fabia on board

As for the original questions, I think the advice that has been given already is pretty sound imho.

Approx 2mm on most of the tread. But you can tell there's a little less on the shoulders.

I think I will pump up the tyres fairly hard for the journey - perhaps 36 to 38psi, so this will give better economy, and increase wear on the part of the tyre which has the most tread left.

You'll struggle through Germany if you get pulled, isn't it 3mm there as a limit?

Plus, I assume you'll be using the performance of the mongrel so I'd have though new tyres would be advisable. A couple of high speed stops and you probably will be on the wear limit.

Edit :- Sorry for the thread hijack.

Re devonutopia's tyres - I'm quite lost on this :confused: It would make sense to me to put new ones on for the trip and keep the old ones to swap back for local runabout mode once home safely I can understand that a long trip might conveniently finish the useful life of the tyres, but if they might finish your useful life, me would not be happy. :shakehead

Best

Mo

Dont get your brake light bulb at Halfords , thats my advice! I got one last week , the correct one , according to their fitment book , and it was wrong! It had 2 fillaments (ie brake/rearlight bulb combined) , whereas the correct bulb has only the one.

Guess what I had been to halfords before you posted and it's the wrong one

Doesn't fit because there is the 2 connections at the base instead of the one.

Some mixed news tonight the oil was fine and the oil cap nice and clean as well as the coolant.

But the steering warning light made an apperance tonight so when sat in traffic I switched the engine off and back on and it went again :confused: although the steering was very noisy with a whiring noise for a while when I switched back on but all fine again now.

hi Fabia 1.4. The power steering light wouldn't worry me personally too much if your Skoda garage has said that steering has been checked and is OK. I don't actually know what you mean by "steering noise" - and to be honest, I wouldn't know even if you told me. Though someone might if you post exact details on here

There are things that can go wrong aside from the sensor (three possibles spring to mind) and some are costly, so best to keep on top of that one methinks.

Hope you have a safe and happy trip this weekend

Mo

Dont get your brake light bulb at Halfords , thats my advice! I got one last week , the correct one , according to their fitment book , and it was wrong! It had 2 fillaments (ie brake/rearlight bulb combined) , whereas the correct bulb has only the one.

Apart from probability/possibility of Halfrauds giving wrong part - the price - I tend to take old bulb out and go to a one of the little garages and get one out of the box - usually costs about 50p for the ordinary ones and half of Halfrauds for a QH.

Whoo I made it back without any problems car was actually spot on all weekend and the steering didn't play up once either and 37 to the gallon as well can't complain.