Hi,

New to the Skoda Fabia, but got a few issues hope you can resolve them.

The car is a 2000 X Plate 1.4 Comfort manual.

I found the car for my girlfriend and she loved it, i managed to steer her away from a Pug 206!

Right the problems:

Occasionally, on a very steep hill, with the car facing down the coolant light flashes and a loud beeping is heard. I assume its the coolant light, middle light in the dash cluser, its red has an image of a themometer and wavey lines though it :confused:

Sorry if i described that wrong but it defo looking temp/coolant issue to me.

The coolant was a little low, and it has been using some which is a little worrying. On my own car (late Vauxhall Omega) i have a sensor in my coolant tank, and sometimes it comes up in the graphic diplay warning of low coolant, i am assuming light and beep is the Fabia version?

The car temp was fine, the gauge was still right in the middle, its never gone over half way.

Is there an issue with dogey sensors for the coolant tank?? - My thoughts are the coolant all fell to one side, which made the sensor think the tank was empty (its quite a steep hill)

Other quick fire questions:

1) Are there any head gasket issues with the 1.4 lump (i think its VW lump?)

2) What is the cambelt change internal on them?

3) Whats the best way to run a cable from the battery into the cabin (its for an amp)

Thanks in advance

The car is a 2000 X Plate 1.4 Comfort manual.

Occasionally, on a very steep hill, with the car facing down the coolant light flashes and a loud beeping is heard. I assume its the coolant light, middle light in the dash cluser, its red has an image of a themometer and wavey lines though it :confused:

Sorry if i described that wrong but it defo looking temp/coolant issue to me.

The coolant was a little low, and it has been using some which is a little worrying. On my own car (late Vauxhall Omega) i have a sensor in my coolant tank, and sometimes it comes up in the graphic diplay warning of low coolant, i am assuming light and beep is the Fabia version?

The car temp was fine, the gauge was still right in the middle, its never gone over half way.

Is there an issue with dogey sensors for the coolant tank?? - My thoughts are the coolant all fell to one side, which made the sensor think the tank was empty (its quite a steep hill)

The expansion tank has a level sensor in it that can be a bit dicky, especially on a slope. A bit of a top-up may be the trick (just demineralised water will be OK if it's only a few-dozen millitres, otherwise G12 coolant is a must.) If not, a new expansion tank (sensor included) is about £12 from any VAG dealer

Other quick fire questions:

1) Are there any head gasket issues with the 1.4 lump (i think its VW lump?)

The 1.4 16v is a VW unit, the 1.4MPi (8v) is a Skoda engine - check the boot badge or engine cover. Don't know about the 16vs, but the MPis had a known head gasket issue, which should have been sorted under warranty. The replacement head gaskets are OK as far as I know (barring overheating etc. etc. as with any other engine!)

2) What is the cambelt change internal on them?

1.4 16v = 60k or 4 years (whichever is sooner)

1.4 MPi has chain / pushrod timing, so catastrophic failure is extremely rare, although a stretched chain will be very noisy!

3) Whats the best way to run a cable from the battery into the cabin (its for an amp)

Don't know about this one - sorry!

Thanks in advance

No problem! Welcome to Briskoda, by the way! :wavey:

Hi,

Many thanks for the fast reply, i belong to a community for my car the Omega which is Omega Owners Forum

I created maintaince gudies and always get good tech advice there, good to find a good source for my girl friends car.

Ok i think the engine is the MPi one.... cain sounds good. Its on 66k miles and was getting worried as i heard belts where 60k

I will get her to keep an eye on the level, but its good to know the tank is very cheap.

Is there a bleed valve on the rad?

I flush the coolant on my Omega every 2 years, I am tempted to do it on the gf's Fabia....

The coolant is a nice pinky red, no trace of oil which is good

Is there a bleed valve on the rad?

I flush the coolant on my Omega every 2 years, I am tempted to do it on the gf's Fabia....

The coolant is a nice pinky red, no trace of oil which is good

I don't know where the bleed valve for the coolant is off-hand, I'm afraid, although IIRC, the service schedule specifies new coolant every 2 years anyway...

I will take a look myself... it must be straight forward as my Omega?

Drain the rad..... (some is left in heater matrix?)

fill with water, run with heaters on.

Drain rad again....

Re-fill with 50/50 mix....

run engine with heaters on max....

drain rad again....

Re-fill for the final time 50/50 mix.

Job done?

Thats my way, it can be slightly wastefull on new coolant, but then i know nothing old is left from the heater matrix.....

^^ Sounds about right to me (I'm no expert!)

I imagine that's far more thorough than the average garage would be!

IIRC VAG group coolant is to a different spec to most (maybe).

Is the cooling system bleed near the cabin heater matrix. Not bled a car for ages but VAG are pretty set in theit ways!

Hi there, tunnie. I have just bought a 1.4MPi for my wife and am experiencing exactly the same issue (light + beep actuivating when car facing down steep hill).

Did you manage to get it fixed?