Hello, this is my first post.

I did search the forum but couldn’t find anything specifically relating to my problem but I apologise if I’ve missed it.

I have a Fabia (’02) 1.4mpi and I’ve noticed in the last couple of days that the engine temperature gauge has not been moving at all – it stays all the way to the left. My commute into work takes about an hour and it’s usual for the gauge to stay low but when I hit a bit of traffic it normally rises and hangs at the half-way mark. Recently it hasn’t been doing this.

The engine management light came on last week and I took it into my local garage who said that the light was related to “the temperature”. They cleared the light and told me to keep an eye on it but didn’t fix anything. Now the light has come back on this morning and I’m starting to put 2 and 2 together.

My coolant level is normal but my concern is that if the temp gauge/sensor is on the blink, will this stop the electric fan kicking in? Does the electric fan have its’ own sensor or does it go by the gauge on the dash? Basically, I’m going travelling round the world at the end of March and the Fabia will be declared off the road for 9 months so I *really* want to avoid having to get this fixed until then if I possibly can.

Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated!

Hi and welcome. If you have a look at this thread, it will help with a few questions: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/1-4-mpi-2000-sluggish-crap-mpg/82449/2/#post948881

I know nothing about cars so really couldn't say if yours will survive for another month. When mine had a similar problem, I booked an appointment, the earliest of which was about 3-4 weeks ahead and by that time I was becoming seriously concerned that the car would stall on me and possibly not restart (for a good few minutes as time wore on) in "inappropriate" locations (like behind a bus in the middle of the road LOL), so eventually left it at home till appointment day arrived.

The above is only on the basis of my experience, so I'd say that you need to be prepared to get it fixed (you'll have to anyway sooner or later), or be prepared to find an alternative form of transport. Cars only ever break down when least want them to

Regards

Mo

Thanks heresmo. I'll have a read of that thread. I probably will end up having to take it in as I'm a bit neurotic about any kind of warning lights.

Yes, re warning lights - they can be a right nuisance on 1.4's IMO since only a Skoda garage with a lot of experience will know what the heck the lights are trying to tell us (the engine light covers a multitude of sins) and of course what needs to be fixed. My not knowing anything about cars, I have to rely on garages, so I'm very lucky that "my" garage is brilliant - I hope yours is too

Regards

Mo

Welcome to Briskoda! :wavey:

My wife's car had this problem, and so I did a technical guide when I repaired it, here. One or two of the other users have recommended replacing the thermostat housing that the sensor sits in at the same time, as the housing and sensor can be bought as a pack from the dealer for not much more than the cost of the sensor - although if you were to do this, you'd either have to clamp the hoses either side to minimise leaks, or drain and refill the coolant. It's up to you, but in the case of my wife's car, swapping the sensor was all that was required, and 18 months down the line, the thermostat still seems OK...

Hope this helps!

Great guide ap0gee. It looks pretty simple but I'm not sure I'd feel that confident with doing that myself.

I tried running the car idle during my lunch break to see if the electric fan would kick in and fortunately it did after about 15 minutes. I guess the fan works off another sensor. The temp gauge was still sat on zero though.

Definitely looking like a sensor problem to my newbie eyes.

Great guide ap0gee. It looks pretty simple but I'm not sure I'd feel that confident with doing that myself.

It's up to you, but apart from the need for a socket set to get the engine cover off, it's really no harder than changing a lightbulb IMO (and I'm not talking the nearside headlamp on a Fabia vRS, either...!)

I seem to remember Mo (Heresmo) got hers done at the garage for about 100 quid, which seems a bit cheeky. I reckon 50-odd ought to be more like it, although as I mentioned, it might be worth getting a quote for them doing the thermostat body at the same time if you're going down that route (since the thermostat can go too, so they might as well do both while they're there!) I guess the difference between 30 quid and 50 is less than the 25-ish vs. 500+ for the evaporator sensor DIY I also did a while back!!!

... I seem to remember Mo (Heresmo) got hers done at the garage for about 100 quid...

*pootles in* Yup. Quote was £101.50 at one garage and I actually paid £84.45 incl VAT at another, being Labour £49.50, Sensor £22.37, then add VAT. June 2006. *pootles away*

Mo

Ive not read through all the posts but could be a coolant temperature sensor causing the problem.

Think they are a tenner.

Cost me about 36 quid to get mine done at the local garage, took 'em less than 30 mins. Worth every penny.

Damn this thing, I don't know what's going on. I booked the car into my local garage for Monday and this morning the management light didn't show up and the temp gauge started working again. Admittedly, it's a much milder day today but I don't know if this is the reason.

Damn this thing, I don't know what's going on. I booked the car into my local garage for Monday and this morning the management light didn't show up and the temp gauge started working again. Admittedly, it's a much milder day today but I don't know if this is the reason.

It's an intermittant fault for some reason, but chances are if it's happened more than once then it is the sensor that's faulty...

I'll keep the booking and see what they say. As it happens, I've also noticed something else strange with the car when I start up. I'm not sure if it's related or if it's an issue. I’ve made another thread for it…

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/petrol-fabia-makes-noise-bit-like-diesel-startup/102713/#post1185865

Does anyone know the correct part number for the Coolant Temperature sensor for the Fabia Comfort 1.4 16V, engine number is AUB114996AUA.

Seem to have a similar problem, sometimes the gayge works, other times it sits at 1/4, and sometimes does not move at all

Many thanks

Beverley

Does anyone know the correct part number for the Coolant Temperature sensor for the Fabia Comfort 1.4 16V, engine number is AUB114996AUA.

Seem to have a similar problem, sometimes the gayge works, other times it sits at 1/4, and sometimes does not move at all

Many thanks

Beverley

It's in this guide.

Do you mean this number 06A919501A??

The haynes manual states two different ranges of resistance, one for the OHC engine and one for the DOHC, so I assumed that the sensors were different. Is the Haynes manual incorrect, the car I have is the DOHC engine (16V)

Thanks

Bev

Do you mean this number 06A919501A??

The haynes manual states two different ranges of resistance, one for the OHC engine and one for the DOHC, so I assumed that the sensors were different. Is the Haynes manual incorrect, the car I have is the DOHC engine (16V)

Thanks

Bev

You learn a new thing every day! The Haynes may well be right, but to be honest, since you know the 'proper' name of the part you're asking for, I suggest just getting the dealer or factor to select the right part for you!

Looks like the Haynes Manaul is incorrect on this point, there is only the one type, the only difference was that the one I got from the dealer was nearly the same number, but without the last 'A'.

Not such a simple job, as on the DOHC engine, the sensor is towards the bottom of the thermostat housing. Gotta to admit, it was easier to change the temp sensor on the XJS V12 than on the Skoda Fabia