320touring's Rank Taxi 2 - 2004 Skoda Fabia TDi PD

[320touring]

As many will know, I've been on the hunt for a sensible car due to new employment requiring a schlep down to that there Engerlund on a regular basis.

 

As such, I've been looking at diesels with reasonable mileage and good fuel economy.

 

As soon as I started looking, anything that bore any semblance of sensibility regarding price or condition decided to dissapear.

 

Its never taken me 5days to buy a car in my puff! Despite throwing double to triple my usual budget about,twas nowt but scrap.

 

Until Thursday.

 

Then, like a beacon shining from the pages of Gumtree this lil stunner was found..

 

Behold!

 

A Skoda Fabia Elegance 1.9 TDI PD.

 

151k on it with Mot til Sept 2017.

 

It was cheap due to an intermittent cam sensor fault-a common problem so it seems.

 

Drives beautifully and shoves itself along the road well in stock form.

 

After the customary 20% reduction in cost, I collected it after work on Friday.

 

Today was the first time I'd seen it it daylight..

 

Looks no bad but needs a helluva clean. Heated seats are toasty to the bum:)!

 

Many thanks to all who helped me out with suggestions and also hints and tips re what to look for on the Fabia- much appreciated

[Lacquer Peel]

It looks quite good and very sensible. I liked my Fabia SDI, dour to drive but very reliable.

[320touring]

It looks quite good and very sensible. I liked my Fabia SDI, dour to drive but very reliable.

High praise indeed:) we'll see how she gets on. I'll be taking her out for a wee bit of a run tonight..

[bub2006]

Elegance a top spec model? Look tidy mate. Make a good sleeper with a bit of tweaking

[Dave_Q]

I had one the same but much shonkier, I liked it, tiny back seat but a decent size boot.

 

They are not a bad steer and go well enough with the TDI.

 

Has it got cruise control? I fitted it to mine with one of these "Polski Spesh" counterfeit stalks and a home made wiring loom.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-SKODA-AUDI-SEAT-COLUMN-SWITCH-STALK-CRUISE-CONTROL-8L0953513J/190572626280?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D9d8f5435381c40288fcb07848e76d822%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D111259000862

[320touring]

Elegance a top spec model? Look tidy mate. Make a good sleeper with a bit of tweaking

 

Think its second from top- manual rear windows but CD player, air con, traction control and leccy front windows.

 

 

 

I had one the same but much shonkier, I liked it, tiny back seat but a decent size boot.

 

They are not a bad steer and go well enough with the TDI.

 

Has it got cruise control? I fitted it to mine with one of these "Polski Spesh" counterfeit stalks and a home made wiring loom.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-SKODA-AUDI-SEAT-COLUMN-SWITCH-STALK-CRUISE-CONTROL-8L0953513J/190572626280?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D9d8f5435381c40288fcb07848e76d822%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D111259000862

No cruise on this interesting that you can add it:)

[tooSavvy]

Engine's rongend/rongfuellie - however - Skoiee gets my Vote

 

TS

[320touring]

Aye as its a PD its no vegibaltarian

 

Probably for the best so it doesn't shit its fuel filter in the dark on the m6.

[twosmoke300]

Very nice ! In my experience most cam sensor faults on these are due to people not locking / timing the engine correctly when doing the cambelt .

[bub2006]

I looked at an octavia elegance and it was top spec near enough. Maybe it's like the good old days were the larger models had everything but smaller ones didn't have leccy rear windows etc like Ford escort ghia vs Sierra ghia.

[320touring]

Very nice ! In my experience most cam sensor faults on these are due to people not locking / timing the engine correctly when doing the cambelt .

Interesting thanks for the info..

 

It had a cambelt at 75k and nothing since. Has service history to 2014 and last owner only started to have issues earlier this year.

 

Runs fine and has not conked out on me. Apparently what happens is it'll just cut out whilst driving along.

 

Key off/key on sorts it.

 

I'm thinking it may be a wiring loom issue, and the wires have a break that a bumpbmay cause it to fail?

[bigfella2]

Atleast you won't have to worry about omg dmf meltdown on this. Should be the five speeder with solid flywheel if my vag wisdomness is correct. I have a cam sensor for one of these, was gonna chuck it out. It's off a ajm pd engine, should be same if you want it?

[beko1987]

very nice, dont run it on veg!

 

ill have a fiver that itll be broken by the new year...

[320touring]

Atleast you won't have to worry about omg dmf meltdown on this. Should be the five speeder with solid flywheel if my vag wisdomness is correct. I have a cam sensor for one of these, was gonna chuck it out. It's off a ajm pd engine, should be same if you want it?

Thanks for the offer chap- that'd be ace:)

 

Re flywheel stuff- does that mean it can take big torques?

[320touring]

very nice, dont run it on veg!

 

ill have a fiver that itll be broken by the new year...

Such optimism:) luckily I don't have much in it..

[v8 scania]

Another skoda estate to join us then thats an octavia and a fabia whos getting a superb next

[bigfella2]

Pm me your address and I will stick it in a jiffy bag and send it you. Should imagine it will be the ATD 100bhp engine, so engine and clutch should be good for a bit of ecu jiggery poker if you catch my drift. Knock the smile off some fabia vrs drivers faces.

[320touring]

Another skoda estate to join us then thats an octavia and a fabia whos getting a superb next

Mine is not quite as lush as yours - those L&k interiors are epic

[Lacquer Peel]

Atleast you won't have to worry about omg dmf meltdown on this. Should be the five speeder with solid flywheel if my vag wisdomness is correct.

 

Are you sure? Even my 90bhp Caddy TDI has a DMF.

[twosmoke300]

I thought all the pd 's had dmfs from the factory ?

[KruJoe]

Have you had your laptop on it yet?

[KruJoe]

How about now?

[bigfella2]

Are you sure? Even my 90bhp Caddy TDI has a DMF.

Are you sure? cos my 90bhp caddy didn't have one.

[Lacquer Peel]

It makes its presence known more than I'd like, yes.

[Jim Bell]

Train station to the airport please mate. ASAP Over.

[Dave_Q]

I think solid flywheel is right, here is a part worn (!) flywheel and clutch for a 5 speed TDI:  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-SKODA-FABIA-03-07-1-9-TDI-5-SPEED-MANUAL-DUAL-SOLID-FLYWHEEL-CLUTCH-/122190487215?hash=item1c731edeaf:g:iXUAAOSwHoFXtO48

 

Here is a ruinously expensive DMF kit for the 6 speed VRS:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-FABIA-1-9TDI-1-9-TDI-VRS-SACHS-DUAL-MASS-FLYWHEEL-AND-CLUTCH-KIT-WITH-CSC-/370936445557?fits=Model%3AFabia&hash=item565d88fa75:g:2hcAAOxy0QBSQZ7k

 

 

BULLET DODGED

[Lacquer Peel]

Why does my van designed in the early 1990s need a fucking DMF?!

[bigfella2]

We will have to agree to disagree then. The cam sensor is straight forward to change, nearly threw it out earlier when tidying garage. Only weak areas of these and Ibiza's and polos of this era are the console bushes on front arms. Good steer that fabia.

[twosmoke300]

That and epas units !££££££££

[Lacquer Peel]

We will have to agree to disagree then.

 

Mine is a very late one so they might have changed to DMFs by then, in line with other cars fitted with the 90 TDI.