Flat Battery!

[Skoda_Man]

My pads wear off fast man, lasted me 2 years and a little bit more. Worse still, my rotors also worn thin, so got to change rotors as well.

 

Now new pads and rotors... GGGRRRR!!!! the sound they made can make you go crazy... luckily got about another 2000Km left or so before they are 'seasoned'

[Sky8807]

Ya man, your pads sure wear fast. Normally the rotors do not require to change.

Any idea how much thinner your rotor are worn down that require replacement. Is it recommended by the agent or the shop want to make more $$$ from you.

 

Rotor replacement are normally due to warp,or defective. As for wearing thin, it is only when after many years of usage or after a few brakes pads changed.

[Octaviafan]

Yours special case man. Look at the mileage you clock in 2 years. Brake pads sure worn out lah

[Skoda_Man]

Cannot be the shop want to make $$$ from me cause I go and buy the rotors myself.

 

It occurs during the changing of my pads, the rotors is thin but still can last for maybe another 2000Km to 3000km before it gets really thin, thus reckon it is better to change both together so that it can be seasoned together.

 

anyway, it cost 85 per rotor.

[Sky8807]

okay, look like u travelled a lot of milage.

braking hard I supposed, most of the time. Or maybe the pad is as hard as the rotor thus the rotor thin out.

 

Among my contacts, normally rotors are able to last a very long time. A couple of friend I know it lasted ten years without changing. My previous cars also lasted 5 years without changing, until I sold my car.

 

Maybe conti car rotor are not so lasting, my previous cars were jap and korean.

[Skoda_Man]

you are right, rotors do last a long long time. usually 5 years or even more when using OEM pads.

 

my wild guess is my Skody is left in the PSA port for a long period of time thus rust might have eaten a fair bit of the rotors.

 

Anyway, now I have changed it, I have a better piece of mind. just need them to be seasoned FAST!!! The screeching sound is driving me mad liao...

[Sky8807]

Since you have already changed them, so be it. If you ask me earlier, I would have save you some money.

 

Question now is what cause the screech....

Is there something not fitted properly during the replacement.

Who did the change job for u?

If i'm not wrong the pads are secured by a rather weak spring to prevent it from touching the rotor during rotation,is the brake pads installed properly. Even if the spring is not installed, the pads is unlikely to drop off anyway.

 

Maybe u need to go back to the installer to have them check again.

[Beanoyip]

My brakes also giving this screeching sound at low speed braking. Other then that, fairly normal. Reversing also, sound comes from the brakes. Pads changed 10k ago. Maybe its the alignment or something. I'm not sure.

[Kyleng]

Talk about flat batteries... I have some experience to share.

Mine gave some symptoms before it died like engine died while waiting in front of traffic light. It took a while before i got it started again and thought that it may just be a minor glitch somewhere. Two days later, it happened again and i got worried. Then i was planning to have it sent to the workshop to look at the throttle settings or somethig like that. On that night, When I tried to start car, just one notch before ignition, the entire dashboard lights freaked out and blinked continuosly with a rattling sound. I cold not get it started when i tried at the ignition. Bo Pian call tow truck to pick up to car to Servo. I thought the car is screwed big time and expecting the worst. Next day, Servo called and told me the batt is flat. Fitted a dry cell Varta and I'm S$180 (+S$50 midnight tow) poorer. After that, the car seems to take a day to re-learn my driving pattern before it feels like before again. I just find it weird... a flat battery can cause all this trouble... Thanks to the electronics built into the car i guess.

 

Now, it seems like the air input temp sensor is giving problems... having difficulty starting the engine. Servo reported this to me that the VAG computer picked up an error on the air input temp and suspect the temp sensor is dying... Jia lat. anayone else had this kinda problems?

[Skoda_Man]

This is a common item to go kaput, I know about Rexes who need to change this often but for VAG car's not too sure

[Spotty]

Just to share. My car battery also failed on me last Friday. No warning sign except in the same morning - Had difficulty starting the car but managed to make it to office. By afternoon, could not even crank up the engine - totally dead. i am surprised that the battery died so quickly. Btw, What's the useful life of a car battery? i thot 2 years ?

 

Called AA and they came the rescue within 30 mins to replace the battery. Cost $145 for members.Response time was fast. FYI - Tow charges if arranged by Czech Auto will cost you $95.

 

SOG - please be on alert if your car battery is approaching the 1.7 years mark.

 

Regards,

spottyred.

[Skoda_Man]

Most battery last 2 year MAX and it will start to loss the ability to hold charge. MF batt will last a slighty short lift span while those normal one will last a tad longer IF it is taken proper care of i.e. top up batt water every 2 weeks.

 

For most SG drivers, I will advice just get a MF batt and change after the 1.5yrs mark. How many of us in actual fact open the bonnet and check this and that every 2 weeks or monthly?

 

Me learn an expensive lesson when my last car's batt dies and I am so late for a meeting with my boss at a customer's place. No more such stunts for me liao....

 

A way to remember when to change batt is to put a label on the batt on the day you put in the batt. Then you will know when it is time to change.

 

As for you batt last 1.7yrs, well do take into account how long your car is in the port.

[Spotty]

Heehee! i sure am guilty of not checking batt water level that often!

Thanks for the reminder....

 

 

Have a good weekend!

spotty

[C708]

you are right, rotors do last a long long time. usually 5 years or even more when using OEM pads.

 

my wild guess is my Skody is left in the PSA port for a long period of time thus rust might have eaten a fair bit of the rotors.

 

Anyway, now I have changed it, I have a better piece of mind. just need them to be seasoned FAST!!! The screeching sound is driving me mad liao...

 

 

Skoda_man,

 

 

Let me reassure u that brake pads ( especially the better ones ) do screech. its only natural !! Imagine u are causing friction between 2 metallic components at high revolutions......so bound to screech. Encountered this problem on my Fab. I changed my stock brakes to Mintex just after I bought the car. Mintex barkes screech too.....so the solution....?? Bring your car to Servo...have them coat your pads with copper grease.......and wah la all screeches gone. Trust me its works perfectly still !! Braking is just as good or if not better !!

 

 

C708

 

[C708]

Damn siow...recently had accident. Then after repair, my battery die flat. Need to change and cost me S$120 (exclude S$20 for NTUC workshop people to jump start). BTW, quite difficult to find Skoda battery as our seem to be a high amp type. Spec is 65 amp. Most battery usually come in 55 amp. So Skoda owner check your battery.

 

Call Czech Auto for help but once they heard is a 1 year old car they sian liow...(becoz not buy from them.) Ask me to tow car to them and never offer any other assistance.

 

 

BTW, I also encounter the POWER STEERING WARNING light. Intermitten, any owner face similar problem?

 

 

Hi Peter,

 

 

 

Let me introduce myself....am a new Fabia owner, am also Peter, bought a resale Fab just b4 X-mas. Previously a VAG owner too.....was driving a SEAT Cordoba and quite active still in SEATSG forum. This problem is inherent with all Fabia's and even I suffer from it too.

 

Apparently the Power steering sensor is faulty. Just a short overview of the matter, Czech Auto when asked will tell you that u will have to order the ENTIRE Power Steering Pump assembly inclusive of the sensor. This will set u back SGD 1300 !!!! Even that is not available....CA !$#&@!&*#$ dont carry stock !!! FYI the Fab is not running rack & Pinion power steering, hence no need to fill power steering fluid. It's running electronic power steering.

 

Solution ?? Am bringing in the sensor alone from UK. Interested ?? Let me know as I will consolidate orders before I ship.....

 

Pete

[C708]

I had an experience once when my car stop at the traffic junction and the water temperature warning light come ON but the temp gauge was at the centre mark which is normal to me. At that time, my car was stop at the downward gradient.

 

Anyway, continue driving and monitor the temp gauge to make sure that it does'nt goes into the red. Later after dropping my friend, stop by the side of the road, at night, and check the bonnet. After re-starting the car, the light goes off and drove home.

 

Next morning check the engine compartment again and noticed that the reservoir for the cooland was on the lowest level. top it up and fault did not appear till now. Conclusion the sensor is working and the low level was pick up when the car was incline and the senso pick up the lowest level which is far too low for safe driving.

 

Till today, was wandering why the coolant level can drop from full to low level and where did the coolant evaporate to, because my previous car coolant level don't drop so fast, it can last about 2 years of so without topping up. Maybe, the temp generated on fabia is higher and coolant level will drop faster than jap or korean car.

 

So,I think should double check the power steering fluid level and ensure it is at the full level mark to confirm that it is not triggered because of a low fluid situation.

 

For info.

 

 

Sky,

 

 

ME am a new member here, but am a veteran with VAG....am still active with SEATSG as I used to own a SEAT. For the problem with power steering, please refer to my previous post addressed to Peterlee for solutions....

 

 

As for your water level....u are suffering for the other Fabia inherent problem........laeking water pump. Hope u had you replaced oredi, otherwise u'd better replace it quick. But from what I gather thru the market, there are NO stocks of this water pump ANYWHERE in Asia. If that's the case, please post your contact here so as I can contact you soon. If you are topping up your reservoir every 3 days or so...u should still be OK, but is a definate sign for replacement

 

 

C708

 

[C708]

My brakes also giving this screeching sound at low speed braking. Other then that, fairly normal. Reversing also, sound comes from the brakes. Pads changed 10k ago. Maybe its the alignment or something. I'm not sure.

 

 

B,

 

 

The OEM stock pads suck big time. Bought my Fab 2nd hand ....year & half old and the pads were almost flat. Had mine changed to Mintex pads, great improvement on braking power but still screeched. Apparently this is common with Mintex. So the solution is to had the pads greased witrh copper grease. Wah la.....no more screech but still wonderful braking power !!

 

[Sky8807]

Hi C708,

 

WELCOME TO FABIA group.Thanks for your views. But I don't think is the water pump leaking, rather the vapourisation of the fluid. The level drop from full to low about more than a month or so. Trying to check for leak, so far unsuccessful.

Any idea what's the cost of the pump like? May consider option when situation don't improved.

 

sky