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HI,my first post.

I've done a search and found nothing coming up re the Fabia so assume this issue has not been raised on here yet.

The problem relates to the current model Fabia but apparently only the vRS and Monte Carlo models fitted with 17" wheels and 205/40 tyres.By the many comments on the Skoda forum it's a very common issue.The problem is pulling to the left when the car is going straight.One owner's problems became subject to an article in Auto Express when the dealer failed to resolve the issue (they all do that a bit,sir.) but after the mag intervened the dealer did sort it out by both changing the alignment AND replacing under warranty the Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres with Pirelli P Nero...it is being said that directional tyres don't suit so non-directional should be fitted. 

Personally I have this problem with my Fabia vRS (15 months old) but I have lived with it up to now.The pull to the left is the same with my original wheels and Dunlop tyres and with the winter wheels, currently fitted, with Kumho tyres,195/50/16,these are also directional tyres.

I recently had my local garage "check the tracking",which made no difference to the pull,but now the steering wheel is off-centre!!

I would be grateful for any helpful comments so I can go to the dealer with some ammunition as a precaution against being fobbed off.

Thanks in advance,

John.  

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I also have a Fabia VRS as my daily , but with Continentals fitted not heard of the pulling issue and my car is not affected but after lowering it at 800miles I had a full geo done by a specialist

 

Tracking is pointless imo , get a proper geo set up done by someone who knows what they are doing.

 

Where are you based ?

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Hello John and welcome to wim...

 

I have a few points here. First read this thread here in the forum> http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=165 Now it could be said it pulls on both summer and winter tyres but there's always the possibility both sets are not correctly configured.

 

Tracking is the very basic of basic when it comes to geometry, i suggest you read this topic> http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=49 It's not a nose bleed of a read but it does display what's really being measured.

 

On the Skoda very few places will measure key angles the control directional stability, the main one being the castor angle. The reason for this lack of measurement is because the angle is not directly adjustable on the Skoda but nevertheless it needs to be acquired if only to prove it's not the problem.

 

Without blinding you with science the geometric angles are not just positions or measured figures they are also forces and each angle offers a different level of force depending on the steering position, yaw, suspension moment on/ off bump. So quite a busy collection.

 

The current off-line steering position is due to poor workmanship. I assume they have adjusted to toe angle ( longitudinal ) direction of the wheels. The technician sets what he believes is a level steering wheel and then adjusts the road wheels to that "ahead" position. His/ her option of a level steering position is opinionated and it's for that reason we prefer the owner to finalize the steering level and we would set the road wheels from there.  

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I also have a Fabia VRS as my daily , but with Continentals fitted not heard of the pulling issue and my car is not affected but after lowering it at 800miles I had a full geo done by a specialist

 

Tracking is pointless imo , get a proper geo set up done by someone who knows what they are doing.

 

Where are you based ?

Looks like you got a good one,but the issue is quite widespread if you look on the Skoda forum,Fabia II section. 

I gather standard fit oem tyres were either Continental or Dunlop but the issue is more linked to the Dunlop tyres.

I'm at Chesterfield and agree that I need a local geo specialist.

TBH I don't think Skoda will do anything under warranty since the car has now done 14k miles,I should have gone back in the first month I suppose. 

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Hello John and welcome to wim...

 

I have a few points here. First read this thread here in the forum> http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=165 Now it could be said it pulls on both summer and winter tyres but there's always the possibility both sets are not correctly configured.

 

Tracking is the very basic of basic when it comes to geometry, i suggest you read this topic> http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=49 It's not a nose bleed of a read but it does display what's really being measured.

 

On the Skoda very few places will measure key angles the control directional stability, the main one being the castor angle. The reason for this lack of measurement is because the angle is not directly adjustable on the Skoda but nevertheless it needs to be acquired if only to prove it's not the problem.

 

Without blinding you with science the geometric angles are not just positions or measured figures they are also forces and each angle offers a different level of force depending on the steering position, yaw, suspension moment on/ off bump. So quite a busy collection.

 

The current off-line steering position is due to poor workmanship. I assume they have adjusted to toe angle ( longitudinal ) direction of the wheels. The technician sets what he believes is a level steering wheel and then adjusts the road wheels to that "ahead" position. His/ her option of a level steering position is opinionated and it's for that reason we prefer the owner to finalize the steering level and we would set the road wheels from there.

 

 

  

Thanks for all that.

I'll get reading !!! 

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I also have a Fabia VRS as my daily , but with Continentals fitted not heard of the pulling issue and my car is not affected but after lowering it at 800miles I had a full geo done by a specialist

 

Tracking is pointless imo , get a proper geo set up done by someone who knows what they are doing.

 

Where are you based ?

 

Looks like you got a good one,but the issue is quite widespread if you look on the Skoda forum,Fabia II section. 

I gather standard fit oem tyres were either Continental or Dunlop but the issue is more linked to the Dunlop tyres.

I'm at Chesterfield and agree that I need a local geo specialist.

TBH I don't think Skoda will do anything under warranty since the car has now done 14k miles,I should have gone back in the first month I suppose.

Skoda would be useless anyhow , they don't have the kit or the expertise. Sometimes you need a specialist

 

I was glad mine came with contis , had dun lops on my Octavia and they were awful

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Two points.... Slip angle and rigidity?.... What the! you my think? Well the slip angle is the amount of deflection in the tyre side-wall between it's mounting point ( rim ) and it's contact patch ( road ).  The low profile tyre has a very high rate of communication and low deflection in the slip meaning it's very unforgiving but high in performance.

 

The rigidity is how much deflection there is in the tyre side-wall, it's a similar condition to slip angle but it does vary between makes of tyre, hence the reason the same size of tyre but different makes suits one car but not another.

 

If that wasn't enough the low profile tyre is extremely sensitive to geometry because it's job communicating with the traction and the chassis is so finely tuned.

 

Without the margin of slip a displaced contact patch ( geometrically distorted ) will be felt.  On say a 60/ 70/ 80% percent aspect ratio tyre side-wall the geometric deflection would normally only offer tyre wear rather than handling issues like pulling.

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  • 1 month later...

Hi,

 

I have the same issue with my Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo.

My dealer has replaced the Dunlop tyres it came with for Pirelli PZero Nero tyres.

The left hand pull has reduced but it is still there and the steering wheel is not centered when driving in a straight line.

 

My dealer has also performed many 4-wheel-alignments.

I have also taken it to two places to have the alignment done.

The last alignment (that I had done) has made a small improvement but the pull and the off center steering wheel is still there.

 

Chesham is a bit far for me to travel and have an alignment done as I am in the North West otherwise i'd be over to yours to give you a challenge!

 

Do you have any advice you could give me on what to check/do now?

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I'm not happy with the thrust position but that's more me being a fussy sod..... Can we define the term "pull". Is this a case that when the steering is held level the car goes left or is there actual energy at the steering you have to resist.

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After the alignment shown in the picture its more of a drift.

 

I have to hold my steering wheel is 1-2 degrees off center to the right to maintain a straight line on the motorway.

If I loosen my grip on the steering wheel, the steering wheel moves to a central position then the car starts to drift left. It feels as though the amount of left hand "turn" will increase but obviously I won't let it continue long enough.

 

I too am a fussy sod. I probably wouldn't be that bothered about the car is I wasn't :)

What is wrong with the thrust position? Too much to the right?

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Yep due the OSR toe being to little but a thrust at 6' isn't end of days.....

 

I think the problem is the tyres?....... If you drive at lets say 5mph and let go of the steering wheel does it step incrementally to the left?

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Also what make of tyre do you have on the front?

My Skoda dealer has replaced all four tyres with Pirelli P-Zero Nero. They are 205/40R17.

 

Can you explain how the tyre could affect the pulling. I have been struggling to get my head around that.

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  • 3 months later...

Same problem here (Skoda Monte Carlo Estate). I've just returned from WIM in Chesham armed with two printouts (one from November when you last looked at it, and one from today).

 

I'm on my 3rd set of wheels and 4th set of tyres. Here's the story so far:

  • Picked up car brand new in September last year, pulled to the left
  • Took back to dealers, alignment done, came back worse
  • Back to the dealers, alignment done, warranty tyre replacement authorised, tyres replaced for P Zero Neros
  • Situation mildly improved, but before I had a decent chance to test them I moved onto my winter wheels as by now the potholes were far too large for low profile tyres and 300 miles a day...
  • Winter wheels (15", 185/60/15) made the problem even more pronounced, went to WIM, got alignment done. Confirmed that the previous alignment was shoddy. Situation improved, but still pulls to the left slightly. Went back to WIM a few days later, and tyres were swapped around. Much better this time, so I assumed it was just a tyre issue, though throughout the winter I can still sense something's not right.
  • Spring time 2014 finally happens, and I put my 17" wheels back on. Pull to the left is back. Get all four wheels balanced just in case, no difference, still pulls to the left. I've lived with it for a few months, but I now have RSI in my right hand, and the constant tugging makes driving this car almost unbearable with the mileage I do.
  • Couple of days ago - had enough, decided I'd try out the wheels/tyres from my wife's Skoda Rapid. They're 185/60/15s, but unlike my winter wheels are basically new (only done about 3000 miles). Her car drives in a straight line, so if it really were down to wheels (as Skoda UK and my dealer claim) then this should fix it, right? Nope.
  • Today - off to WIM again, just to get things checked before I go back to the dealers (as I don't want them attempting another shoddy alignment). Things checked, and the nice man told me there's nowt wrong with my geometry/alignment, everything straight, and he even drove it for me and confirmed there's still a slight left pull. 

 

Now, I should confirm what I mean by a "pull to the left", as I understand it's not terribly informative:

  • Where the road camber drops to the left, the car, with a straight steering wheel will drift left. I have to actively turn right 2-3 degrees to keep it straight.
  • Where the road camber drops to the right, the car will drive in a straight line no problem, hands off the steering wheel. Surely if everything's straight it should veer to the right?
  • On a straight road, with hands off the steering wheel, potholes and lumps will cause the steering wheel to settle to the left. Doesn't matter whether the potholes or bumps happen on the left or right side of the car, the steering wheel still always turns left. Basically, it has a preference for settling left, no matter what.

 

Additionally, it's draining driving this thing. I can't put my finger on it, but just driving in a straight line on the motorway is draining - like I'm constantly trying to keep it in a straight line - it's like there's no such thing as straight ahead, no matter what the angle of the steering wheel.

 

All the above points have moved about a bit, depending on the type of tyres fitted, size of wheels, and state of geometry/alignment, but to a greater or lesser degree, it always drifts left. I KNOW this isn't right, because my previous car (a Skoda Fabia VRS sharing much of the same suspension setup) drove perfectly straight. I've also had a number of dealer courtesy Fabias, all of which drive straight, and are far less draining to be in.

 

I'm happy to post up today's alignment report, but basically the guys at WIM in Chesham said it was fine, and about as straight as they'd expect a car to be. They told me to come here and speak to Tony, as he likes a puzzle :)

 

The problem I now have is that Skoda UK won't acknowledge there's a problem, to the point that most of the buyers that originally had problems with these cars have simply sold them on because they weren't getting anywhere, or were sick of being fobbed off with alignments and Pirellis (the Pirellis, as best anyone can figure, simply mask the problem slightly more than the original Dunlops did). I just can't afford to lose more money on Skodas (this one replaces the VRS which had a dodgy gearbox and engine...), and would dearly love to prove them wrong, and just get my car fixed, rather than having to sell it.

 

Tony - if you're watching, I'd love some advice!

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One more thing I've realised this morning (possibly related to the mild tweak it was given at WIM yesterday), I now have to hold the steering wheel right of center slightly in order to drive in a straight line on a pretty flat road surface (three-lane motorway with very very mild camber). Again, this can't be right.

 

I'd like to get to a point where I've had independent confirmation that the car's not right, and that it's in no way related to the geometry/alignment or wheels/tyres. At that point Skoda UK and/or my dealers have to accept their investigation needs to go elsewhere, rather than an endless time-wasting loop of tyre swaps and denial.

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This sounds like a really frustrating problem, hopefully Tony might have some suggestions when he gets on.

 

I know what you mean about it being tiring driving the car on long distances, it's like that with out 7th Gen Civic but that's down to the electronic power steering. You constantly have to make miner adjustments as you're driving to keep the car in a straight line, it's very draining :(

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The geometry numbers are fine, if anything they are to symmetrical...... Does the steering weight feel the same left/ right as you turn?

 

Thanks for the reply:)

 

I can't be certain about this, but I've always felt that it feels heavier to turn right. I've always assumed this is because it has a tendency to turn left, so I'm always fighting it when I turn right?

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I am very interested in this. My Monte does exactly the same as yours.

 

I have complained to Skoda UK about it and it has been in the garage 8 or 9 times and nothing has fixed it 100%. Its 96% there.

I have now given up as Skoda have said that the car is behaving as it should and within tolerance.

I would have to take them to small claims court to go further.

 

I have decided that I have better things to do with my time than fight for the last 4%.

Also I now drive a different way to work so the problem is not as apparent to me.

 

I am wondering if this is an issue with the power steering as no matter what has been done with alignments the steering wheel is still not centered plus its one of the few things that hasn't been looked at.

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