Change the air filter - Skoda Fabia 1.6 TDi

The air filter of the 1.6 TDi is ring-shaped, surrounded by a cotton strip... original!

The hood of the car is opened by operating the lever on the driver's side.

Locate the air box (framed in red)

We can identify the air flow, which starts from a cuff located at the front, which directs the flow into the air box (where the precious filter is located), then goes back to the rear, via a hose.

This last one is going to bother us a little. We can see that the air flow meter is fixed on it (3rd photo). (just above the yellow brake fluid reservoir)

The air box is fixed with 5 screws, which are more or less easy to access. The red arrows allow you to identify them.

So we unscrew the 5 one by one, being very careful that they do not fall into the depths of the engine, because at that point, to recover them

The most unpleasant screw is the one located completely behind the air box.

With the screws removed, you now need to remove the hose that fits into the air box cover.

Use a pair of multi-grip pliers to release the circlip.

The 2 steps are:

1. (in red) pinch to remove the pressure exerted by the circlip on the fitting

2. (in blue) Still pinching, move the circlip to one side so that it allows us to release the hose.

I advise you to release it from the right side, because its pressure is high and if you release it from the left side (soft side of the hose), it risks tearing...

In the 3rd photo, we can clearly see that the circlip is on the right (on the rigid part of the connector). We can thus release the flexible hose.

Before you can remove the air box cover, you must disconnect the air flow meter

Carefully unplug this plug. A screwdriver is very useful.

Your air box can be opened: by removing the cover, the filter will come with it.

So be careful to do it carefully!

Clean the air box to remove any impurities present inside

Compare the dimensions between the old and new air filter

We can see on the 3rd photo that visibly, the old filter was pressed on one side of the box, which obstructed the passage of air (and therefore forced the passage on the rest of the surface...). Which therefore in some way "reduced the treatment surface".

Now, it's more or less delicate. The first photo shows you that the 3 notches of the filter go on the 3 housings of the hood.

Once the notches are in front of the housings, you must turn the filter on itself, so that the notches ensure the fixing of the filter on the air box cover.

It can be difficult, I had an easier time with some brands than with others. In particular when turning the filter on itself, the notches do not seem to fit. We can therefore slightly chamfer (with a cutter) the beginning of the notch to make handling easier.

Once the new filter is on the air box cover, you have to put the cover back on the box.

Proceed in reverse order

1. The electrical plug (of the flow meter)

2. The air hose (with the circlip to be put back in place to seal the connection)

3. The 5 hood screws

Here are some pictures of the old filter, I think it's always better to replace it sooner than later, especially for a few euros!