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Fabia power steering problems?


Tech1e

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Thanks for taking the time to write this :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

My wifes fabia vrs has lost its power steering 3 times in the last 5 months, its under warranty but the Skoda dealership have not been able to find the fault, (low battery voltage).

The warranty runs out in 4 weeks so with the help of this guide, I'll have a look at it myself.

Cheers

Bill.

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My wife had a Fabia Silverline for 6 years and hers started to give power steering fault indications from year 3 on, problem was battery. This problem disappeared in the summer months when the battery was warm and fully charged and reappeared in the winter, new battery made no difference just keep old one charged in winter.

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great article, helps me alot as I've had so many problems but they continue. I replaced the pump which was faulty, angle sensor AND then the steering rack which seemed to cure the problem. However, one week later and now it seems the steerings getting heavier again (no power steering light) but the pump is trying to work, but it just won't (lights dim considerably when turning)? I'm at my wits end now and just thinking of throwing the car into a local auction as I've spent too much time and effort with no end result.

could anyone point me to the right direction?

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Care to point you in the right direction?

Is that not what the first post was about? As I have already said and quite clearly evident above there is little point in replacing parts without propper diagnosis.

You issue could be something as simple as a loose earth on the chassis leg from the pump. But without checking it over its anyones guess.

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I did get a full diagnostics which is why all those parts were changed, they were all faulty. The problem is that the power steering was cured but started getting heavier again until today it seems to have completely given up. I guess the battery and alternator will be the next thing to check. Thanks for the write up.

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Hi, I had issue with steering as well.

Symptoms of my fabia 1.4 mpi 2000: power steering light on dashboard went on and off, steering become unstable and after two days steering become heavier permanently with the light on all the time. With lights on and steering, all lights were literally flashing. Fuses –ok, the liquid in the pump –ok.

I’ve removed the nearside bumper grill trims and fog light, disconnected a power steering sensor from the pump, started engine, switched on the lights and “voila” no flashing lights indicated that the PAS is faulty. It was the old plastic one, replaced it with the metal ended ones which I bought from skoda dealer for £98 (august2010). A good description how to replace PAS is on fabia-vrs.com

Hope this will help somebody to save couple of quid.

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Thanks for the helpful guide on the power steering problems. My poor Fabia (2000 W reg 1.SDi with 115k on the clock) is having power steering problems. Well it has had no power steering for the last 3000 miles. I had a power steering light that came on permanently for about 2 weeks, now it is off, but still no power steering. Got a VAG.com cable from China and it came up with a sensor fault. Need to change it, but it's quite a pricey component. On balance it sounds like this is faulty, but why has the light now gone out on the dashboard? A few other questions:

1. Anywhere can you source a cheap steering angle sensor, apart from the stealers?

2. Could I have damaged anything else?

3. Will it make it through the MOT?

I have to say no power steering on a 1.9 diesel is certainly good for upper body exercise. You do need to plan your manoeurves!

Was also going to say that I heard it mentioned the seal on these old sensors lets water in, in the past they are usually fully of water, would removing the seal let the water drain out and let it work? Reminds me of fiddling with my brake switch which after fiddling about worked! Eventually replaced the stupid thing.

Saw a cheap LHD sensor on ebay, but the loom is apparently too short? How do you lengthen the loom or am I looking at soldering and all that business which is putting the connections at risk?

Hope someone with some time can help me out with this!

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to nigelcm:

A light on dashboard for PAS wont pass MOT, that’s what I was told in garage (independent) when I was having issue with PAS on my fabia. If you need to replace steering angle sensor, try ebay, I bought used one (unfortunately wrong one) for £35. I have thought there are just 2 specific sensors for either koyo or trw steering system used in fabias, so bought trw sensor from fabia vrs but it didn’t fit my fabia mpi. Better look for a spare part of the same car model as yours. Buy only from UK, EU models have shorter cable as they are left hand driving cars.

Running car with faulty steering sensor might flat your battery pretty soon. Other than that it should not harm anything else (but I am car electrician, maybe someone else will react to my statement).

As far as drying the water out of the sensor and using it again, I read on other forums that this might be successful sometimes but the sensor wont work for long.

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i have had problems with my power steering, I’m not a techie. i drive my car, i look after it by getting all servicing done on time and wash/ clean regular while doing so checking oil, washer, tyres and coolant and now power steering levels too.

when i got power steering problems, i did what most people do and took it to the garage.

id just had my turbo changed a few days before (but power steering problem was evident before the turbo blew) but awesome had my car and diagnosed it as the pump being faulty.

ive since had the problem again (3 times), since they replaced the pump, and just drove the car with no power steering, it always comes back within half a mile or so. I can’t do anything now to prove it might not be the pump and get my money back for false diagnosis and fitting of a part there was no problem with when they took it off.

my point being, ive spent over 300 pounds at awesome getting this fixed and it is still not fixed! they are suppose to diagnose it, not me, else what is the point in taking it there?. I know, Ill take it back, and it will cost me more money and still not be fixed!

Having read this post im now well fed up, it seems cars can have so many problems with any single part even specialists cant find the faults (or are not willing to do a proper diagnosis) or know they exists in the first place?

i think that now i have not started my car for only a week and it has trouble starting now that it could have been the battery all along, and ive had a 300 pound bill i didn’t need to pay for. :@

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I have 2 Fabia diesels, an 03 SDI and a 55 TDI. Both have problems from time to time with the PAS.

The O3 has the light come on and the PAS partly work if the temperature is around freezing or just above at other temps it works fine. Start up, light's on, switch off, start up again, everything works properly.

The 55, light does not come on but PAS not working when starting after overnight cold temperature, rev the engine, PAS works fine.

Just thought this may help people with similar symptoms, it might work for you.

On the subject of the MOT, just having the light on is not a fail, the PAS not working at all is but if the light is on and there is some assistance it should pass.

Edited by peter3197
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Hi,

Looks like the power steering problem seems to happen in lots of Fabia's. I'm hoping to change the sensor. If it helps regarding the battery, I managed to get a cheap Bosch S5 one from Costco, wasn't exactly the same fit, a bit lower in height, but it was 750amps :) No problems starting in the cold I guess again! Made no difference to my power steering though :( If anyone knows of where to get a new cheap sensor please post it on the forum or message me. Thanks.

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Hi there Techie1!.

Thanks for the article. I started a thread about this problem but this looks a great place to start.

I am having problems with my Fabia power steering and my car battery died on Saturday! So there may be a link.

Can you possibly advise how to find out what battery we should put in as I have never done this.

Thanks!

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I would recommend a Bosch S4 - your supplier will be able to tell you which one is right for your car. The bolt that holds them in is a bit tricky to get at, so if you don't have a socket with a LONG extension and a pick-up tool on standby, you are probably better off getting your local garage to do supply + fit.

HTH

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Had the car in Skoda for keys to be programmed to it yesterday, and they have been adamant that due to one of the keys failing back in November was causing the PAS light on start up.

Anyway had the codes cleared yesterday (Non of them PAS related) only related to the faulty key, and the PAS light has come on again this morning, switch it off and back on and it goes out, then it's ok for the rest of the day.

getting fed up of it tbh :(

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