Skoda Fabia 2001 boot fails to open after drive and warning headlight on buzzer stopped working too

[ulabaczek]

Hi, I think I have gone through most of the topics related to simmilar issues I have been experiencing with my 2001 fabia.

Unfortunatelly no one had these 2 problems at the same time. It is strange but my boot door will not open after the drive unless I open back passanger door on either side. after that the boot releases as normal until next drive. When I stop and want to open the boot without opening back door I can use the mechanical pull handle and it also opens the boot. however once it is closed I can't open it until the back door has been opened. once it is done, opens as normal until next drive. Another problem which started at the same time was the warning headlight buzzer stopped working. I am not sure if it is connected but in December 2013 someone drove into my rear. The bumper was replaced and the slight dent in the boot door was fixed. When I told the garage about all the above issue with opening the boot they thought that it was the lock latch, which then replaced. it did not fix the problem though and the garage guys did not know what can cause the issue as well as they were not sure if this could be related to the accident or not. interestingly my friend who has got Fabia 2003 just started having the same problem! Now I start thinking that this could be a common Skoda problem?

 

Regarding the warning buzzer, all the other things which were mentioned on other posts are working (indicator makes the sound when in use, the light fit to the roof goes on and off after i open and close the car with the key. I am not sure about the beep for low petrol as rarely keep it on low level. Yesterday checked oil level (service was done 6000miles ago/September 2013) and it was very low, i think even below the min.line. I would think that if it goes that low I should have a warning light coming up? I don't know and again not sure if this could be in any way related to the boot and hedlight buzzer.

 

Would anyone have any idea what that could be? Microswitch in the drivers door? Someone online mentioned electrical earth fault?

 

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[TMB]

Definitely a failed microswitch in the driver's door. My switch is also gone and my boot does the same unless I open one of the rear doors. Another symptom is the doors locking themselves if you don't put the key in the ignition or open another door before 30 seconds have elapsed. This happens because the faulty switch doesn't tell the car that the driver's door has been opened.

Edited 5 April, 2014 by TMB

[ulabaczek]

Definitely a failed microswitch in the driver's door. My switch is also gone and my boot does the same unless I open one of the rear doors.

Thanks, would you know what the cost of the microswitch could be, or having it fixed in the garage? How difficult the job to replace it could be. Would you know any link showing DIY for fixing the problem?

[TMB]

Some people have managed to find a switch and replace it but officially it's an integral part of the door lock mechanism and they are not cheap.

 

If you Google 'Fabia door microswitch' you will find links leading to this site about the problem.

[ulabaczek]

Thank you. Could the fact that it stopped working after someone drove into the rear of my car trigger the damage to the microswitch?

[TMB]

Thank you. Could the fact that it stopped working after someone drove into the rear of my car trigger the damage to the microswitch?

 

No probs

 

I doubt it. The microswitch is a very common failure item across the VW range. Are you sure it was working before the accident? If you have these symptoms it's gonna be the switch...

 

No lights-on buzzer.

Doors lock themselves unless key in ignition or another door opened before 30 secs (if car has safety locking enabled).

Boot does not open unless another door with working switch is opened.

Interior light does not come on when driver's door opened (it will still work via remote key fob or by using the key).

Edited 5 April, 2014 by TMB

[ulabaczek]

No probs

 

I doubt it. The microswitch is a very common failure item across the VW range. Are you sure it was working before the accident? If you have these symptoms it's gonna be the switch...

 

No lights-on buzzer.

Doors lock themselves unless key in ignition or another door opened before 30 secs (if car has safety locking enabled).

Boot does not open unless another door with working switch is opened.

Interior light does not come on when driver's door opened (it will still work via remote key fob or by using the key).

Right, now you mentioned door locking after short time unless key in ignition... I have had that for some time, but thought it was ment to be like that. but definitely the boot and hedlight buzzer went off after the accident. this buzzer saved me from leaving lights on on many ocassions. also i use the boot every day, so when it did not open as expected really annoyed me. could the switch work partially then and now got completely faulty?

[TMB]

Right, now you mentioned door locking after short time unless key in ignition... I have had that for some time, but thought it was ment to be like that. but definitely the boot and hedlight buzzer went off after the accident. this buzzer saved me from leaving lights on on many ocassions. also i use the boot every day, so when it did not open as expected really annoyed me. could the switch work partially then and now got completely faulty?

 

It's normal for the doors  to lock themselves if you unlock the car but don't open a door - i.e. it's designed to relock the doors in case you accidentally left the car unlocked. When the microswitch fails, the car does not know that the driver's door has been opened and will relock the doors after about 30 secs.

 

I suppose it's possible that your switch was working partially but all your symptoms do point to it being failed now.

[TMB]

Microswitch looks like this...