Trailerchap

Try unlocking the door with the key. If the windows work, time how long they work for. This means sliding up and down continuously BUT I’d suggest you start this at 8 minutes. Use a stop watch carefully. I would have said exactly what you said until I discovered this 10 minute threshold. If you can see a 10 min threshold then your windows are working in basic mode - see handbook for its definition.

So anyway… my mk1 windows will still work only in basic mode (which means for 10 minutes after the key has opened the driver door) then they stop working (exactly at 10 minutes). it’s been like this for one year almost. No windows after 10 minutes. Have to stop, put the key in the door and unlock IF I want another 10 minutes. Anyone had and fixed this problem?

Thanks a lot. My issue has moved on. If I reset the windows by turning the key I’m the door to the unlock position for a few seconds. I then get 10 minutes exactly of working windows. At 10 mins they stop. It’s exactly 10. In the handbook it says when the ignition is switched off with keys in (or out I think) you get 10 minutes of basic elec window functionality! So I deduce that the window system is not “seeing” the key. I reset the key (actually tried both keys) and still no joy. Any ideas?

Hi when should I change the timing belt on this engine. The cars on 37k miles. thanks

I have some general thoughts... It’s been interesting reading ALL the above. I have an 08 Mk1 Fabia with the front windows working or not. Not for most of the time. I know that devices of all sorts rely of an applied voltage meeting a certain threshold level. Let’s say for all devices within the Fabia this is 11.8 Volts Ohms law is very applicable in DC circuits and within this law you think about Voltage, Current and Resistance. As an electrical circuit ages and the devices within it age, the trend is for resistance (R) to rise. Perhaps with water ingress, perhaps with oxidation or just wiring that bends endlessly (as car doors open) and a few strands break perhaps. But the overall result is R increases in various places throughout the car. Perhaps the threshold voltages for different devices also change a little with age too. So it’s logical to me that for a more or less fixed voltage system (circuits) and with R increasing in varying places then some devices or parts of the system(s) will start to misbehave. So I wonder if Fabia window devices stop working because (R in their circuits has risen) applied Volts (V) are too low. Jiggling fuses is a clue. Opening and reconnecting connectors (door A pillar) is another one. so I “think” that the issue is random devices being ok but the applied voltage has dropped. Ohms Law is V= Current x R (So current drops as R increases too... also Power = Volts x Current so as current drops, power in the circuit drops. Hmmm doesn’t sound healthy right!) So do this... Emery paper fuse legs, scratch and polish connector spades. Of course look for cracked wiring and loose connectors. Perhaps spray ACF50 (developed for the aero industry to protect electrical circuits) into connectors and around electrical devices. WD40 may shift moisture that might cause V to track to earth or R to rise. Overall I suspect the odd random issues you are experiencing are mostly not device failures, rather R is increasing with age/damp and applied V is therefore dropping too much. Hop this helps. Trailerchap P.S. today I removed each fuse from the fuse box and Emery papered the spades until they shone. One at a time. I noticed that many were dirty and dull. Afterward my windows opened fine.

Ok thanks.

Hi. I have a problem with my front power windows. Sometimes they refuse to work BUT by reading the handbook I found out that I can do a reset by turning the key in the lock for 3 seconds and sure enough they work after that. But next time I use the car I get the same thing so decided I’d have to unlock the car with the key (not remote) every trip. Seems ok? Well today after having done that I opened the window for a few minutes at speed and then found the window was stuck down :( I had to stop and stick the key in and do the reset again - which solved it. Anyone have the same issue? Anyone have a fix or advice? Thanks

Hi tortoro, yes but on your car I assume the factory electronics kill the parking sensors when reverse is engaged? Otherwise it would mean that the sensors detect the trailer and beep like mad. My question is does the presence of a permanent tow ball cause the sensors to sound on a car that has an aftermarket tow bar with fixed tow ball.. so what I fear is that when I engage reverse with no trailer on the beeps go mad. Thoughts? Thanks

Hello. I've just bought a mint 2008 Fabia Mk1 1.4 diesel estate and must fit a tow bar. However there are reversing sensors that work well. I’ll take a chance and let the fitting shop go ahead and fit the bar but I’m expecting the beepers to be sounding. Anyone have experience of this? How will I disable the parking sensor system if the beepers are sounding? Thanks