Breezy_Pete

@Fabia2312 If you have a recurrence of trouble, please check whether there is (again) 'key not in ignition' power on that thin black/blue wire that I mentioned on 22nd May, which I believe is the one you are also referring to as the 'Ignition Power (smaller wire)' - please confirm. It's not at all clear to me how something connected to this wire can make the x-relief relay stay 'on' when it should be off. If you do find this to be happening again, please consider replacing that relay. I'm not trying to say it can't happen, just that I don't understand it.

Hi folks, I'm faced with fitting a new inner tie-rod to the missus's mk1 Fabia imminently and was looking for guidance about one particular aspect. The 'book' instructions insist on full removal of the rack from the car which seems extreme (won't be doing that); and then, with the thing out of the car they say that the main shaft must be counterheld against the loosening/re-tightening torques using a spanner on some (19mm AF?) flats which is present only on the left hand end: It's the other end I'm replacing so I'm a little reluctant to bugger about with this as it means pulling the boot back on the side I'm not doing, and possibly needing another pair of hands to hang off a spanner somewhere in the deep dark recesses of the bay. What's the level of risk of damage, does anyone reckon? Preferably people who've done the job without counterholding, and driven many happy miles thereafter. Cheers EDIT: just thinking...the diagram shows a LHD rack, wonder if the flats are on the other side for a RHD one, i.e. a mirror image and the side I am actually doing? anyone know?

Had reports from the good lady that the doors have been locking themselves whilst driving (not programmed to do so), and have personally experienced occasions when the tailgate hasn't responded to the release button above the numberplate. Had a look in the driver's side bellows this morning and think I've found the problem(s); several cracked wires:

I thought this was topical, given the weather... Mk1 Fabia uses a circuitboard mounted relay to drive the wipers, which is great when it is working, but a little unfortunate when it wears out. The circuit board in question is in the Onboard Supply Control Unit, physically located above the accelerator pedal in RHD cars, clutch pedal in LHD (I guess). It tends to be known as the BCM (Body Control Module) in later cars, and is not the same as the Central Convenience Module (which does locks and stuff). The relay can be replaced, but must be unsoldered from the circuit board without damaging anything. I used hot air to do so, at work on my first try with a small, very expensive hot air gun. Later, at home on another, with a much cheaper more domestic hot air gun like you'd get from B&Q for paintstripping etc. Obviously, you need to get the local area of the board hot enough to melt the 10 solder joints, but not so hot as to catch fire or melt anything else too much. Not trivial, but not too hard. Here are pics of the location of the relay and one of it removed, the ten pin holes cleared out with a 'solder sucker' and/or 'solder wick', and the extracted relay to show part number etc. I found these available on ebay from Poland I think, not too much <£5 each. You're going to want to rule out all other possibilities first, like fuses, linkage issues, wiper motor etc. By the way, if you use the intermittent wiper setting, it wears this relay hugely faster than when on the constant setting. Every time the wiper starts a back and forth sweep, and finishes it, this relay has to switch on and off. When on continuous mode, it just operates when you first switch on, and when you finally switch off. Relays mainly wear out by the contacts getting pitted during opening/closing operations, rather than by hours spent in the energised state. -do=add#.url -do=add#.url I need to credit Briskoda member @anewman for supplying me with a known bad unit, in order to test my idea that relay replacement would fix it. He now has it back and may have it available for sale if anyone needs one...

Found another beauty at lunchtime on a new workmate's 05-plate Fabia. Check yours today, cheapest bit of diagnostics/preventative maintenance you can do. Gaffer tape until pipe replaced if significant cracks are found. Part number is printed at regular intervals along the hard plastic part of the hose. Don't forget to run your fingers round the underside of those connections, they often crack out of sight on the road-facing sides.