I’m new to this forum. Pardon me if I post the same thing again.

I paid deposit for a 2000 X reg Skoda Fabia 1.4 classic 8V last Saturday. Because I didn’t see steering sensor light coming on with ignition (the guy showed me the car said there’s no such light at all, and I forgot to check the instruction manual), I phoned the dealer up this morning. After a quick look, he decided to refund me deposit and send the car to auction.

According to Avoid Used Car Fault Guides, Used Car Reviews, Values, Prices | Used Car Expert, “If the light doesn't come on with the ignition, the bulb may be burnt out or it may have been removed to hide a bigger problem.”

I quite like the car. Its condition is very good apart from this. The steering was actually very good during the test drive. It’s also very reasonably priced with 3 months parts and labour warranty. But the dealer was simply not bothered to check further.

Does anyone have any idea that how easy to check if it’s the bulb, and in the worst scenario how big / expensive the hidden problem could be? Can the cost covered by dealer issued warranty?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I suspect you'd need to plug a laptop into the car and use some diagnostic software to determine the error (or lack there in of).

Some of the guys here have the ability to do this for you, failing that it'd have to be a main dealer.

I don't remember the light coming on on my wife's Fabia 1.4 8v. :confused: I think you may have missed out worrying about something that's not there! Removing the lamp might have been an option for a car built in the 70s, but a) they're LEDs now AFAIK, so should last as long as the car does and you'd have to take the entire dash pod apart to disconnect it - hardly like disconnecting the relevant cable on an older car's dash!

I'll have a look at that site later, and tell you what I think 'cos that thing about the dash bulb seems a bit spurious to me!

There should be a light on with the ignition.

Right, I've had a look at the site, and while it's generally OK (they must have hundreds if not thousands of cars to write about, so the odd mistake is perhaps unavoidable!), I have the following comments:

The thing about the power steering light stands, although I think it's amber, not red which may explain why you missed it?

You'd have a job tracing the coolant pipework from the expansion tank to the radiator! Also quite what the water pump has to do with a leaky head gasket is beyond me! (Although they are a valid source for a coolant leak...)

I think the undertray would make a leak from the washer bottle end up somewhere other than in front of the NSF wheel. Again, issues with the windscreen washer are thoroughly covered here on Brisky!

Good shouts on the dash rattle and rear door leaks I must admit, but then you just have to search for suspension squeaking over speedbumps to discover that the statement "no reported common faults on Fabia suspension" isn't quite true (although I don't think it's anything like as much of a problem with the 1.4 8v engine as it is for the much-heavier diesels...)

All-in-all, if it were me, I'd see if the car you looked at is still available. By all means play dumb regarding the power steering light, but if you liked it as much as you say you did, I think it'd be a shame to miss out on it because of an incorrect piece of information...

If the steering light is the same as mine , it should be an amber steering wheel shape , and go on with ignition , then go out when engine starts.

Many thanks to BoilingPoint, ap0gee, Lummox, Dmac1969, especially ap0gee.

I really hope I missed steering sensor light, so did the dealer who allegedly has 40 years experience, then I could have a real bargain:)

The car seemed to be free from leaks, dash rattle and suspension squeaking over speed bumps (something to do with anti roll bar btw?). It also passed MOT in April. Sounds assuring? Really don’t know:confused:

I don't think it'd have passed its MoT if the bushes were worn (and you're right, wear of the ARB can be an issue if the bushes have gone on cars with the old-pattern bushes). As for the PAS light, it's a toughie. If the steering doesn't feel heavy, and doesn't sometime 'go' heavy when you're doing fairly complex manoeuvres (e.g. 3-point turn), then it's probably OK. Failure of the sensor usually results in the headlights flickering as it sends spurious signals to the PAS pump, which then draws on the power from the alternator in a sort of staccato fashion. This is a pretty reliable test I think, but won't really work unless you can drive the car at night, with a friend outside to have a look (tricky at this time of year...)

As I say, though, I'd seriously consider going back for another look. Sure, the 1.4 MPi (8v) isn't without its faults as an engine (mostly the relatively-poor economy compared to newer engines), but IME, it's pretty sturdy and reliable. The thing about the head gasket should be a non-issue, as AFAIK it will have had a revised one fitted under warranty by now.

At the end of the day, I think the power steering system is one of the few things that is covered by the 3-month 'free' warranty. Maybe you should check that for yourself and then if it is take a punt, knowing that if anything crops up, you won't have to pay to fix it?

OTOH, there are plenty of Fabias around these days, so the other option is to look at others, knowing what you know now?

Thank you very much, ap0gee.

Well, the dealer doesn't seem interested in further conversation. So that's it.

Hunting continues. Road tax just makes life harder, either a pre 1/3/2001 1.4L petrol or an after 1/3/2001 diesel.