Hya everyone and what a godsend this forum is (has helped already by just reading)!

I have had my Fabia 1.9sdi for 7 yars now relatively trouble free (apart from the odd dimming headlight episode and a very moody battery during the winter), up until last week that was....the steering went a bit light when moving and really heavy at slow speed. The good old steering light sparkled from my dash but went out after restarting. This has now happened a couple of times.

Now, after reading and research I realise there are a few checks to make, power steering fluid first, and a good charge of the battery, but then I need to start looking at the power steering angle sensor (in case you hadnt noticed, I am trying the cheaper options first!!!). My confusion starts here - on your brilliant "how to" pages, it says to access the sensor from underneath the car, detatch from pump, follow wiring back etc etc, til sender is reached, replace with new one, put it all back then VAG COM it?? What is this please? And what if I cant??? :confused: Secondly, I have the Haynes manual and there is a section for replacing the steering angle sender is this the same thing as the sensor? Haynes tell you to access it by removing the steering wheel, air bag gubbins etc and mention nothing about VAG COM or re-setting anything. Which way do I go with this now? I am by no means a mechanic but I have a willing engineer boyfriend and we carry out most of the servicing these days as money is very tight for me (and I dont mind getting my hands dirty).

I would very much appreciate your words of wisdom with this. Sadly, as I am not a mechanic I will not be able to offer any help to anyone else on here, but I will always oohh and aaah where I can, and in the appropriate places. However, if anyone wants tips on riding a motorbike quite badly or how to set up an aquarium so your fish dont die, just drop me a line

Thanks everyone xx

(I dont mind getting my hands dirty).

I will always oohh and aaah where I can

On that note! - Hello and Welcome to Briskoda .

Welcome to Briskoda. I have moved your post to the Fabia I forum where I would expect it to attract more attention - especially with the thread title you have used!

The steering angle sensor is at the base of the steering column and accessible from the engine bay from underneath the car (there is no need to remove the steering wheel, I expect that Mr Haynes is referring to the slip ring for the airbag). The cable from the sensor is quite long and is clipped in at various points and plugs into the combined steering pump/control unit. If you remove the passenger side grilles (or fog lamp and grille) from the front bumper, you will see where it plugs into.

VAG Com is a diagnostic tool for VW group vehicles that reads/erases fault codes, reads and records live control unit data and can be used to tweak control units. In this case it will be used to check the steering for any fault codes and erase them once the problem is fixed. If the code is not erased it and its cause is fixed, it will be down graded and not bring the light on. If the steering sensor was suspect it could be used to look at the rate of steering wheel turn to see if it correlated with the actual steering wheel input. It can also be used to tweak the amount of steering assistance given, to make it heavier or lighter.

To check the fluid level, you will need to remove the battery. Low fluid does not usually bring the light on and the steering would be heavy all the time. If you need to top up use the correct green VW fluid.

A bad battery may also affect the steering, see if you can have it checked and check its charging rate, 14 to 14.5V.

A steering angle sensor is aroung £63 + VAT, it is an exchange unit so there will be a surcharge of aroung £20 + VAT, which is refundable once the old sensor is returned.

Welcome

What bike do you ride?

Fordfan seems to have covered it all in a great post, so Hello and Welcome.

how you doin?

Fordfan seems to have covered it all in a great post, so Hello and Welcome.

Yep so is it time for the are you cute post now?

Lummox , would not expect anything else from you

Hello and welcome to Briskoda , they are quite good on here , especially if like Lummox said , are you cute? and you are :lol:

I ride bikes too , I have a VFR400 , beautie too

Good luck with your problem , if you dont get it sorted give us a shout back

Sarah

WOW Fordfan what an encyclopedia you are - thank you so much . I took the battery out today (and what a job that was!) and topped up the fluid (withe the VW special stuff) and gave the battery a good charge. I have just driven to work and (everything crossed!!!) it feels better. So maybe it is that moody old battery after all - we shall see!

Now to answer your other very important questions - vRSLen I ride a Bandit 600 which is a heavy old thing but I love it. I have done some mods...nice new comfy seat, rearsets, twin headlights (not the dinky ones), chopped off the plastiky wardrobe door that held the number plate and indicators,and fitted a new tidy underseat unit...oh and popped on an ART race can.

Lummox - how can I answer that question!? Of course I am :eek:

Sarah - loveley to meet a fellow biker-ess, there's not enough of us in my humble opinion (and before you lot start about women drivers/riders - lets not go there :P).

Thanks for your welcomes everybody xx

Encyclopedia?, more like a pamphlet, Lummox is the encyclopedia around here.

Glad to hear that your cars making progress.