Hi,

a bit mad and dangerous I'm afraid... full description below. Anyone can help? Skoda claimed that pump is gone (£700!!!!!) but then it started working again....

the story:

Fabia – power steering issues and history

Fabia 1.9 SDI 2000.

2 years ago: fitted new sensor. The control light tended to switch on during driving (PS worked fine though). Would go to normal after switching the engine off. Skoda dealer could not find the problem till actually drove in with the light and they plugged the computer in (engine running). Apparently failure of sensor. Fitted new.

No problems afterwards.#

Last May PS switched off whilst driving and lasted for 2 weeks. In the meantime assessed by independent mechanic (could not detect the problem) and by Skoda Dealer (Henry), Glasgow. Skoda dealer claimed the pump is gone. Also mentioned some electric interference whilst checking the pump.

Week later (some driving in the meantime) PS came back to normal (day before was supposed to fit a new pump!). No problems till August (around 2000 miles).

Mid August PS switched off when driving (light came on, few seconds later no PS). Few stops / engine off/on – each time no PS.

After numerous ignition power on/off PS came back up. But then switched off again (whilst driving). Few next times car stared and no PS.

Last two weeks PS on/off. Normally would switch off when driving (no rule – engine sometimes hot, sometimes cold. No rule) Sometimes when start the engine PS would work normally.

28th August something new came up!

- PS first didn’t work (a mile drive)

- Came back up after starting the engine again

- Whilst driving light came up but PS still worked (less than a mile drive)

- Parking – PS light was constantly on but PS was changing between on/off, then some in-between state came up (waves, inconstant pressure on steering wheel)

- PS stopped working but light off

- PS sort of working – in-between state, inconsistent pressure

is it the sensor again???? anything to do with electric interference maybe? another thought was about battery itself???

ANY HELP, PLEASE!!!!!!!!

It's a common problem with no simple answer.

The sensor is the most common fault, but as you've changed yours it's doubtful that is to blame.

The pump is also a common failure (very expensive).

Apparently the earch on the alternator can corrode and cause issues with the steering.

Also it's reported that a new battery can cure steering problems.

I have been living with this fault myself for almost 2 years and what I do is switch on the egnition (dashboard lights only), wait a few moments for everything to settle down (making sure air con is off). I then start the engine and most of the time it's fine.

However, on the occasion's that the PSU light comes on I engage reverse, hold the footbreak down and ride the clutch until the engine almost stalls. Depending on how cold the engine is you may end up stalling and having to repeat a few times, but most of the time I get right it on the first try. This seems to reset the electronics and the PSU light goes off and the steering is then A-ok for the duration of the journey.

I hope this info helps...

Mine has started playing up, alternator was swapped from my old vRS onto the Estate by Ross (thanks ) and I already fitted a new battery.

Gonna have to check out the wiring, hopefully I can get round to it sometime soon, as steering is rather heavy with the 17" wheels

i have heard of the sensor on the rack packing in just after 10 munths of fitting one. if it works sometimes and somtimes not i expect its the sensor.

You really need the fault codes reading and if the steering shows no fault get the relevant measuring block checked to see if the sensor is behaving as it should. The interference could be caused by water in the engine bay wiring loom, it wouldn't do any harm to check the fluid level as well.

When I replaced my Steering Angle Sensor I used electrical tape to seal the wires that were not covered by the sheathing. The general quality of a factory replacement part felt very poor to me and it's no wonder they suffer failures with them.