Hello!

I've had my Fabia 2001 1.4 16v for about a year and a half now and occasionally the power steering has stopped working because of low battery. Now, my battery had gone flat again and was low and the power steering wouldn't com back for a week. So I switched for a new battery, but the PAS still wouldn't start working. Fault codes at channel 44 were at first the usual as when low battery:

00566 - Steering Assistance Operation

27-00 - Implausible Signal

01288 - Terminal 30: Steering Assist

07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent

The first code pops up again immediately after cleared, the other one appears after having driven the car.

So I decided to have a look at the fuses, both inside the car and on top of the battery, and they were fine. Then i also looked at the fuses inside the smaller box on top of the battery, the small white, green and yellow fuses. I unplugged them to get a good view of them *stupid, stupid, stupid* and now yet another fault code has joined in channel 44:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

37-00 - Faulty

I've read all threads on here that have the words PAS or power steering or the fault codes, but really feel I'm not getting anywhere :(

So.. does anybody have a clue what has happened or where to continue my fault search next?

I appreciate any opinions!

/Antonio

Clear the codes and see which ones come back. Go into measuring blocks 08 and go up through the blocks where you will come to one that has steering wheel velocity in degrees per second. With the engine running turn the steering wheel and look at the block to see if the value shown there correlates to your steering wheel input. If it doesn't, it'll be likely that the sensor is faulty.

Scanning the other modules may also give you a clue, as they may show communications errors with th steering control unit.

You could also check th main wiring loom for water ingress, it runs under the ABS module.

The above three codes come back, the middle one after a quick ride, the other two immediately after clearing. There is one more fault code that also comes back after a while, but i don't think it's connected to the problem:

Ch.01

16502 engine coolant temp. sensor (G62): Signal too High

P0118 - 35-10 - - - Intermittant

There were a few other ones as well, but I think they from came when the battery was flat and also when the fuse for the ABS pump went about a week ago. These didn't appear again after cleared, will see if they do.

About measuring blocks on channel 44, group 002, the turn rate input showed a constant 0. But I haven't had any fault codes specifically on the steering angle sensor - could it still be it?

Edit: Would the steering angle sensor still give a turn rate input if, say, the pump was malfunctioning or the "ECU" for the pump was fudged up?

Thanks a lot for your answer!

Edit no.2:

Just read your and Lummox answers in a similar thread:

The PAS sensor doesnt always log a fault because the system doesnt always know its faulty. All its looking for is a signal, if that signal isnt there it just assumes you arent turning the wheel.

and

Whenever we have a Fabia in where the steering light has come on, we first check for fault codes and if none are showing, we go into the measuring blocks and see if the sensor is reporting the steering wheel turn rate accurately.

Did they check the block readings?

But do the actual fault codes seem likely if the sensor is crapped? If so I will go on switching the sensor, I know I have the old plastic one.

Edited 1 September, 200817 yr by Antan

Out of the above codes in post 1, the 01309 looks to be the most worrying, there is more information on it here:

01309 - Ross-Tech Wiki

I feel that a check of the main wiring loom for water ingress may be in order, for the following reasons:

Water in the loom tends to give implausible signal faults.

The terminal 30 fault could be caused by a bad earth and the earths are in that area. The earths are metal studs on the inner wing, when the first Fabias were made the earthing nuts were not always screwed tightly onto the studs before the bodyshells were painted, the result was a layer of paint at the base of the stud, which did not provide a good earthing point.

Though a lot of work, with taking the battery out, the ECU, unbolting the ABS unit and removing the plenum cover (the metal panel which has the material cover to which the vacuum servo hose is clipped, watch the ends on the under bonnet paintwork) at the bulk head, carefully stripping back the outer insulation, drying the loom and re-insulating, will only cost you your time if you do it yourself.

Unfortunately I cannot answer your question with regard to whether the block will show or not show a signal from the steering sensor if the steering control unit is faulty, it is not something that I have come across before. If it were a customers car, the logical option would be to follow the code and say that it needs replacing.

It is known that the old plastic sensors do have a poor reliability record, so you could take a chance in replacing it to save yourself the work above.

Can you post up a full autoscan of the car (edit the VIN and immobiliser details) so that I can look?, also what voltage is the battery charging at? (this should be available from an engine 01 measuring block).

Thanks a lot for the thorough answer!!

I too thought that the turn rate might not show up correctly if the steering controller was faulty. I will be out driving tomorrow to see what codes come back.

About the wiring loom (the main wiring thingy, where there are alls sorts of colourful small wires i presume?): I'm from sweden and the car is left-hand driven - not sure if the wiring loom has the same routing as in a UK-fabia . But I know there has been issues with this, because of a design flaw, being that the wiring loom hangs in a space that has bad drainage and easily generates a puddle. My wiring has been modified by previous owner/dealer - most cars in sweden have been I think. The tubing in which the wiring is has been cut up and the wiring has been lifted a bit. But it does still get wet from time to time, I've felt this. Probably the other problem also, which you described, applies to swedish fabias too.

So I will definitely try and dry things up and check the earthing points! But first off, I'll drive around a little and check the codes and charging again. I'm really short on time though, will see if I can do some of this at least before next weekend.

Also, I noticed yesterday that the gaiters on the steering rack were messed up, so there's more fixing to do.. This car is really getting on my nerves!

I'll post again as soon as I make any progress (or if I don't)! Thanks!

/Antonio

Okay, I've checked fault codes again and fiddled with earthing points to the wiring loom and the servo pump respectively. But at the moment I'll just hold on the info, because I think I've encountered another maybe even more urgent problem.

I mentioned in my above post that the gaiters/boots on the steering rack and track rods were messed up, and I want to sort this out before i proceed with the other problems. On one side the gaiter is broken, exposing the rack and there is a little oil/grease coming out of it. On the other side there is no visible damage, but there is a little oil there as well. I was just going to ask if this implies a damaged steering rack, or if it might be enough to just change the gaiters? Is there supposed to be any fluid inside the boots at all (there is very little now) or are the seals on the rack leaking? Pictures attached: left and right side of the rack (viewed from in front of vechicle).

Does it look like I'm having to change the steering rack as well? I can post better pictures if needed.

/Antonio

I haven't yet unclipped the intact boot, but i suspect there is some oil, because it looks like it from the outside and the oil level in the pump reservoir has dropped slightly, being on the lower marker on the stick. Will probably have to switch the rack then.

And back to the original problem, the pump is still off. I noticed a change in the fault codes from before and now:

Before:

__________________________________________

Control Module Part Number: 6Q0 423 156 E

Component and/or Version: Lenkhilfe 0001

Software Coding: 00110

Work Shop Code: WSC 00000

2 Faults Found:

00566 - Steering Assistance Operation

27-00 - Implausible Signal

01288 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs

07-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent

__________________________________________

After I took the fuse out:

__________________________________________

Control Module Part Number: 6Q0 423 156 E

Component and/or Version: Lenkhilfe 0001

Software Coding: 00074

Work Shop Code: WSC 00000

2 Faults Found:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

37-00 - Faulty

00566 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs

27-00 - Please Register/Activate

01288 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs

07-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent

__________________________________________

The Software Coding has changed from "00110" to "00074", also the Work Shop Code is "WSC 00000"

And again, after I had the earthing points for the loom taken off and inspected:

__________________________________________

Control Module Part Number: 6Q0 423 156 E

Component and/or Version: Lenkhilfe 0001

Software Coding: 00000

Work Shop Code: WSC 124927

4 Faults Found:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

37-00 - Faulty

00566 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs

27-00 - Please Register/Activate

01288 - Shareware Version. To Decode all DTCs

06-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent

01656 - Crash Signal (disappeared after cleared once)

35-00 - -

__________________________________________

Software Coding has now changed from "00074" to "00000", and the Work Shop Code now reads "WSC 124927".

What I'm thinking is that the power steering control module lost it's coding when I took out the fuses on top of the battery. Do I just try to recode with the previous codes then?

Hi Antan!

I have same problem. Battery went off and when I charge it I got same fault codes as you. And no warning light in panel.

I realy don't know what to do but I think that I'm not going to take fuses off.. Where are fuses in side the car?

And I'm from Finland.

Edit:

Fuses are ok. If I look to vag-com the angle sensor is always 0.0 and pump current 0.0A, no matter if I turn steeringwheel..

Edited 25 November, 200817 yr by simppa80

Problems continues here! Now also airbag light comes on. Please someone give me help.

Where should I try find couse?

Problems continues here! Now also airbag light comes on. Please someone give me help.

Where should I try find couse?

Multiple electrical faults can mean water has got into the wiring loom at the bulkhead.

Might also be poor connection on ECU relay. I would take car to a garage with VAG diagnostic tools and have the OBD2 port scanned for fault codes, then go from there.

Multiple electrical faults can mean water has got into the wiring loom at the bulkhead.

Might also be poor connection on ECU relay. I would take car to a garage with VAG diagnostic tools and have the OBD2 port scanned for fault codes, then go from there.

Thaks Moggy!

Where I can find wiring harness and ecu relay?

Looks like the problems that our lasses furby has, Its going in next week for the steering rack to be changed (boots ful of oil)

So there problem is burned component inside pump at circuit board. Is there somewhere

component list or wiring diagram for that circuit board?

There is also sticker at pump where is number:

M15100306AR, so is thar part number?

I have changed tyristor to circuit board and now steering pump is alive again .

I think when we tryed to give power to battery by other car we burned that thyristor.

So now PAS is working some times and some times not. Sometimes also the steeringwheel light appears in dash. I checked pas by vag-com and there is again same fault code than earlier. And it appears every time i clear it. I have also checked angle sensor in vag-com and i see once that angle changes and other times when pas is not working it is 0.0. Do i haft to kalibrate angle sensor? If, how I do it?

Where is good/cheap place to order pas sensor. i think it might be and of it's road..

Man who take pump off say that battery is pretty dead.

Where I can found vag-com measuring blocks details?Like what means channel 001 in group 44?

Thanks.

Edited 14 December, 200817 yr by simppa80

sorry

Edited 14 December, 200817 yr by simppa80
Double post

We still have this problem, but! Yeasterday I tryed to star car after it have stand 1 week. It wn't start because weather is so cold (minus -10). anfd no pre-heating. Battery is also pretty end..

So i put car heating to whole night and try it again in the morning. It started and PAS is working! It were VERY light and i can hear noise of it "wiuuufh" while turning.. When I turned wheel end of left side stopped PAS working?

My wife have told me that same has happened once earlier..

Is it possible that angle sensor is broke or what? Now im sure that whole pump is not broke.

Replace car battery, very common problem. PAS pump takes up to 60 AMPS current.