Hi people, I've searched the forum but it didn't come up with any definitive answers I was looking for.

Anyway, I've had my Fabia vRS for about a year and a half, and until recently I've been having major problems with it.

Problem 1:

Just over a week ago (a Thursday) my car wouldn't start so my dad came along and jump started it and it was fine. That was until the following Tuesday. I set off to work as normal and got round the first corner and my power steering light flashed up and my power steering had stopped working. :eek: I managed to get it home safely but as I'm not an expert in cars I couldn't diagnose the problem. As I work full time the next opportunity to fix the problem would be Saturday. So, this Saturday I had a look through the manual thinking it was the battery that needed replacing. My dad and I replaced the battery and the car seemed fine over the weekend.

Problem 2:

That was until I was coming home from work today. Driving home happily, I thought my problems were fixed until the handbrake light, ABS and Traction Control lights came on with a beep (possibly three, couldn't really tell), then unaware of the problems it may've caused I managed to get the car home. As I was driving round corners my power steering wasn't working either!

I've checked the manual once again and it says it'll be low brake fluid but would that effect the power steering beforehand?

Also I park my car on my drive which is on a slope, so would the rain we got (in Bradford, where i live) run into the engine and effect the electrics?

Cheers in advance.

Hello & welcome,

The power steering pump is electric IIRC so any problems will affect this in that area although you say you have had a new battery.

Can you take it to a Skoda garage to put on the diag computer, or there are people on here all over the place that have the vag com who may be able to take a look.

I would doubt that the rain wil get into the electrics, they seem pretty well insulated.

Thanks for the welcome.

I doubt I'd be able to take it anywhere to be honest. The light/lights don't come on straight away once the ignition's started but after short while.

Have you got a DVM to check the battery voltage, could be that you have one of these alternator wiring problems and the battery is not being charged up correctly. Search this forum for clues etc on this front.

Yes, I've checked the old battery and it was giving out 12 volts so it wasn't the battery.

I've booked it in for a Health Check at my local Skoda garage now so hopefully they can diagnose this extremely annoying problem!

Sorry for bumping this old thread up but I thought it'd be easier than starting a new one. Plus it saves me explaining myself again. LOL

Anyway, I took my vRS to Skoda and they fitted a new alternator at the cost of £282 (inc. labour & VAT) which was lovely, then to my amazement the problem has come back.

Anyone have any ideas? Or questions?

I had exactly this a few months ago, and to cut a long story short, the clamps on the battery terminals were loose. I presume I hadn't tightened them properly after some (unconnected) fault-finding - indeed they're actually quite difficult to do up all the way. I would only have the problems when doing some manouvre like changing lanes or going from forwards to reverse, so I presume the forces generated were enough to break the connection for an instant, making the ECU throw a wobbler...

Anyway, check your battery terminals!

I had exactly this a few months ago, and to cut a long story short, the clamps on the battery terminals were loose. I presume I hadn't tightened them properly after some (unconnected) fault-finding - indeed they're actually quite difficult to do up all the way. I would only have the problems when doing some manouvre like changing lanes or going from forwards to reverse, so I presume the forces generated were enough to break the connection for an instant, making the ECU throw a wobbler...

Anyway, check your battery terminals!

I've checked the battery terminals and they seem fine. I took them off anyway, re-did them and set off for a drive but the problem is still there.

After reading loads and loads about what seems to be a general problem I've come to the conclusion that it may be the sensor that needs to be angled right or replaced.

Without having to go back to Skoda, is there anywhere else reliable to get a sensor? I have a mate who's a trained mechanic who can fit it, so the labour part won't be a problem.

By sensor, I assume you mean PAS angle sensor? There's Stu's guide here, although it doesn't give a part number. If you don't want the embarrassment of going back to your dealer, most will do mail order (in fact Horton's run theskodashop), or you might get lucky with Jorily although their stock list can be a bit hit-and-miss!

i seem to remember someone saying they had some problems with the alternator wiring , somethng to check anyway, especially as Skoda guessed there was an alternator failure