I'm not sure where this question should go, so I'll understand if it's moved to another forum.

I've had my Fabia vRS for 18 months now and I've come across a problem which no-one has an answer to. I've taken the car back to Skoda and to my (trusted) local garage, but neither of them can help me.

My problem is with my power assisted steering. The light comes on, the steering goes hard but also the combination of lights, which according to the manual is "low brake fluid (even though it's full).

First I took it to my local Skoda dealer who thought there was a fault in the alternator. £300 later the problem was still there. Then I took it to my local garage who found two faults via their diagnostics system. I can't remember exactly what they said but 1 was (roughly along the lines of) a power steering fault and the other the battery terminal being too low. They cleared the faults and off I went. And to this day no-one can find a true way of fixing my problem.

With all that said I've being toying with the idea of selling my vRS, basically to get rid of it and buy something less technical (I'm useless with cars).

Would you think it's a good idea to sell it or would I be best off gritting my teeth, taking it back to Skoda and have them have another look at it?

Thanks in advance.

Has the steering angle sensor been changed?

Has the steering angle sensor been changed?

No just the alternator and the battery as far as I'm aware. The receipt I got from Skoda just mentioned the alternator.

I've reverted back to the original battery as Skoda said the Halford's battery was "too powerful" (!?!).

No just the alternator and the battery as far as I'm aware. The receipt I got from Skoda just mentioned the alternator.

I've reverted back to the original battery as Skoda said the Halford's battery was "too powerful" (!?!).

Battery too powerful, what a load of nuts. Steering position sensor bad connection or intermittent.

1. Steering Angle Sensor (most common)

2. Alternator (you've already done that one)

3. Steering Pump (Expensive, even recon units)

4. Wiring Loom (can suffer water ingress, could be a possible in your case)

5. Earth Wire (again related to the alternator, but worth looking at)

6. Battery (Am always sceptical about this one, tend to think it's more of an alternator issue then)

7. Steering Rack (can suffer leaks, very expensive to replace)

The Associated problems with the steering was the primary reason I sold my Fabia. You really can spend thousands getting it sorted. When I got Mine VAG COM'ed all it reported was the steering angle sensor had an intermittent fault, so I replaced it, needless to say the fault remained, however, the fault code had gone.

Good luck with sorting it, if I were you, I'd give a garage one shot at sorting it. Try to get them to guarantee fixing the problem, rather than them stating that x-part is faulty and simply replacing it, you will, or could end up going through the entire list I mentioned above.

If they fail to fix it, or won't guarantee the job, then get shot of the car ...

Cheers guys for the advice.

I'll book my car in for an intermittent angle sensor and take it from there.

Hopefully, BoilingPoint, I won't have to go through your list.

If your car is under warranty thats why your local dealer wont care. Your far better off going to your nearest VAG specialist as they will work far harder to make sure your problem is resolved compared to Skoda where you would expect a good service

Edited 14 November, 200817 yr by Littlebull

If your car is under warranty thats why your local dealer wont care. Your far better off going to your nearest VAG specialist as they will work far harder to make sure your problem is resolved compared to Skoda where you would expect a good service

That's the thing. I've had my car for a year and a half so my warranty's run out and I decided not to renew it.

I think it's just a simple case of my local Skoda dealer being useless and charging me for the most expensive thing they could that sounds like the problem would be fixed.