I just bought a skoda fabia 1.4 MPI classic (2000 Xreg) and am already regretting it.

lt has nearly all of the most common problems mentioned on the board .

The problems are : flickering lights & PAS, very weak heater blower, engine cooling down on motorway (thermostat?), noise/rattle in driver side of engine.

The problem with the lights is that all the lights are flickering intermittently even at idle. I can hear a squeak/whoosh kind of sound when this happens which I assume is the power steering pump. I thought the power steering motor should only put a load on the alternator when actually running not when idle..

I have checked the voltage on the alternator and it's around 14.18V when running but intermittently dipping to 12V-13V when the lights flicker.

I've been reading all the related threads on here and have narrowed it down to steering angle sensor, alternator or battery.

What's the best/cheapest way to actually locate the exact fault??

My money is on the sensor, but the way to tell is to get it on VAG-COM and look for codes.

Thanks for the quick reply...I have VAGCOM since I used to have an Audi 80 and a Passat,...I'll try this after work...

If it is the sensor ..is there a way to verify this?..i.e disable the power steering motor/sensor and see if the flickering lights problem goes away.

Ok scanned with VAG-COM....quite a few codes.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chassis Type: 6Y - Skoda Fabia

Scan: 01,02,03,08,09,15,17,19,37,44,46,56,69

Address 01 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 047 906 033 A

Component: 1,4l SIMOS3PA 00HSSJ48

Coding: 00061

Shop #: WSC 13765

7 Faults Found:

17524 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Heating: B1 S1: Open Circuit

P1116 - 35-00 - -

17526 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Heating: B1 S2: Open Circuit

P1118 - 35-00 - -

16524 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor B1 S2: No Activity

P0140 - 35-00 - -

16502 - Engine Coolant Temp. Sensor (G62): Signal too High

P0118 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

16726 - Camshaft Position Sensor (G40): Signal too Low

P0342 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

18043 - Powertrain Data Bus: Missing Message from A/C Controller

P1635 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

16687 - Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

P0303 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

Readiness: 0010 0101

Address 08 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Y0

Component: Klimaanlage X0740

No fault code found.

Address 09 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Q1 937 049

Component: BORDNETZ-SG. 1S30

Coding: 09234

Shop #:

2 Faults Found:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

00906 - Horn (H1)

28-10 - Short to B+ - Intermittent

Skipping Address 15-Airbags

Address 17 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Y2 919 880 C

Component: KOMBIINSTRUMENT VDO V06

Coding: 16442

Shop #:

No fault code found.

Address 19 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6N0909901

Component: Gateway K<->CAN 1S30

Coding: 00012

Shop #:

1 Fault Found:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

Address 44 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Q0 423 156 M

Component: LenkhilfeTRW V210

Coding: 00140

Shop #: WSC 00000

1 Fault Found:

00816 - Power Steering Sensor (G250)

30-10 - Open or Short to B+ - Intermittent

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I cleared the engine codes and the lambda sensor keeps coming back but none of the other one's so far. Where is the lambda sensor located in the fabia?

I did try removing fuse 7 for the power steering and the lights do stop flickering...does that mean it's the sensor?

Any help will be much appreciated..

Edited 6 February, 200917 yr by nhawan

Ok scanned with VAG-COM....quite a few codes.....

7 Faults Found:

17524 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Heating: B1 S1: Open Circuit

P1116 - 35-00 - -

17526 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Heating: B1 S2: Open Circuit

P1118 - 35-00 - -

16524 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor B1 S2: No Activity

Address 44 -------------------------------------------------------

Controller: 6Q0 423 156 M

Component: LenkhilfeTRW V210

Coding: 00140

Shop #: WSC 00000

1 Fault Found:

00816 - Power Steering Sensor (G250)

30-10 - Open or Short to B+ - Intermittent

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I cleared the engine codes and the lambda sensor keeps coming back but none of the other one's so far. Where is the lambda sensor located in the fabia?

I did try removing fuse 7 for the power steering and the lights do stop flickering...does that mean it's the sensor?

Any help will be much appreciated..

I notice there's an error of no communications for the PAS controller, but as the sensor is a known weak spot, I'd check the wiring, then change that. I'd actually be tempted to fix the Lambda sensor now (check wiring first), as you don't want a wrecked cat, then drive the car for a while, keeping VAG-COM handy. When you next get the flicker, rescan. I'll bet it will be the PAS sensor. I don't know where the Lamda sensor is, sorry.

I'd guess if you pull fuse 7 the PAS controller won't be powered up, so it's not a reliable test of the sensor.

By the way, you might want to edit your post to remove the chassis number.

Also, you mention the engine cooling down. Does it really do that, or is the coolant sensor screwy?

16502 - Engine Coolant Temp. Sensor (G62): Signal too High

P0118 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

I notice there's an error of no communications for the PAS controller, but as the sensor is a known weak spot, I'd check the wiring, then change that. I'd actually be tempted to fix the Lambda sensor now (check wiring first), as you don't want a wrecked cat, then drive the car for a while, keeping VAG-COM handy. When you next get the flicker, rescan. I'll bet it will be the PAS sensor. I don't know where the Lamda sensor is, sorry.

I'd guess if you pull fuse 7 the PAS controller won't be powered up, so it's not a reliable test of the sensor.

By the way, you might want to edit your post to remove the chassis number.

Also, you mention the engine cooling down. Does it really do that, or is the coolant sensor screwy?

Thanks for the heads up about the chassis number.

Wouldn't pulling the fuse cause the no comms error for the PAS?

The car does actually cool down....It warms up ok when driving locally but on the motorway the temp drops to virtually zero and the air from the blower is less warm. I will have a look at the thermostat tomorrow as I suspect it's stuck in the open position but like you say it may be the temp sensor.

I will have a look at the thermostat tomorrow as I suspect it's stuck in the open position .

I reckon you're right.

i too have this problem with my own fabia?( flickering lights?) is there any way to rule out the pas system without vag com?

i had the fit a new thermostat housing to my fabia, if you get it from skoda its only 45 quid and you get a new temp sender also as it mounts on the housing.

Ive had problems with the PAS and also flickering lights, also with the flickering lights i notice a small drop of maybe 50-100rpm ish of the engine.. possibly linked?

regards to the PAS, i had a complete failure a couple of weeks ago and it went in and had a new pump fitted under warranty and yesterday it decide to pack up again. this time mr RAC thinks it is the sensor or the alternator.

Hope you find out whats wrong with your car though