Hi, I am new to this forum and wondered if anyone could advise?..

We've had our Skoda Fabia for about 6 years, it was second hand when bought. It's had all it's services at the right mileages but has developed quite a few faults over the years! Recently it spent 2 days in the garage for the following:

Cracked and blowing exhaust

Dirty/mixed oil, high consumption

Needed new tyres

All headlights and electrics flickering in time with whirring noise in engine

Power steering disappearing intermittently with no warning light

Power steering warning light coming on with no loss of steering, off again when next started

Refusal to start on cold mornings

Leak/drip at front

The garage (Seat/VW specialists) changed the oil, replaced the exhaust and tyres, replaced the alternator belt, checked the battery (no problem), found a leak in the steering which they say they've sorted, and charged us a nice fat amount of money!

On leaving the garage, the lights, fans etc are still flickering, the whirring noise is still there and the steering problems now happen every time the car is driven. To top it all off there is now a strong sweet burning plastic smell coming from under the bonnet.

The garage can't fit the car in again till next week, until then I need it to get to work so hoping these faults are not dangerous. Can anyone advise if they have had similar problems, and should the garage have been able to solve them (i.e. do we insist they check it again and do not charge us?)

Would be grateful for any feedback! :confused:

Edited 5 March, 200917 yr by sopranolady
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Straight back to the garage and speak with the boss and insist you want this problem sorting as its yours and your wifes plus the publics Health & Safety at risk because you brung that car in to get fixed and some lazy idle T*AT !!! cant be bothered to do a good job.

If they claim to have fixed it and haven't then I'd get them to sort it ASAP! Particularly with the steering issue. I'd be tempted to go in and demand a courtesy car since they've not completed the job you've paid them to do and the car isn't really safe to drive.

Just on a side note... is the power steering on a Fabia electic or hydraulic? If it's electric then it's probably linked to the flickering lights etc.

This is going to be alternator regulator and battery. PAS is electric, and it can draw 60 AMPS. Alternator sense wire should be checked at the gearbox plug as well.

That for sure and I'm almost certain someones not put the engine top cover on properly, and it's rubbing on the auxilliary belt, so that might well need replacing now when it didn't before! Which covers the burning plastic smell!

That for sure and I'm almost certain someones not put the engine top cover on properly, and it's rubbing on the auxilliary belt, so that might well need replacing now when it didn't before! Which covers the burning plastic smell!

Yikes :eek: The words 'Cowboy Outfit' spring to mind. Audi partner?

Thanks, I'll definitely have words with the garage! I've just got no way of knowing what they did and didn't check. Obviously not everything they needed to!

I think it is electric power steering, which would make sense with the other electrical faults. It always seems to cut out at low speeds/when manouvering or pulling away.

Wish I knew more about car maintenance so I can tell when they're trying to rip me off.

Thanks for your comments!

The power steering problem could be the steering angle sensor - it's a common fault and a modified part is available. It could also be the alternator wiring as suggested so both will need checked.