I have recently purchased a used Fabia, it's an X reg, Elegance 16V 100bhp 1.4 petrol, and I love it.

However I've found a couple of little (I hope!) quirks which I thought I would share and hopefully get some advice on.

The first thing I noticed was the power steering light intermittently coming on, and loss of power steering, but have seen all the threads on here and other sites about this so will look into that further - the most common solution seems to be replacing the PAS Angle Sensor.

The next thing I noticed was that when I start up, I get six beeps, and the word SERVICE on the display. It has had a bit of an irregular service history so I am assuming the counter just wasn't reset when it was last serviced, so am not too worried about this.

When I drive off, I then get three louder beeps. This is when I hit 10mph so I suspect it thinks the handbrake is on, even though it isn't. I then realised I had no brake warning light come on at all, even when you first turn the ignition on, so am assuming this will be related.

Just recently I have had three loud beeps when driving, but no warning light came on. This was normal driving and not having just set off. This got my mind thinking, and I am wondering if some of my warning lights are not working, or the suspcious side of me thinks maybe they have been disconnected by a previous owner who was trying to hide some faults when trading the car in!

So I took a look in the manual to look at where the brake warning light should be on the instrument cluster, and it turns out it should be on the speedo side. According to the manual most of the other lights in this section should come on for a few seconds when you start the ignition. From left to right these would be:

• EPC fault light
  
• ESP/TCS light
  
• ABS light
  
• Brake warning light
  
• Air bag light
  
• Seat belt warning light
  

Only the air bag light and seat belt light come on (and go off again) when the ignition is started, making me think it is a bank of lights not working (ie the first four).

Just to add to this and maybe confirm my suspicions, when I press the ACR(?) button apparently the ESP/TCS light should come on to indicate the system has been turned off. This doesn't happen.

I assume it isn't going to be the fuse for the dash lights, as most of the lights seem to be working. Is it possible a bank of lights may have been disconnected somewhere? It would seem a lot of trouble to strip the dash and pull four bulbs out.

I wasn't really that bothered until the three loud beeps when I was driving, followed by no warning light. I'd really like to know what is meant to be wrong!

Any advice, please?

I do believe there are no bulbs in the Fabia dash. The warning lights are LEDs soldered onto the main circuit board. A devious seller may have dismantled the cluster, removed the front covering and placed something over the LEDS to hide them.

Hmm, thanks for that.

It would seem a lot of bother to go to for an eight year old relatively low value car though.

Could it be something has failed which is stopping the lights coming on?

If you read the book carefully, it should list how many beeps each light has. Not much use if several lights have the same number of beeps though!

Off hand I know that the handbrake is a continuos beeping that only stops when its realised. The oil pressure one is three beeps.

In the handbook is how to reset the service indicator so that would be one less thng to worry about.

The ACR you speak of, is actually ASR, (anti-slip regulation) and is a very basic form of traction control (that most people on here dislike).

Also check for high oil consumption with the 16v engines, as this can be a fault.

Sorry I can't be of more help, sure someone else will help more soon.

Thanks TrigerFish, I thought I had read that "serious" faults get 3 beeps and a red light, and less critical (eg low petrol, bulb blown) get a single beep and yellow light. I'll take another look at the manual and see if that gives me more clues with the number of beeps.

I did try to reset the service interval counter, but obviously didn't do it right. The display never went to --- as the book suggests it should and I still get the INSP message and beeps when I next start up.

I'll keep my eye on the oil - thanks for the tip. The oil light didn't come on when I had my three beeps though so don't think that was the cause in my case. The oil light does illuminate for a few seconds when starting the engine as you would expect, so at least I know that light is working!

Edited 22 July, 200916 yr by rdp1980
Spelling error

I think you are correct on the little things being orange and one beep, whereas majour ones being 3, but having a Comfort I don't have the seatbelt, bulb and door lights, but from what I have worked out then that it correct.

Could be coolant sensors, but I dunno if that causes an error, but it is a common error on all Fabias, try searching for it.

*Edit*

A quick search for 'coolant sensor beep?' yeilds a fair bit.

First couple of posts;

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/red-coolant-warning-light-beep-beep-beep/126627/

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/beep-temperature-red-light/94021/

Although it is hard to tell what the problem is realted to, but if you have a working oil light, process of elimination narrows it down.

Also try and get a fault code scan done on it - should tell you why it's beeping. Can either go to a dealer (expect charges) or try asking local people on here; http://briskoda.net/diagnostics-vag-com/vag-com-owners-map/80992/

Edited 22 July, 200916 yr by TriggerFish
Extra Info

Thanks, I had a quick scan at the links you gave and will have a more thorough read tomorrow.

Something that jumped out at me in the manual is that if the ABS light doesn't come on at all then there could be a fault with that. I wonder if I have a general braking system fault? I would still expect the brake light to come on when I use the handbrake though, and it doesn't, which is what got me thinking to start with.

I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and take it to the garage for a check over at some point!

ABS and the handbrake are two different lights - the ABS is orange.

If you ever feel a recoil through the brake pedal, like its resisting you pressing it, then thats the ABS working. Quick way to check would be to do some safe emergency stops, either in the wet or on a road with crests/dips (somewhere where the weight will shift of the front wheels), or on gravel, mud etc.

One thing that should be of comfort, even if the ABS isn't working, the actaul brakes themselves function OK (according to the book at least!), however, if it is the ABS module, expect some big bills.

But yeah, the best bet would be to scan it at a garage, or buy a scanner yourself (around £40, and possibly more finacilly logical on an older car) and do it yourself.

I know they are two separate lights, I was just wondering if there could be one common fault that was knocking them both out? None of my previous cars had ABS, so I'm not used to relying on it and would therefore just do without it if it was going to be expensive to fix.

So long as the main braking system wasn't affected, I assume that would be OK?

I suppose none of this explains the ASR light never coming on either. Puts my theory of a general braking issue to bed I suppose!

I quite like the idea of getting my own scanner, for convenience if nothing else, and for that kind of money would be well worth it. Can you recommend anywhere to get one? eBay? I'm not a car genuis as you have probably gathered(!) and have never used anything like this before, but I am pretty good at following clear instructions.

On the scanner front I know little I am afraid, but if you search on the VAG COM section of this forum you shall get answers. And yes they are on eBay. If you do try searching, the fabia 1 doesn't have CAN interface, and connects via an OBD II (2) port.

The ASR light only comes on when it steps in, ie. When wheel spin is detected, or when you press the button on the dash to disable it. It works by applying the brakes to the spinning wheel, so a brake issue maybe why it doesn't work.

Hope some of this helps, Joe.

Oh, also, I think you may find some abs errors can cause an MoT fail. If this came from a dealer, I would be tempted to go back to them.

Eek! Now I'm wondering if the previous owner somehow disabled the ABS (and other) warning lights so that it didn't flag up as an error on the MOT?

Back to my three beeps when setting off - it didn't do it this morning but about 10 minutes into the journey (driving around 40mph) I got my 3 shrill beeps, nearly gave me a heart attack, but no warning light of course. So another of my nice theories out of the window about it thinking the handbrake was on!

I think it only fails if the ABS light is visible, so you should be OK - but don't quote me on this.

RE the beeping I think its gonna be hard to diagnose it without a scan for diagnostics.

Scanner Fault Error Tool for Skoda Octavia Fabia Superb on eBay (end time 29-Jul-09 19:21:46 BST)

That is one of the scanners, should work with your car, but do your own checking first as I don't want to be resonspible for any wasted money! Failing this, try asking any local members with a scanner already as they are normally willing to do it for a beer token or two.

The MOT tester has a wall chart which details the sequence that the ABS light follows for each make of car. If the light did not come on when turning on the ignition and it was clear to the tester that ABS is fitted, it should fail.

This sounds like one of those problems that will eventually be cured by replacing an expensive electronic part. If you recently got it off a dealer, get it back to them to sort at their expense.

The only thing I notice is if I start the car too fast without the warning lights going off then it will bleep at me. I guess this only means that you should have waited.

As Forfan says, the MOT tester has a sequence of when the lights go on and off, so it will fail if you just take out the bulb. I know this because my dad's car had a problem with the ABS (Light came on after replacing suspension struts). After 4 new sensors and 3 ABS ECUs it still came on. :rotz: It was eventually found to be a break in sensor cable.

Thanks again TriggerFish, think I will bite the bullet and get the scanner off eBay.

I'm not that mechanically minded (as you can probably tell!) but I do like to feel I have a bit of a clue as to what is wrong before I decide to take it to the garage.

I've also started getting the problem where the revs drop for a split second but from what I have read on that subject it isn't picked up by the diagnostics. Did it once when I was slowing at a roundabout and it's done it a couple of times when driving on the motorway.

My three beeps seem to have gone back to going off when setting off, rather than when driving, will be helpful to be able to see what the scanner finds on that.

Also got the flickering lights problem, it's like being in the Starship Enterprise when the dash lights start dimming, thankfully not really doing any night driving but I could do with getting that sorted before winter too.

One final mention, I checked the oil today and found it was a bit low, so topped it up. It could be my imagination but the engine sounds smoother now. So thanks once again TriggerFish for that. How often do you think I should be checking the oil? Every time I fill up with petrol? Or is that a bit overkill? I probably sound really thick but my previous cars never really guzzled oil and I don't want to get caught out with this!

Your most welcome, about the only time I have been able to help properly on here! Usually its people with vRS's which are way out of my leauge, cursed insurance firms!

The lights issue could be a battery. If you have access to a voltmeter check the voltage's (how/what to check I don't know, but a search on here will yeild something). Does it do it when at low speeds/stationary and steering? as this puts a big load on the battery, and if its a bit duff it could cause the lights to flicker. A search for flickering lights should bring back a list as long as your arm - its a common fault unfortunatly, but an easy fix.

The age of your car will mean that you have an AUB engine (the code) which is renouned for being a bit. . . iffy. Some are fine, some aren't. The piston rings can go and they breath very heavily, meaning high oil usage. Mine does the full range of the dipstick, (1litre I think) in about 1-2,000 miles or 2-3 months, but some could be fine and use hardly any. Just check it every so often, maybe every fortnight till you can gauge its usage. Can't really check it too often in my opinion. RE the engine sound, mine sounds awful all the time, very akin to a desail, but they all sound tappety from what I can make out.