Ok, so I've had the flickering lights/over-active power steering pump (whirring noises when not turning wheel) for some time, but haven't got round to having the dreaded sensor looked at (the joys of redundancy mean limited trips to the garage ), and now the power steering has packed up altogether - warning light is on, battery has been fully charged and tested, and steering is rock hard.

I'm thinking that maybe the sensor has bitten the dust altogether, but not sure if this would cause a total failure? Really hoping I don't have to have a whole new pump.

Also, getting the car to the garage with no PAS is going to be problematic (even though the garage is a 5 minute drive away), so I was wondering if there was anything additional I could do at home to try to diagnose/bodge fix the problem? (father used to be a mechanic, so though I'm not mechanically minded as the saying goes 'I know a man who can' )

Any advice appreciated (except if said advice is 'scrap the car' or similar!)

p.s. It's a Fabia Comfort, 1.4 16V, 2001 (Y)

Could still be the sensor but not sure. It's not to bad driving with out the PAS.. just a bit heavy to start with but once your rolling it lightens up quite allot (I was with out a pump for a week or so). TBH, once over 40 wouldn't even know you had no PAS, at 30 it's just a little heavy... it's parking etc where you realise it's gone.

How long was your sensor making the pump twitch? I hate to say it but if the pump was constantly trying to make the rack move it could have accelerated pump ware, but lets hope not

Could still be the sensor but not sure. It's not to bad driving with out the PAS.. just a bit heavy to start with but once your rolling it lightens up quite allot (I was with out a pump for a week or so). TBH, once over 40 wouldn't even know you had no PAS, at 30 it's just a little heavy... it's parking etc where you realise it's gone.

How long was your sensor making the pump twitch? I hate to say it but if the pump was constantly trying to make the rack move it could have accelerated pump ware, but lets hope not

Thanks for your reply The sensor problem has been present for quite a while, but intermittently (I booked it in to have it looked at a couple of months ago, but it cleared up temporarily) and in the past few weeks it seems to have hardly happened at all, and I've had no PAS issues. I took the car out on Saturday, had no problems driving it, left it in the drive all day Sunday and then when I came to drive it on Monday it had this PAS failure. I wondered if it had got damp as it rained really heavily on Sunday and the car was not sheltered, but now the weather has dried up a bit it hasn't cleared up, so it looks like I need to find myself a strong man to drive it to the garage for me :P

It could be water in the pump electric connector, which is behind the wheel arch trim on the lhs in front of the wheel

left it in the drive all day Sunday and then when I came to drive it on Monday it had this PAS failure.

That's exactly how mine went.. parked up sat night with no problems.... came out to it Monday morning and got the PAS light straight away.. it didn't even try!... died in it's sleep I guess! (Hmmm, sorry.. feeling rather morbid this morning)

As said though, could be water after the rain.. but I've gotta be honest, I doubt it's that... but I'm hoping I'm proved wrong.

Well, you were right reflex - it's the pump that has packed up :( Garage have quoted £686 (parts + labour) to fit a new one, but have said they'll fit a refurb one if I can source it.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to eBay I go...

That's a pretty good price. Mine was almost £800 fitted at a london dealer!

**stupid question alert**

I'm trying to make sure that I order the right refurb part for my poorly Furby, so I checked this post against my VIN number:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/part-number-power-steering-unit-please/120002/#post1401293

The part I'm looking at is one of the AE/AB numbers, but my chassis number falls in the "6Q0423156Q (vin last digits < 6Y-3-830 644)" category. I'm assuming that parts AB/AE are actually the same part as the one ending in Q, but just relabelled at a later date, given that the OP states that there are only 2 types of pump, one TRW and one KOYO. Am I assuming correctly, in which case I'm safe to buy the AE/AB part for my car? :confused:

p.s. there are benefits to living 'up north' reflex

p.s. there are benefits to living 'up north' reflex

I know.. I was born and Raised in Notts And I'll think you'll find it's "Tup North"

It has been suggested to me the clever way to do things is combine a Notts service with a trip home..

I know.. I was born and Raised in Notts And I'll think you'll find it's "Tup North"

It has been suggested to me the clever way to do things is combine a Notts service with a trip home..

Oh dear, well being a Yellowbelly born and bred myself, I'm not sure that I can talk to you anymore, given that you're from 'over the border' :P

Thought I would update my original thread to vent a bit of frustration, rather than cluttering up the board with a new one.

I'd just like to say: "ARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!"

After having a spangly new PAS pump fitted by my usual garage a month ago, the PAS failed on the A46 today, so I'm right back to square one :(

I'm getting a bit tired of throwing money at the car now - anyone any clue what the likelihood of being able to sell the cursed thing is?! Y reg Fabia comfort 1.4 16v, 6 months MOT, 11 months tax, 80k on the clock....

Sure the racks not leaking at all? Has it been raining heavily by you since the pump was fitted? As I have herd that water can affect them as they are surrounded by foam or something simular.

One of here sold the other week (same age, 150k+ miles, 1.9TDi, Elegancce) without a steering pump for about £700. I remember it had a fair bit of interest in it as well.

If you want to sell on here you will need to join FREEDOM however.

Where did you get the pump from? If it was a re-con it should have some kind of warranty, surely? If just a used one then you've either been unlucky or maybe even been had... either way,.. bu66er!

Where did you get the pump from? If it was a re-con it should have some kind of warranty, surely? If just a used one then you've either been unlucky or maybe even been had... either way,.. bu66er!

Yep it was a recon with 2 years warranty, so it's being picked up tomorrow by UPS to go back for workshop testing. Everything crossed that they'll just fix it and send it back - I'm starting Uni' in just over a week & neeeeed a functional motor!

Lincoln Uni? Few of my mates went there... being just over the border n all